ARCHIVED: What is Samba?

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Samba is a suite of freeware programs which work together to allow clients to access a server's filespace and printers via the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol. Initially written for Unix, Samba now also runs on NetWare, OS/2, OpenVMS, and a variety of other operating systems. It is especially popular as a Linux server package.

Programs included in the Samba suite are used to integrate Unix servers with client computers running Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, or XP or to integrate Unix client computers with a Windows server. They are also used to replace protocols like NFS or Novell NCP, especially when using PCs. In many cases, Samba can completely replace Windows NT, Warp, NFS, or NetWare servers.

For more information, see the Samba web site at:

  http://www.samba.org/samba/index.html

At Indiana University, for personal or departmental Linux or Unix systems support, see Get help for Linux or Unix at IU.