Can't write to Samba using winXP, or browse the workgroup

[fatshady]

I can'r write to a samba share i have. These are the problems I have...

1. I cannot browse the workgroup from the windows XP machine, but if i type \\neo into the address bar, and use the login details I can look at the PC... Why can't i browse the workgroup?? The winXP machine is on the THE_MATRIX workgroup..

2. I cannot write to the share, to create folder or anything... I don't know why not...

Also how can I change the smb.conf so that I do not need username and password to use that machine. It is a home network (3 or 4 pc's) behind a firewall, so I'm not too concerned about LAN security...

Here is my smb.conf (mainly taken from Gentoo Docs (http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/quick-samba-howto.xml) about CUPS,CLAMAV and samba. Took out clam AV bit as I didn't want it.)


[global]
# Replace MYWORKGROUPNAME with your workgroup/domain
workgroup = THE_MATRIX
netbios name = neo
encrypt passwords = yes
unix extensions = no
# Of course this has no REAL purpose other than letting
# everyone know its not Windows!
# %v prints the version of Samba we are using.
server string = Samba Server %v
# We are going to use cups, so we are going to put it in here ;-)
printcap name = cups
printing = cups
load printers = yes
wins support = yes
# We want a log file and we do not want it to get bigger than 50kb.
log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m
max log size = 50
# We are going to set some options for our interfaces...
socket options = TCP_NODELAY SO_RCVBUF=8192 SO_SNDBUF=8192
# This is a good idea, what we are doing is binding the
# samba server to our local network.
# For example, if eth0 is our local network device
interfaces = lo eth0
bind interfaces only = yes
# Now we are going to specify who we allow, we are afterall
# very security conscience, since this configuration does
# not use passwords!
hosts allow = 192.168.7.
hosts deny = 0.0.0.0/0
# Other options for this are USER, DOMAIN, ADS, and SERVER
# The default is user
security = user
# No passwords, so we're going to use a guest account!
guest account = samba
guest ok = yes
# Now we setup our print drivers information!
[print$]
comment = Printer Drivers
path = /etc/samba/printer # this path holds the driver structure
guest ok = yes
browseable = yes
read only = yes
# Modify this to "username,root" if you don't want root to
# be the only printer admin)
write list = sarah,dan,root

# Now we'll setup a printer to share, while the name is arbitrary
# it should be consistent throughout Samba and CUPS!
[HP]
comment = HP DeskJet 880C Network Printer
printable = yes
path = /var/spool/samba
public = yes
guest ok = yes
# Modify this to "username,root" if you don't want root to
# be the only printer admin)
printer admin = sarah,dan,root

# Now we setup our printers share. This should be
# browseable, printable, public.
[printers]
comment = All Printers
browseable = no
printable = yes
writable = no
public = yes
guest ok = yes
path = /var/spool/samba
# Modify this to "username,root" if you don't want root to
# be the only printer admin)
printer admin = sarah,dan,root

# We create a new share that we can read/write to from anywhere
# This is kind of like a public temp share, anyone can do what
# they want here.
[public]
comment = Public Files
browseable = yes
public = yes
writable = yes
create mode = 0766
guest ok = yes
path = /home/samba/public/
write list = sarah,dan,root



I can print from the XP machine on the shared printer...

TIA

D

[happybunny]

i *think* you can use security = share and guest ok = yes to do away with passwords.

Also, what is the permission on the folder itself? This may be causing your inability to write even though samba says' its OK

[fatshady]

What should the permisisons on the dir be? Should they be for the samba user, or root?

At the moment they are for one (dan) user, but samba is being run by root... Does that not mean root will be trying to write?

[blobaugh]

if you want anyone to be able to write to that share then you need to 'chmod 777 dir/' and that will allow all users, even if they are not the owner of the folder, or in the group to write to it.