i am wanting to setup a file server with opensuse 11.3, how does one go about doing this? It must be able to share folders with windows clients, as well as being able to restrict access to certain folders, so that when an unauthorized machine connects to a folder, it will ask you to enter username and password that has been setup in the samba database of users and password? Access to the machine will be via wireless.
shared directories are defined in /etc/samba/smb.conf
User passwords are set with smbpasswd. You can use the same passwords as login passwords but you have to set them with smbpasswd.
The services nmb and smb have to run on the server.
This will tell you about resource sharing for openSUSE <–> windows Samba and Suse: HowTo Set up an openSUSE-Windows Home Office LAN/Network. Versions 11.x
For restricting access, read here, the simplest being “share #5” but plenty more options: Samba Server and Suse / openSUSE: HowTo Configure a Professional File Server on a SOHO LAN
with vista: HowTo Setup Vista for Network Sharing with Samba and openSUSE
with windows 7: HowTo Setup Windows 7 for Network Sharing with Samba and openSUSE
with printers: Printer Sharing: Windows Print Server for Suse/openSUSE Linux Clients [Samba and LPD]
many more details here: openSUSE Samba HOWTOs and Tutorials
thanks, will give this a try and post back