From Windows XP I can see the Mint machine on the network but am prompted for a user name and password just to view the share list of that box. These shares have been created as public shares and do not require a password to access. This will occur only after creating a Samba User. This will occur only from WinXP , not Win2K or another Mint.
Steps to Reproduce
(1) I started with a clean install of Mint 7 Gnome and fully updated through mintUpdate.
I did this two different ways in an attempt to determine if this was a nautilus-share problem only.
(2) Using nautilus-share I created a shared directory:
When I access this box from My Network Places in WinXP I can see the box and the share and have access to the share.net usershare info:
[share]
path=/home/altair4/Share
comment=
usershare_acl=Everyone:F,
guest_ok=y
Now I create a samba user. Note that a samba user at this point is not required because the share that I created does not require authentication:
My Network Places will display the Mint box but will prompt me for authentication to view the share list - not to access the share - just to view the share list.sudo smbpasswd -a altair4
(3) I did the same thing using "Classic Samba" ( shares-admin ) by creating the following share definition after deleting the share created by nautilus-share:
Once again I can see the box but am prompted for authentication to view the share list.[Share]
path = /home/altair4/Share
available = yes
browsable = yes
public = yes
writable = yes
(4) In both cases I can toggle the effect simply by adding or deleting the samba user.
Package Status
Kernel 2.6.28-11-generic i686 (32 bit) Distro Linux Mint 7 Gloria - Main Edition
apt version samba
2:3.3.2-1ubuntu3.1
apt version samba-common
2:3.3.2-1ubuntu3.1
apt version nautilus-share
0.7.2-4ubuntu1
apt version gnome-system-tools
2.22.2-0ubuntu4
Other Information
tertparm /etc/samba/smb.conf
It is interesting to note that the share definition from testparm does not match a cut and paste from smb.conf itself for share [Share][global]
server string = %h server
map to guest = Bad User
obey pam restrictions = Yes
passdb backend = tdbsam
pam password change = Yes
passwd program = /usr/bin/passwd %u
passwd chat = *Enter\snew\s*\spassword:* %n\n *Retype\snew\s*\spassword:* %n\n *password\supdated\ssuccessfully* .
username map = /etc/samba/smbusers
unix password sync = Yes
log level = 1
syslog = 0
log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m
max log size = 1000
dns proxy = No
usershare allow guests = Yes
panic action = /usr/share/samba/panic-action %d
[printers]
comment = All Printers
path = /var/spool/samba
create mask = 0700
printable = Yes
browseable = No
[print$]
comment = Printer Drivers
path = /var/lib/samba/printers
[Share]
path = /home/altair4/Share
read only = No
guest ok = Yes
This problem arose because I wanted to create a mix of public and private shares on the Mint box. WinXP users accessing just public shares will be forced to pass credentials just to view the available shares.
Workaround
(1) For client users with samba usernames and passwords on the target server box this is not a problem. It will be a little awkward since they will not be used to sending credentials before they see the available shares.
(2) For guests to access public shares they will have to pass credentials but they don't need samba usernames and passwords. They can view and then access shares by using:
User Name: guest
Password: NULL
I have tried to find relevant posts in the ubuntu's launchpad but have as yet been unsuccessful. It's possible I'm searching in the wrong place. This might not be a samba bug but an encryption or other authorization / authentication bug.