Bob’s Guide to Configuring Network File Sharing on AlmaLinux

Bob will learn how to set up network file sharing on AlmaLinux. He’ll configure both NFS and Samba.

By İbrahim Korucuoğlu ( @siberoloji) | Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Categories:

Linux

Alright, let’s continue with Chapter 15, “Bob’s Guide to Configuring Network File Sharing”, where Bob will learn how to set up network file sharing on AlmaLinux. He’ll configure both NFS (for Linux-to-Linux sharing) and Samba (for cross-platform sharing with Windows).

Bob’s team wants an easy way to share files across the network, so he’s been asked to set up network file sharing on his AlmaLinux server. This will allow team members to access shared folders from their own devices, whether they’re using Linux or Windows. Bob decides to explore two popular solutions: NFS (Network File System) for Linux clients and Samba for cross-platform sharing with Windows.

“Let’s get these files accessible for everyone on the team!” Bob says, ready to set up network sharing.

Bob starts with NFS, a protocol optimized for Linux systems, which allows file sharing across Linux-based devices with minimal configuration.

Installing NFS: Bob installs the nfs-utils package, which includes the necessary tools to set up NFS:
```
sudo dnf install nfs-utils
```
Creating a Shared Directory: Bob creates a directory on the server to share with other Linux devices:
```
sudo mkdir /srv/nfs/shared
```
Configuring Permissions: He sets permissions so that other users can read and write to the directory:
```
sudo chown -R nobody:nogroup /srv/nfs/shared
sudo chmod 777 /srv/nfs/shared
```
Editing the Exports File: To define the NFS share, Bob adds an entry in /etc/exports:
```
sudo nano /etc/exports
```
He adds the following line to allow all devices in the local network (e.g., 192.168.1.0/24) to access the share:
```
/srv/nfs/shared 192.168.1.0/24(rw,sync,no_subtree_check)
```
Starting and Enabling NFS: Bob starts and enables NFS services so that they’re available after reboot:
```
sudo systemctl start nfs-server
sudo systemctl enable nfs-server
```
Exporting the NFS Shares: Finally, he exports the NFS configuration to apply the settings:
```
sudo exportfs -rav
```

“The shared directory is live on the network for other Linux users!” Bob says, happy with the simple setup.

Bob tests the NFS setup by mounting it on another Linux machine.

Installing NFS Client: On the client system, he ensures nfs-utils is installed:
```
sudo dnf install nfs-utils
```
Mounting the NFS Share: He creates a mount point and mounts the NFS share:
```
sudo mkdir -p /mnt/nfs_shared
sudo mount 192.168.1.100:/srv/nfs/shared /mnt/nfs_shared
```
- Replace 192.168.1.100 with the IP address of the NFS server.
Testing the Connection: Bob checks that he can read and write to the shared folder from the client machine.

“NFS is now set up, and my Linux teammates can access shared files easily!” Bob says, feeling accomplished.

Next, Bob configures Samba so that Windows devices can also access the shared files. Samba allows AlmaLinux to act as a file server that’s compatible with both Linux and Windows systems.

Installing Samba: Bob installs the samba package:
```
sudo dnf install samba
```
Creating a Samba Share Directory: Bob creates a directory specifically for Samba sharing:
```
sudo mkdir /srv/samba/shared
```
Configuring Permissions: He sets permissions so that Samba clients can access the directory:
```
sudo chown -R nobody:nogroup /srv/samba/shared
sudo chmod 777 /srv/samba/shared
```
Editing the Samba Configuration File: Bob opens the Samba configuration file to define the shared folder:
```
sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf
```
At the end of the file, he adds a configuration section for the shared directory:
```
[Shared]
path = /srv/samba/shared
browsable = yes
writable = yes
guest ok = yes
read only = no
```
- browsable = yes: Allows the folder to appear in network discovery.
- guest ok = yes: Enables guest access for users without a Samba account.
Setting a Samba Password: To add a user with Samba access, Bob creates a new Samba password:
```
sudo smbpasswd -a bob
```
Starting and Enabling Samba: Bob starts and enables the Samba service:
```
sudo systemctl start smb
sudo systemctl enable smb
```

“Now Windows users should be able to see the shared folder on the network,” Bob says, excited to test the setup.

Bob heads over to a Windows machine to test the Samba share.

Accessing the Share: On the Windows device, he opens File Explorer and types the server IP into the address bar:
```
\\192.168.1.100\Shared
```
(Replace 192.168.1.100 with the actual IP address of the Samba server.)
Testing Read and Write Access: Bob can see the shared folder and successfully reads and writes files, confirming the Samba share is fully operational.

“Cross-platform file sharing achieved!” Bob says, pleased to have a setup that works for everyone.

6. Configuring Samba and NFS for Security

With file sharing enabled, Bob wants to make sure his configuration is secure.

Limiting Access in NFS: Bob restricts access in the NFS configuration to specific trusted IPs:
```
/srv/nfs/shared 192.168.1.101(rw,sync,no_subtree_check)
```
This limits access to a specific client with IP 192.168.1.101.
Setting User Permissions in Samba: He sets up specific user permissions in Samba by adding individual users to smb.conf:
```
[Shared]
path = /srv/samba/shared
valid users = bob, alice
browsable = yes
writable = yes
```
This ensures that only bob and alice can access the share.
Restarting Services: Bob restarts both NFS and Samba services to apply the new security settings:
```
sudo systemctl restart nfs-server
sudo systemctl restart smb
```

“Keeping access secure is just as important as making it convenient,” Bob notes, feeling good about the added security.

With both NFS and Samba set up, Bob has created a robust file-sharing environment on AlmaLinux. Now, his Linux and Windows teammates can access shared resources seamlessly, and his server is set up securely to prevent unauthorized access.

Next up, Bob is eager to dive into automated deployment and containerization to make app management even easier.

Stay tuned for the next chapter: “Bob Explores Automated Deployment and Containerization with Docker!”

Bob’s Guide to Configuring Network File Sharing on AlmaLinux

1. Introduction: Bob’s File Sharing Challenge

2. Setting Up NFS for Linux-to-Linux File Sharing

3. Mounting the NFS Share on a Linux Client

4. Setting Up Samba for Cross-Platform Sharing with Windows

5. Accessing the Samba Share from a Windows Client

6. Configuring Samba and NFS for Security

7. Conclusion: Bob’s Cross-Platform File Sharing Success