Importing Remote SMB Directories

Abstract

File sharing between various machines has been available for a long time on UNIX systems. All system users may now take advantage of file sharing. Sharing data between two users on two different machines is made in three simple steps:

  1. The administrator authorizes sharing: the section called “Allowing Users to Share Folders”.

  2. Users share directories: see the File Sharing section from the Starter Guide manual.

  3. Users browse remotely shared directories: see the File Sharing section from the Starter Guide manual.

This tool allows the system administrator to import remote shared directories on the local machine. It affects shares based on the SMB protocol, used mainly by Windows® OSes.

While users can individually access remote shares through their file managers, it may be interesting in some cases to import a specific share for it to become available at once for all users. We'll go through an example showing how to import a template directory from a Windows® machine.

Figure 3.8. Scanning the Whole Network

Scanning the Whole Network

Clicking on the Search servers button scans the local network for machines which currently share directories (including the local one). In our example, many servers are available. We'll choose skywalker and we'll make it available locally for all users.

Clicking on a machine's name will try to connect to it and browse available shares. If that machine holds password-protected shares, a dialog will pop up asking you to identify yourself.

Figure 3.9. Authenticating on a Remote Samba Server

Authenticating on a Remote Samba Server

Enter the correct Username, Password and Domain. The available shares on that machine will then appear. Click on the little arrow on the left of the server icon to show available shares.

[Tip]Tip

If the machine you're connecting to has both public and password-protected shares, then canceling the password entry dialog will connect you to that machine, but only to its public shares.

Figure 3.10. Choosing the Remote Directory to Import

Choosing the Remote Directory to Import

Once a share is selected, a Mount point button appears. Clicking on it displays a dialog where you can type the local directory where remote files will be accessible.

Once this is done, two more buttons appear:

Also, the little icon in front of the shared directory becomes

When you're finished configuring the access points for remote directories, click on Done. A dialog box will appear asking you whether you wish to save your modifications to the /etc/fstab file (where mount point information is usually stored), or not. Click on Yes to make the shares configuration persistent between sessions. Click on No to exit without saving your changes.