[SOLVED] WANTED : Dummies guide to SAMBA

[metro]

I don't recall have as much trouble setting up shares in PCLOS2007.
I have had enough of the blue screen in XP and decided I will use PCLinuxOS full time
I prefer to use QuickBooks 8 for my finances and now have to keep XP on a second computer because under WINE QB8 freezes from time to time and is unreliable

So I would like to share folders on the XP machine
I had this working about 3 weeks or so back (PClos2010.1) but after another update via Synaptic I have no shares and neither computer can be seen by the other
The network name is visible in Smb4k and I can ping each machine from the other and get a reply

I've spent most of the day  going round in circles with various error messages the latest of which is

[2010/10/28 21:40:53.240034,  0] passdb/secrets.c:73(secrets_init)
  Failed to open /etc/samba/secrets.tdb
ERROR: Unable to open secrets database

 this is given in Smb4k after  I click on  Scan Workgroup

Volume 32 of PCLinuxos magazine had a good article on setting up SAMBA, followed that to the letter and still nothing works

any help appreciated

regards

Laurie

[Wildman]

I've been using the Quicken program since it started. I like it better than anything else I've found.

I setup the "Virtual"  system on my system, loaded WinXP, it runs as if loaded on a regular hard disk. I can run any Win programs I need..
Also, you will need to run updates and provide all the anti virus/spyware programs too.

[metro]

Thanks Wildman

I will do the same and setup a VMachine dual booting is a pain when you only want one app for a few minutes

would still like to resolve issues with networking though

Laurie

[Wildman]

Thanks Wildman

I will do the same and setup a VMachine dual booting is a pain when you only want one app for a few minutes

would still like to resolve issues with networking though

Laurie

Thanks glad it might help you. Yes the networking should be fixed/corrected. I've seen topics on that subject here in the past.
Seems like there is a tick box somewhere that needs attention, doing a update should not have changed anything, however sometimes it does. I will help look for a answer to it.
 

[Wildman]

Have you checked in  pcc tools under "networking" and/or the "Security" section that deals with the different configurations? I see there is one to use for and with windows. Just asking. Something may have been set to default in the updates.
 

[metro]

Thanks Wildman

I started Smb4k and clicked on settings
then configure Smb4k

I then clicked on the DEFAULTS button

tried to Scan the Workgroup and the error message changed to this

Could not connect to server OFFICE
Connection failed: NT_STATUS_BAD_NETWORK_NAME

I noticed the computer name change from lowercase to uppercase
and the Super User privileges where unchecked

so does anybosy know where Smb4k gets the NetBIOS and Domain names from

thanks in advance

Laurie

[nerdful1]

Interesting.
NT_STATUS_BAD_NETWORK_NAME
is one of the errors I get in my printerdrake woes trying to get once working network printer running.

Something broken in the network system itself?

[metro]

beautiful I'm not so stupid then 

[Xero]

Any help? http://74.54.219.50/~lxgator/gnome/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3004&sid=f5ba4b200abc043bf9d0b8597f0d3071

[metro]

Thanks Xero

funny I'm looking for answers on the other side of the world and a fellow Western Australian has published a HOW-TO
I have  read and followed Sarcastic_Bastards article re-booted and  am back to this error:

[2010/10/29 18:11:30.974833,  0] passdb/secrets.c:73(secrets_init)
  Failed to open /etc/samba/secrets.tdb
ERROR: Unable to open secrets database
going in circles

I'm waiting for OnDisk to ship FullMonty to me so will re-install in a couple of days and try again

[Xero]

Perhaps delete your /etc/samba/smb.conf file and start again?

[metro]

Thanks Xero

Ok deleted smb.conf copied and renamed smb-winbind.conf to smb.conf

redo     http://74.54.219.50/~lxgator/gnome/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3004&sid=f5ba4b200abc043bf9d0b8597f0d3071

reboot

back to error

[2010/10/29 21:09:14.589500,  0] passdb/secrets.c:73(secrets_init)
  Failed to open /etc/samba/secrets.tdb
ERROR: Unable to open secrets database

interestingly running Konqueror and clicking the network button (LHS)(PLACES)
then selecting samba shares followed by my network (METRO)
I get an Authorization Dialog requesting Authentication information for metro

I give my username and password and 15 seconds later I get the same dialog therefore I assume
my password is stored incorrectly.

I reset my password and still the same issue repeated clicks on OK just bring up the Dialog agai
clicking cancel brings up   Access denied to smb://metro/.

thanks people

[Xero]

Ok, kinda puzzled, but since your error keeps coming back to that file, perhaps delete it (/etc/samba/secrets.tdb) and try again? The fault must lie in it, it persists, and so does the problem. :/

[metro]

Xero
OK here we remember I'm new to this game so this is what worked for me. I found this link
http://forum.mandriva.com/viewtopic.php?t=88776

specifically read the following and made the changes in smb.conf BINGO  I have a network and can browse the XP machine

I found the source code to the program that generated the error message on the Internet. With it was the name of the author with an e-mail address. I sent the problem description to him and he sent me a great and easy reply that solved the problem. I don't know whether it is nice to post it here, but could very well help someone else I think. His name is Alexander Reinholdt.

Quote:

The master browser is a server either in a workgroup or in a domain that holds the browse list of the workgroup or domain. Thus it is queried by the members of the workgroup/domain for information about the workgroup/domain (Which servers are available, etc.).

There should always only be one master browser per workgroup/domain. In your network there seem to be two. So, you should change your setup, so that only one computer serves as master browser. You can do this (on servers running Samba) by setting the following options in the [global] section of the smb.conf file of the computers that should *not* become master browser:

domain master = no
local master = no
preferred master = no

This will stop these servers from participating in elections of the master browser.

On the server that is destined to be the master browser, you can (and should) set all these values to "yes".

After you applied the changes, restart Samba.

I hope that helps.

Best regards
Alexander

Unquote.

Well, now it works fine.

Ole Reier

Thanks all for your input

PS haven't rebooted yet so fingures crossed

[Wildman]

Thanks for posting the answer he provided....Good Job