Sharing Ubuntu Linux Folders with Remote Windows Systems

Although Linux is increasingly making inroads into the desktop market, its origins are very much server based. It is not surprising, therefore, that Linux has the ability to act as a file server. Files on a Linux system can be accessed both from other Linux (and UNIX) systems and Windows based systems over network connections.

Remote filesystem access between Linux and UNIX systems is achieved using technology called Network File System (NFS). Windows systems share resources such as filesystems and printers using something called Server Message Block (SMB). In order for a Linux system to serve such resources over a network to a Windows system it must, therefore, support SMB. This is achieved using technology called SAMBA.

In this chapter we will look at the steps necessary to share filesystem resources on an Ubuntu Linux system with remote Windows Systems.