I am trying to use an Ubuntu computer to set up Samba shares for a lab of Windows computers (Vista Basic and XP). Two of the shares need logins, but one is supposed to be a public share. My problem is that when a Windows computer attempts to login to a public share (without first logging into another share) it prompts for a username/password.
I know that this problem could be solved by setting "security = share" in the smb.conf file, but I have also read that doing so can cause other security problems and that "security = user" is ideally what should be used. I also know that the smb.conf manual states that "security = user" makes Windows authenticate before accessing a share.
So my main question is, is it possible to use "security = user" for a guest share without Windows prompting for login? Or does Samba not make exceptions for guest shares?
Here is my smb.conf file, for reference:
[global] workgroup = hsbclib server string = %h server (Samba, Ubuntu) dns proxy = no log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m max log size = 1000 syslog = 0 panic action = /usr/share/samba/panic-action %d obey pam restrictions = yes unix password sync = yes passwd program = /usr/bin/passwd %u passwd chat = *Enter\snew\s*\spassword:* %n\n *Retype\snew\s*\spassword:* %n\n *password\supdated\ssuccessfully* . pam password change = yes map to guest = bad user usershare allow guests = yes security = user guest ok = yes guest account = publicuser username map = /etc/samba/smbusers [printers] comment = All Printers browseable = no path = /var/spool/samba printable = yes create mask = 0700 [print$] comment = Printer Drivers path = /var/lib/samba/printers [mabusclass] path = /srv/smb/mabusclass writeable = yes valid users = mabus, mabusclass [yearbook] path = /srv/smb/yearbook writeable = yes valid users = yearbook [public] comment = Free Public Storage path = /srv/smb/public writeable = yes guest ok = yes