I've been trying to set up a file server on my network, using a spare desktop with Fedora 12 installed. Since I am a n00b at creating fileshares using any flavor of Linux, I decided to consult the internets. From this tutorial (mainly), I was able to set it up:

http://www.techotopia.com/index.php/Sharing_Fedora_Linux_Folders_with_Remote_Windows_Systems

I followed the instructions. I set up the server using USER authenication mode with encrypted passwords, and set up an encrypted password on the accessing user account (using unencrypted on both yielded the same result as I will describe, also). When completed, the shared folder appeared on my Vista x64 desktop and on the server box itself.

However, I'm unable to access it. On the windows machine, it says that the location is inaccessable at times, others it asks for a username and password... when I input both, it prompts me that they are incorrect and grays out the username, with the one I put in previously. If I input the password again, it will tell me the same thing, have the username grayed out, but blank.

When I attempt to access the folder from the server machine, it will ask for a password. When I input the username and password, it will tell me that it is unable to mount that location.

What gives?

Also, for more information, the server is going to be used by some friends for a sort of gaming group that they're forming at our college. We decided to use linux to keep the cost of the server down. It will be used to host our files, so that members of the club are able to easily gain access to them. Therefore, it needs to be easily accessed by windows machines, and be password protected. Any ideas would be welcomed, and I will answer questions as soon as possible.

Just setup a windows computer and Share your folders, set permissions.. done. Go to no-ip.com and register a free domain name, download the client program that updates your IP so it knows to forward the domain to your PC. Setup a VPN on the windows computer.

Connect to VPN and access shares from outside with your new domain name.

But the pc that they'd be using to host the files won't be running windows. Windows was cut, so that the price of the final build would be lower.

Well I would just use a boot leg windows. But..

I just use FTP on my linux server to access files.

The files will have to be accessable through the file explorer, and the server will be on a local network.

I'm just testing here at home, since we dont actually have the money or the parts to build it yet.

And bootlegged copies of windows are only an option for desperation, seeing as they're trying to make the game group an official club at the college.

Huh I didn't think setting up shares was that hard. Ubuntu includes Samba server, not sure about Fedora, but when you install it just edit /etc/samba.conf or whatever it's called to set up your shares (look for a tutorial online). Then stop and restart the service (not sure how to do it, again find a tutorial) and it should "just work".

Oh that tutorial does cover it.

If you want guest access add an account called "Guest" with no password and give it the access you want.

And I would fiddle with the password settings more if you really need auth required. You probably set something up wrong, or there's a setting wrong somewhere, I do recall needing a few tries to get it working, even with just guest access..

you need to add the user to your samba users. i believe the command is:

smbpasswd -a username

obviously replacing username with your username, it will ask for your new password. you might have to also restart the samba daemon. if it's anything like ubuntu/debian, you do so with the following:

/etc/init.d/samba restart

that should get you up and running.

That's what I thought, too. And I might have, who knows.



Thanks, I'll try that.

Just now had enough free time to try it again. Didn't work... still doing the same thing. =/

can you post your smb.conf?