I am trying to create a LAN where Linux acts as a server for a windows XP PC (client). On the network-hardware side I am using a 5-port fast ethernet switch (Edimax) which is behind a Speedtouch modem.

As a first step to create the LAN I switched off the firewalls on both XP and Linux, I started the samba server (rcsmb start) on the Linux PC (the file smb.conf is attached below). As a result I was able to successfully do a ping from the Linux PC to windows XP machine.

The problem is now that I do not see a shared file section (created on Linux PC directory: /home/user) on the windows XP machine. What am I doing wrong??

What would be a preferable configuration: windows XP act as a server and Linux as a client or Linux act as the server and windows XP the client. Windows XP offers 5 possibilities in total (with different host, guest and hub configurations).

Thanks already for any help concerning this matter.

------------------------------ contents of smb.conf ------------------------

[global]
workgroup = MSHOME
server string = Samba Server
; hosts allow = 192.168.1. 192.168.2.127
hosts allow = 10.0.0.150
log file = /var/log/samba/%m.log
max log size = 10
security = user
smb passwd file = /etc/samba/smbpasswd
socket options = TCP_NODELAY SO_RCVBUF=8192 SO_SNDBUF=8192
local master = yes
os level = 255
name resolve order = wins lmhosts bcast
wins support = yes
; wins server = 192.168.1.101
wins server 10.0.0.150

[homes]
comment = Home Directories
browseable = yes
writeable = yes

hey I see your doing it ok, what I did to enable the share as you'll see in my smb.conf is that I added a particular share and assigned it permissions and a path. Then from windows find network places and there you have it. Good luck!!

[global]
workgroup = Darkgroup
os level = 2
security = user
invalid users = root admin @ sys usr bin run tmp home
time server = No
unix extensions = Yes
encrypt passwords = Yes
log level = 1
syslog = 0
restrict anonymous = Yes
disable spoolss = Yes
printing = CUPS
printcap name = CUPS
socket options = SO_KEEPALIVE IPTOS_LOWDELAY TCP_NODELAY
wins support = No
veto files = /*.eml/*.nws/riched20.dll/*.{*}/*.tmp/*.sys/.*.*


in my configuration I don't use these:


#[homes]
# comment = Home Directories
# valid users = %S
# browseable = No
# read only = No
# create mask = 0640
# directory mask = 0750

#[printers]
# comment = All Printers
# path = /var/tmp
# printable = Yes
# create mask = 0600
# browseable = No
#[print$]
# comment = Printer Drivers
# path = /var/lib/samba/drivers
# write list = @ntadmin root
# force group = ntadmin
# create mask = 0664
# directory mask = 0775

this is the important bit:


[AlphaFTP]
comment = Alpha FTP
path = /home/AlphaFTP
public = Yes <-- this is optional, it allows access with no USER or PASS
read only = No
printable = No

if you do set it up without the public=Yes you will have to configure a smbuser and smbpasswd

Hope this helps you out, I'm a newbie myself