Sharing Files with Windows

Configure Windows Networking

To easily share and transfer files and folders on the server with a Windows PC I used the Samba tool included in the ClearOS install. First you have to configure Samba:

This can be done from the ClearOS web interface, go to:  Software / Windows - File and Network

• For 'Server Name' enter the name you want the server to be called in Windows (I called mine Black-Box)

• For 'Windows Domain' enter your Windows workgroup

  • In Windows XP select 'System' from the Control Panel and click on 'Computer Name' where it will be listed.

  • In Windows Vista / 7 click on the 'Computer' tab in the start menu and its listed near the bottom of the window.

• Set a 'Windows Administrator / winadmin' password. (This is only used if you setup a PDC, but you have to enter one before you can get to the other settings)

• Press the 'Update' button

• For 'Comment' enter a description of the server of leave the default
• Leave 'WINS Support' disabled
• Select the option for 'Simple File and Print Server'

• Press the 'Update' button

• Press the 'Start' to start running the service.

Note - After you have set up windows networking you will be able to connect to the server using the server name rather than the IP address, for example: https://black-box:81/

 

Configure Flexshare

 

The Flexshare module is used by ClearOS to share directories with windows.

 

First add a new user on the server via the web interface (Directory - Accounts - Users), the user credentials (name & password) will be required when windows accesses the server.

 

By default, flexshare places all windows shares in the /var/flexshare/shares/ directory on the primary drive. I want to share the new hard drive I've mounted at /mnt/HardDrive, so first we need to edit the configuration file to add the custom path as an option when setting up a flexshare. With WinSCP edit the /etc/flexshare.conf file, changing the second line to read:

FlexshareDirCustom=HardDrive:/mnt/HardDrive/Flexshare

Then create the custom directory; log on to PuTTY and enter:

 

mkdir /mnt/HardDrive/Flexshare

 

Finally create a new Flexshare from the web interface (Server - File and Print - Flexshares). Select the custom Directory and enable File Sharing.

 

 

 

Finding your server in Windows

When you first access the shared directory from windows, enter the user name and password you setup on the server and select for windows to remember your credentials.

 

In Windows XP you should now be able to see 'Shares' in your Windows 'My Network Places', where you will be able to navigate, copy and write files to the remote drive.

 

In Windows Vista and Windows 7 you will see your server name appear in the 'Network' window, again you should be able to navigate, copy and write files to the remote drive.

 

If you want, you can 'map' the network drive to assign a drive letter, I've set mine to the Z: Drive...