Samba Add a User

I am using Fedora Linux and I would like to add a user called joe to Samba. How do I add a user SMB share?

The procedure is as follows to add a user to samba server:

[a] First add Linux/UNIX user using useradd/adduser command.

[b] Then use same user name to add to Samba share using smbpasswd command.

Step # 1: Add a user joe to UNIX/Linux system

adduser command adds user to the system according to command line options and configuration information in /etc/adduser.conf. They are friendlier front ends to the low level tools like useradd.

Type any one of the following command:
# useradd joe
# passwd joe
OR
adduser joe

Step # 2: Add a user to samba

Now user joe has account on Linux/UNIX box. Use smbpasswd command to specifies that the username following should be added to the local smbpasswd file:
# smbpasswd -a joe

Step # 3: Add a user to a Samab share

By default user gets access to /home/joe from windows system. Let us say you want to give joe access to /data/accounts (make sure directory /data/accounts exists) directory. Open /etc/samba/smb.conf file and add/modify share called [accounts]:

[accounts]
comment = Accounts data directory
path = /data/accounts
valid users = vivek raj joe
public = no
writable = yes

Save the file.

Step #4: Restart the samba

# service smb restart
OR
# /etc/init.d/smb reload

See also:

• Configure a system to automount a Samba share with /etc/fstab

Featured Articles:

• 20 Linux System Monitoring Tools Every SysAdmin Should Know
• 20 Linux Server Hardening Security Tips
• My 10 UNIX Command Line Mistakes
• Linux: 20 Iptables Examples For New SysAdmins
• 25 PHP Security Best Practices For Sys Admins
• The Novice Guide To Buying A Linux Laptop
• 10 Greatest Open Source Software Of 2009
• Top 5 Email Client For Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows Users
• Top 20 OpenSSH Server Best Security Practices
• Top 10 Open Source Web-Based Project Management Software
• Top 5 Linux Video Editor Software