How to Set Up Samba Server and Client on CentOS: Step-by-Step Guide

Samba is free software that bridges UNIX-like operating systems and Windows via the SMB/CIFS protocol, allowing file and printer sharing and even acting as a domain controller.

Server Configuration

1 Install required packages

# yum install samba samba-common -y

The samba package provides the SMB services, while samba-common supplies shared configuration files and utilities.

2 Add Samba users

Create system users that will become Samba users and add them to the centos group.

# useradd smb1 -G centos
# useradd smb2 -G centos
# useradd smb3 -G centos

Set passwords for the Samba accounts.

# smbpasswd -a smb1
# smbpasswd -a smb2
# smbpasswd -a smb3

List existing Samba users.

# pdbedit -L

3 Create shared directory

# mkdir /samba
# chgrp centos /samba/
# chmod 2770 /samba/

The directory now belongs to the centos group with appropriate permissions.

4 Edit Samba configuration

# vim /etc/samba/smb.conf
[global]
    workgroup = MYGROUP   # workgroup name
    security = user       # require user authentication

[samba]
    comment = My samba share
    path = /samba
    browseable = yes
    create mask = 0664
    directory mask = 0775
    write list = @centos

Check the configuration syntax.

# testparm

5 Start Samba services

# systemctl start smb.service
# systemctl start nmb.service

smbd

manages shared directories, files, and printers; nmbd handles workgroup and NetBIOS name resolution.

Client Configuration

1 Install client packages

# yum install samba-client samba-common -y

The client provides tools such as mount.cifs for mounting SMB shares.

2 Test connection with a Samba user

# smbclient -L //192.168.29.130 -U smb1

The command lists available shares, confirming connectivity.

3 Mount the share

# mkdir /smb/
# mount -t cifs //192.168.29.130/samba /smb/ -o username=smb1,password=1234
# df -h /smb

The share is now accessible at /smb.

4 Configure automatic mount at boot

# vim /etc/fstab
//192.168.29.130/samba /smb cifs defaults,username=smb1,password=1234 0 0

After saving, the share will be mounted automatically on system startup.