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Clarify some of the overview authored by Garming Sam's avatar Garming Sam
...@@ -11,11 +11,10 @@ It contains many features, some of which are listed below. ...@@ -11,11 +11,10 @@ It contains many features, some of which are listed below.
## [File Server](https://www.samba.org/samba/docs/current/man-html/smbd.8.html) ## [File Server](https://www.samba.org/samba/docs/current/man-html/smbd.8.html)
Samba is best known as a file server, sharing POSIX file systems to Samba is best known as a file server, sharing POSIX file systems to Microsoft's
Microsoft's Windows clients. Samba translates between the NTFS Windows clients. Samba translates between the NTFS file system semantics
semantics expected by modern windows clients and the POSIX file system expected by modern Windows clients and the POSIX file system on which it runs,
on which it runs, including locking, Access Control Lists and case including locking, Access Control Lists and case insensitivity.
insensitivity.
The file server is run from the `smbd` binary. The file server is run from the `smbd` binary.
...@@ -23,7 +22,7 @@ The file server is run from the `smbd` binary. ...@@ -23,7 +22,7 @@ The file server is run from the `smbd` binary.
### [Clustered file server (ctdb)](https://wiki.samba.org/index.php/CTDB_and_Clustered_Samba) ### [Clustered file server (ctdb)](https://wiki.samba.org/index.php/CTDB_and_Clustered_Samba)
A clustered version of Samba is available using `ctdb` to link A clustered version of Samba is available using the `ctdb` binary to link
multiple Samba servers that share a common file system into the multiple Samba servers that share a common file system into the
appearance of single SMB file server. appearance of single SMB file server.
...@@ -31,16 +30,17 @@ appearance of single SMB file server. ...@@ -31,16 +30,17 @@ appearance of single SMB file server.
## [Print Server](https://wiki.samba.org/index.php/Setting_up_Samba_as_a_Print_Server) ## [Print Server](https://wiki.samba.org/index.php/Setting_up_Samba_as_a_Print_Server)
As well as sharing files, Samba can share printers, by their locally As well as sharing files, Samba can share printers, which are either locally
attached or remote printers connected to the local CUPS server. attached or are remote printers connected to the local CUPS server.
Samba can also provide automatic driver download to allow clients to Samba can also provide automatic driver download to allow clients to
access and install the correct driver for the printer. access and install the correct driver for available printers.
This can be used to create a central print server. This can be used to create a central print server.
* [source3/rpc_server/spoolss](https://git.samba.org/?p=samba.git;a=tree;f=source3/rpc_server/spoolss) * [source3/rpc_server/spoolss](https://git.samba.org/?p=samba.git;a=tree;f=source3/rpc_server/spoolss)
* [source3/printing](https://git.samba.org/?p=samba.git;a=tree;f=source3/printing) * [source3/printing](https://git.samba.org/?p=samba.git;a=tree;f=source3/printing)
* [CUPS](https://www.cups.org/)
## [Active Directory Domain Controller](https://wiki.samba.org/index.php/Setting_up_Samba_as_an_Active_Directory_Domain_Controller) ## [Active Directory Domain Controller](https://wiki.samba.org/index.php/Setting_up_Samba_as_an_Active_Directory_Domain_Controller)
...@@ -48,13 +48,14 @@ Active Directory is often described as a combined LDAP, Kerberos, ...@@ -48,13 +48,14 @@ Active Directory is often described as a combined LDAP, Kerberos,
DCE/RPC and DNS server backed on to a common database DCE/RPC and DNS server backed on to a common database
([sam.ldb](../protocols-and-subsystems/sam.ldb) in Samba). ([sam.ldb](../protocols-and-subsystems/sam.ldb) in Samba).
It provides secure centralised authentication, authorization as well It provides secure centralised authentication, authorization to allow access to
as address book services. All three protocols and others beside work different networked resources, as well as address-book services. The different
in concert, none is actually backed by or superior to the other, but protocols provide different views of the underlying database as well as
all provide views onto and administration of the common data store. a range of administrative capabilities.
It turns out the much of Samba's complexity can be found not in the Since the protocols are generally views of a common data store, much of the
named functions below, but in the module stack of this database. complexity in these services is actually in the abstraction layers of the
[sam.ldb](../protocols-and-subsystems/sam.ldb) database.
All these services are run from the `samba` binary. All these services are run from the `samba` binary.
...@@ -62,9 +63,11 @@ All these services are run from the `samba` binary. ...@@ -62,9 +63,11 @@ All these services are run from the `samba` binary.
### LDAP ### LDAP
Many clients of Active Directory will contact it over LDAP to look up Many clients of Active Directory will contact Samba over LDAP to look up user
user information or to perform administration. LDAP is the primary information or to perform administration. LDAP is the primary administrative
administrative interface to Active Directory. interface to Active Directory and is generally the most comprehensive view of
the database. It is, however, the most unstructured way to manipulate data
stored in Active Directory and so, often must be used with care.
* [source4/ldap_server](https://git.samba.org/?p=samba.git;a=tree;f=source4/ldap_server) * [source4/ldap_server](https://git.samba.org/?p=samba.git;a=tree;f=source4/ldap_server)
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