This tutorial will guide you on how to create a shared directory onSamba AD DCsystem, map this Shared Volume to Windows clients integrated into the domain via GPO and manage share permissions from Windows domain controller perspective.
It will also cover how to access and mount the file share from a Linux machine enrolled into domain using a Samba4 domain account.
#### Requirements:
1. [Create an Active Directory Infrastructure with Samba4 on Ubuntu][1]
### Step 1: Create Samba File Share
1.The process of creating a share onSamba AD DCis a very simple task. First create a directory you want to share via SMB protocol and add the below permissions on the filesystem in order to allow aWindows AD DCadmin acount to modify the share permissions accordingly to what permissions Windows clients should see.
Assuming that the new file share on theAD DCwould be the`/nas`directory, run the below commands to assign the correct permissions.
2.After you’ve created the directory that will be exported as a share fromSamba4 AD DC, you need to add the following statements to samba configuration file in order to make the share available via SMB protocol.
```
# nano /etc/samba/smb.conf
```
Go to the bottom of the file and add the following lines:
3.The last thing you need to do is to restartSamba AD DCdaemon in order to apply the changes by issuing the below command:
```
# systemctl restart samba-ad-dc.service
```
### Step 2: Manage Samba Share Permissions
4.Since we’re accessing this shared volume from Windows, using domain accounts (users and groups) that are created onSamba AD DC(the share is not meant to be accessed by Linux system users).
The process of managing permissions can be done directly fromWindows Explorer, in the same way permissions are managed for any folder in Windows Explorer.
First, log on to Windows machine with aSamba4 ADaccount with administrative privileges on the domain. In order to access the share from Windows and set the permissions, type the IP address or host name or FQDN of the Samba AD DC machine in Windows Explorer path field, preceded by two back slashes, and the share should be visible.
```
\\adc1
Or
\\192.168.1.254
Or
\\adc1.tecmint.lan
```
[
][4]
Access Samba Share Directory from Windows
5.To modify permissions just right click on the share and chooseProperties. Navigate toSecuritytab and proceed with altering domain users and group permissions accordingly. UseAdvancedbutton in order to fine tune permissions.
Use the below screenshot as an excerpt on how to tune permissions for specificSamba AD DCauthenticated accounts.
[
][6]
Manage Samba Share Directory User Permissions
6.Other method you can use to manage the share permissions is fromComputer Management -> Connectto another computer.
Navigate toShares, right click on the share you want to modify permissions, choosePropertiesand move toSecuritytab. From here you can alter permissions in any way you want just as presented in the previous method using file share permissions.
[
][9]
Assign Samba Share Directory Permissions to Users
### Step 3: Map the Samba File Share via GPO
7.To automatically mount the exported samba file share via domainGroup Policy, first on a machine with[RSAT tools installed][10], openAD UCutility, right click on your domain name and, then, chooseNew -> Shared Folder.
8.Add a name for the shared volume and enter the network path where your share is located as illustrated on the below image. HitOKwhen you’ve finished and the share should now be visible on the right plane.
[
][12]
Set Samba Shared Folder Name Location
9.Next, openGroup Policy Managementconsole, expand to your domainDefault Domain Policyscript and open the file for editing.
On theGPM Editornavigate toUser Configuration -> Preferences -> Windows Settingsand right click onDrive Mapsand chooseNew -> Mapped Drive.
[
][13]
Map Samba Share Folder in Windows
10.On the new window search and add the network location for the share by pressing the right button with three dots, checkReconnectcheckbox, add a label for this share, choose the letter for this drive and hitOKbutton to save and apply configuration.
[
][14]
Configure Network Location for Samba Share Directory
11.Finally, in order to force and applyGPOchanges on your local machine without a system restart, open aCommand Promptand run the following command.
12.After the policy has been successfully applied on your machine, openWindows Explorerand the shared network volume should be visible and accessible, depending on what permissions you’ve granted for the share on previous steps.
The share will be visible for other clients on your network after they reboot or re-login onto their systems if the group policy will not forced from command line.
[
][16]
Samba Shared Network Volume on Windows
### Step 4: Access the Samba Shared Volume from Linux Clients
13.Linux users from machines that are enrolled intoSamba AD DCcan also access or mount the share locally by authenticating into the system with a Samba account.
First, they need to assure that the following samba clients and utilities are installed on their systems by issuing the below command.
```
$ sudo apt-get install smbclient cifs-utils
```
14.In order to list the exported shares your domain provides for a specific domain controller machine use the below command:
```
$ smbclient –L your_domain_controller –U%
or
$ smbclient –L \\adc1 –U%
```
[
][17]
List Samba Share Directory in Linux
15.To interactively connect to a samba share from command line with a domain account use the following command:
```
$ sudo smbclient //adc/share_name -U domain_user
```
On command line you can list the content of the share, download or upload files to the share or perform other tasks. Use ? to list all available smbclient commands.
[
][18]
Connect Samba Share Directory in Linux
16.To mount a samba share on a Linux machine use the below command.
```
$ sudo mount //adc/share_name /mnt -o username=domain_user
```
[
][19]
Mount Samba Share Directory in Linux
Replace thehost,share name,mount pointanddomain useraccordingly. Use mount command piped withgrepto filter only by cifs expression.
As some final conclusions, shares configured on aSamba4 AD DCwill work only with Windows access control lists (ACL), notPOSIX ACLs.
Configure Samba as a Domain member with file shares in order to achieve other capabilities for a network share. Also, on an Additional Domain Controller[configure Windbindd daemon][20]–Step Two– before you start exporting network shares.
I'am a computer addicted guy, a fan of open source and linux based system software, have about 4 years experience with Linux distributions desktop, servers and bash scripting.
