How to Configure a Home Network File Server Using Centos Linux

If you live in a household with several different computers, like a couple of desktops and laptops, you can set Linux based samba file server as a low cost solution that allows you to share files between your computer systems, including those running Microsoft Windows.

A Linux based file server provides a secure access point to your files over traditional file servers offered by Windows. All you need is a low end computer that has a big hard drive. You could even use an external USB drive that has a large capacity to serve as storage point. Large capacity USB drives can be purchased for around $100, an attractive price point. You can use a free version of Linux to serve as your operating system. Once such free Linux operating system that is stable and secure is Centos.

What is Centos Linux?
Centos is an operating system that is based on a well known Linux distribution from a company that operates in North America. This company has been at the forefront in creating Linux operating systems, and offering support and services to generate profit. That "well known" company being Redhat. Since Redhat Linux is distributed under an open source license everyone, even the creators of the Centos Linux operating system are given full access to the source code to the Redhat version of Linux. Centos developers use the source code for Redhat Linux and create an operating system. The Centos Linux distribution is essentially the same as Redhat, with the only things being changed are most reference and graphical images that refer to Redhat. Therefore, just about anything that was created for Redhat Linux should run and scale well on a Centos based computer.

For the purposes of setting up a simple samba server, Centos is one of the better options to use when considering all of the different Linux distributions that are available. Centos offers a long support time frame for its distribution that closely follows the model that is used by Redhat Linux. Support for server operating systems last up to 7 years, an eternity for operating systems. That means if there is a security flaw found with the operating system, an update will be issued and you will be able to patch your system. Centos is completely free, and you get the same product as you would if you had purchased it from Redhat. The only thing that is absent is the support that is offered. You'll need to read the documentation yourself and get familiar with how to configure the server.

Setting up a home file server with Centos.
Setting up a home file server with Centos is relatively easy and involves a few easy steps. First, you will need a computer, of course. Use a machine that has a large disk drive and at least a little memory. If you plan to use a laptop as a part of your home based computing system, then you may also want to get a wireless router.

Install Centos on your base machine. When it comes time to install packages, be sure to include the server packages as these will include those needed to run Samba. You may want to include a graphical interface, because it will make system management a little easier.

Once samba is installed make sure the following programs are installed and running:

smbd
nmbd
winbindd (optional)

These programs are called daemons and are the programs needed to run Samba. You may or may not want to run winbindd, as this adds the capability to authenticate your computers through the Linux server from any PC in the home. In essence, you can set up all of Windows and Linux user accounts on the Centos Server, and have the same user name and passwords put to use on any computer in the home. You can also set up the same profile space for each machine. Thus, all of your themes and backgrounds, documents, and any files you save on your desktop will magically follow you from PC to PC within your home as you log into different computers.

Configure A Centos Samba Server for a home network
There are two ways to configure a Samba server. If you went ahead and installed the graphical interface, then you will be able to use it to set your server up. From the main menu select "System --> Administration -->Server Settings --> Samba." Then click "Add Share"

An interface appears and you simply use the window driven entries to select what parts of your hard drive to share with other computers in the home. If you have an large external USB drive on your system, then you can share that partition, with all of its disk space.

If you are more partial to using the command line to set up your samba server then there is just one file to edit. This file is found in /etc/samba/smb.conf. In this file you will need to set the workgroup, and any shares individually. There are also setting that need to be configure for users and security. Any of these options are configurable via the graphical interface as well. Once you are done editing the smb.conf file, then you will need to restart the samba server for the changes to take place.

You can set up separate locations to handle back-ups for user profiles using winbindd. You can set up a repository that makes all of your music and movies available to any computer on the home network. There are multiple possibilities for configuring your file server just the way that you like it.

Source:
http://Redhat.com
http://centos.org/docs/5