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Samba
Samba is an open source SMB/CIFS file and print server that also provides Active Directory Domain Controller and member server capabilities for Linux/Unix systems.
Samba is a feature-rich open source implementation of the SMB/CIFS and Microsoft Active Directory-related protocols for Linux and other UNIX-like systems. It provides interoperable file and print sharing for Windows, macOS, and Linux clients, and can integrate hosts into AD environments or run as an AD Domain Controller.
Key Features
- SMB file sharing and Windows-compatible network file services
- Network print sharing for SMB clients
- Active Directory Domain Controller functionality (Samba AD)
- Active Directory member server mode with domain integration
- Authentication and directory integration using common AD protocols (including LDAP and Kerberos)
- Scalable deployment options, including use in clustered and enterprise NAS environments
Use Cases
- Provide centralized file and print services for mixed OS networks
- Replace or complement Windows Server for SMB shares and AD domain services
- Integrate Linux/Unix servers and desktops into an existing Active Directory domain
Samba is widely used as the standard SMB server on Linux and is suitable for both small networks and enterprise deployments that require compatibility with Windows file sharing and AD-based identity management.