[CLUE-Tech] Sharing Windows 98 files with Samba-lite under VMware 3.1.1 and RH 7.2

[Gary Threlkeld]

> Hello,
>
> I trying to share some of the files on my Linux system using Samba and
> VMware. I'm running RH 7.2 as the host and Windows 98 as the guest under
> VMware-workstation 3.1.1. My computer name is Bill and the directory
> containing the files I want to share is /home/bof/files. When Windows 98
> loads, I can see Bill under network neighborhood, but when I click it,
> nothing comes up.
>
> < snip>
>

Sounds like VMware is just a confusing factor and that the two machines are
communicating via standard Samba.  I only got my Samba between RedHat 7.3
and Win 98 working this past Thursday so I'm only about 10 min ahead of you
in regard to experiencing the issues.

I would first suggest, if you haven't already, to go to
www.oreilly.com/catalog/samba/chapter/book and look at the Using Samba book
online.  Take time to read Chapter 9 Troubleshooting Samba, I found it very
helpful.

1)  Have you set up smbpasswd with the users that you wish to have
connectivity between the two environments?
Example:    $root> smbpasswd  -a  bill        # use the same passwords as
the OS's to avoid confusion

2)    I'd use security = share.
security = user is better suited to a situation where samba is serving as a
Primary Domain Controller.  I chose to record all host names in /etc/hosts
to not have to deal with WINS & DNS.
Otherwise you may have some additional reading/work to do.

3)    Your encrypt passwords = yes is good.
Win 98 sets encrypted passwords by default.
You can check by looking at the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD\VNETSUP
If Value Name: EnablePlainTextPassword Data: is there, it should be set to
0x00 to turn off plain text and ensure that Win 98 will encrypt passwords.

4)    Make sure each [SHARE NAME] has browsable = yes which will allow
Network Neighborhoold to see the share.

5)    Make sure to verify changes with $root> testparm  - then kill and
restart smbd and nmbd processes.

6)    On the Win 98 side, I'd disable WINS & DNS to force Samba to use
/etc/hosts.

7)    I'm not sure where you are getting your IP address from.
My router that provides IP addresses - since you are communicating between
two OS's, if you don't hardcode within TCP/IP where does the IP come from?

GOOD LUCK !

Gary T. Threlkeld