SAMBA Essentials for Windows Administrators

Using Samba for Windows client file and print sharing can dramatically improve the reliability and cost-effectiveness of virtually any network -- but most Samba documentation is written for UNIX/Linux experts, not the Windows administrators who need it most. In this book, an expert Windows sysadmin walks step-by-step through Samba deployment, configuration, and management, showing Windows professionals exactly what they need to know to achieve optimal results -- with the fewest possible problems. Gary Wilson begins with a step-by-step guide to installing and configuring Samba on a Linux server -- presenting both an "easy" approach and one that allows for virtually unlimited customization. Walk through preparing Windows computers to connect to your Samba server; managing file services using the Web-based SWAT tool; and understanding the key concepts that make Samba print services seem more complicated than they really are. The book reviews basic Linux system administration techniques Samba users should know, as well as advanced Samba techniques for providing fax services, creating virtual file servers, using Samba as a primary domain controller on a Windows network, and maximizing security in both the LAN and WAN. Throughout, Wilson introduces essential Samba and Linux terms and concepts from the Windows perspective, and presents dozens of expert tips and troubleshooting solutions based on his extensive experience managing Samba networks.