Windows XP cannot access one of two shared partitions

English Network/Internet
1

I set up two shared partitions on a machine running OpenSuSE 10.3. In our home network, machines running Window$ XP can access one partition, but not the other. I set up both of the shares with the same process, using SWAT and the “kcmshell ‘fileshare’” command.

Details are:
Accessible partition is /dev/sdb1/, mounted as /windows/J, and formatted NTFS.

Inaccessible partition is /dev/sda7, mounted as /windows/G, and formatted FAT32.

Relevant stanzas of smb.conf are:
"[global]
workgroup = CANDH
security = share
map to guest = Bad User
printcap name = cups
add machine script = /usr/sbin/useradd -c Machine -d /var/lib/nobody -s /bin/false %m$
logon path = \%L\profiles.msprofile
logon drive = P:
logon home = \%L%U.9xprofile
os level = 2
preferred master = no
local master = no
domain master = no
ldap ssl = No
hosts allow = 192.168.
printing = cups
cups options = raw
print command =
lpq command = %p
lprm command =
include = /etc/samba/dhcp.conf
restrict anonymous = no
max protocol = NT
acl compatibility = winnt
server signing = Auto

[Big storage]
comment = Network Profiles Service
path = /windows/J/
read only = No
create mask = 0600
directory mask = 0700
guest ok = Yes
store dos attributes = Yes

[Storage2]
comment = Network Profiles Service
path = /windows/G/
read only = no
guest ok = yes
case sensitive = no
strict locking = no
msdfs proxy = no
create mask = 0600
directory mask = 0700"

For Storage2, I added the comment and changed some of the masks to match Big storage, with no effect. The masks originally were
“create mask = 0744
directory mask = 0755”

The XP machines see both shares, and can read “Big storage”, but trying to access “Storage2” brings up a window stating:
"\LINUX-HPA730N\Storage2 is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions.

The network path was not found."

What do I need to do to access the second share (Storage2)?

2

At a first look: you could simply make the stanza that defines [Storage2] the same as the stanza that defines [Big storage]. Open your superuser file editor and edit [Storage2] to this:

[Storage2]
comment = Network Profiles Service
path = /windows/G/
read only = No
create mask = 0600
directory mask = 0700
guest ok = Yes
store dos attributes = Yes

Then reboot both Suse & windows so they get to talk to each other about the changes, and see if it helps.

3

Great joy, it worked. Thanks, swerdna. It sure is nice to get an easy fix. I edited smb.conf as you advised, and rebooted the OpenSuSE machine. I did not even have to reboot the XPs - they could see and access they new share right away. I then created one additional shared partition using the “kcmshell ‘fileshare’” command. It added this smb.conf stanza:

“[D]
path = /windows/D
guest ok = yes
read only = no”

and this share is accessible, too.

Thanks for the guidance.
Howard