Samba: Basic smb.conf example

[^rooker]

I've configured countless numbers of Samba servers over the years, yet I always have to look up the right configuration options required - even if I just want to create a simple "read-only" or "write for all" share.

Therefore, I've finally decided to copy/paste some existing (and working) examples I'm using every now and then.

1) Read-only share:

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[browse]
    comment = Public Storage
    path = /mnt/storage
    browseable = yes
    read only = yes
    guest ok = yes
    follow symlinks = yes
    wide links = yes

This share is visible to anyone browsing the computer's SMB/CIFS shares in a file explorer.
Yet, it's marked as "read only".

These 2 options are necessary to provide access to symlink targets outside of the shared folder:

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    follow symlinks = yes
    wide links = yes

Remove this if you don't require it, since it might add additional security issues/concerns.

2) Hidden to public, but writable for "members":

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[members]
    comment = Data Storage: Member access
    path = /mnt/storage
    browseable = no
    read only = no
    guest ok = no
    write list = @member
    force user = member
    force group = member

In this example, I've created a user+group called "member". Access rights of the shared files are set so that all members of group "member" can read/write in the shared folder.
This option declares who is allowed to write to this share:

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    write list = @member

The last 2 options are enforcing the ownership of newly created files/folders:

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    force user = member
    force group = member

Don't forget to restart your Samba service!
On Debian-based distributions that's something like:

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$ services smbd restart

Enjoy