samba/README.md

[![logo](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/upagge/samba/master/logo.jpg)](https://www.samba.org)

# Samba

Docker container for Samba file server.

## About the Fork

This repository is a fork of the [dperson/samba](https://github.com/dperson/samba) project, which has not been updated for a long time. This version contains the current Samba version for the current Alpine Linux version.

## Samba Versions

Image tags correspond to the Samba version in the container. Use the appropriate tag to get the required version. The latest stable version always has the `latest` tag, and the development version has the `develop` tag.

The Samba version corresponds to what is available for installation in Alpine. If a new Samba version is not yet available in the image, it means it has not been updated in Alpine yet.

## What is Samba?

Since 1992, Samba has provided secure, stable, and fast file and print services for all clients using the SMB/CIFS protocol: all versions of DOS and Windows, OS/2, Linux, and many others.

## Image Features

- Alpine Linux base image (minimal size)
- SMB2/SMB3 support (SMB1 disabled by default)
- Time Machine support for macOS
- Built-in recycle bin
- Optimized performance settings
- Healthcheck for status monitoring

## Quick Start

### Run with default settings

```bash
docker run -it -p 139:139 -p 445:445 -d upagge/samba -p
```

### Run with local storage

```bash
docker run -it --name samba -p 139:139 -p 445:445 \
    -v /path/to/directory:/mount \
    -d upagge/samba -p
```

### Run with docker-compose

```yaml
services:
  samba:
    image: upagge/samba
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "139:139/tcp"
      - "445:445/tcp"
    volumes:
      - /mnt/data:/share
    command: '-s "Data;/share;yes;no;no" -u "user;password" -p'
```

## Configuration

### Help

```bash
docker run -it --rm upagge/samba -h
```

### Command Line Options

| Option | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `-h` | Show help |
| `-c "<from:to>"` | Set up character mapping for file/directory names |
| `-g "<parameter>"` | Add global option to smb.conf |
| `-G "<section;parameter>"` | Add option to specific smb.conf section |
| `-i "<path>"` | Import smbpasswd file |
| `-n` | Start nmbd daemon to advertise shares |
| `-p` | Set ownership and permissions on shares |
| `-r` | Disable recycle bin for shares |
| `-S` | Disable SMB2 minimum version |
| `-t` | Enable Time Machine support for macOS |
| `-s` | Configure a share (see format below) |
| `-u` | Add a user (see format below) |
| `-w "<workgroup>"` | Configure workgroup (domain) |
| `-W` | Allow wide symbolic links |
| `-I "<path>"` | Add include at the end of smb.conf |
| `-E` | Enable enhanced security (signing + encryption) |

### Share Parameter Format (-s)

```
-s "<name;/path>[;browse;readonly;guest;users;admins;writelist;comment]"
```

| Field | Default | Description |
|-------|---------|-------------|
| `name` | required | Share name for clients |
| `/path` | required | Path to share directory |
| `browse` | yes | Visible in network browsing (yes/no) |
| `readonly` | yes | Read-only (yes/no) |
| `guest` | yes | Allow guest access (yes/no) |
| `users` | all | List of allowed users (comma-separated) |
| `admins` | none | List of share administrators (comma-separated) |
| `writelist` | — | Users with write access on RO share |
| `comment` | — | Share description |

### User Parameter Format (-u)

```
-u "<name;password>[;ID;group;GID]"
```

| Field | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| `name` | Username (required) |
| `password` | User password (required) |
| `ID` | User UID (optional) |
| `group` | User group (optional) |
| `GID` | Group GID (optional) |

### Environment Variables

| Variable | Description |
|----------|-------------|
| `CHARMAP` | Character mapping |
| `GENERIC` | Section-specific option (supports GENERIC2, GENERIC3...) |
| `GLOBAL` | Global option (supports GLOBAL2, GLOBAL3...) |
| `IMPORT` | Path to smbpasswd file for import |
| `NMBD` | Enable nmbd daemon |
| `PERMISSIONS` | Set permissions on shares |
| `RECYCLE` | Disable recycle bin |
| `SHARE` | Share configuration (supports SHARE2, SHARE3...) |
| `SMB` | Disable SMB2 minimum version |
| `TIMEMACHINE` | Enable Time Machine support |
| `TZ` | Timezone (e.g., `Europe/London`) |
| `USER` | User configuration (supports USER2, USER3...) |
| `WIDELINKS` | Allow wide symbolic links |
| `SECURE` | Enable enhanced security (signing + encryption) |
| `WORKGROUP` | Workgroup |
| `USERID` | UID for smbuser |
| `GROUPID` | GID for smb group |
| `INCLUDE` | Path to additional config file |

## Examples

### Setting the Timezone

```bash
docker run -it -e TZ=Europe/London -p 139:139 -p 445:445 -d upagge/samba -p
```

### Creating Users and Shares

```bash
docker run -it -p 139:139 -p 445:445 -d upagge/samba -p \
    -u "user1;password1" \
    -u "user2;password2" \
    -s "public;/share;yes;no;yes" \
    -s "users;/srv;no;no;no;user1,user2" \
    -s "user1_private;/user1;no;no;no;user1" \
    -s "user2_private;/user2;no;no;no;user2"
```

### Enabling Time Machine

```bash
docker run -it -p 139:139 -p 445:445 -d upagge/samba -p -t \
    -u "macuser;password" \
    -s "TimeMachine;/backup;no;no;no;macuser"
```

### Using Environment Variables

```bash
docker run -it -p 139:139 -p 445:445 \
    -e SHARE="Data;/data;yes;no;no" \
    -e SHARE2="Backup;/backup;yes;yes;no" \
    -e USER="admin;secretpass" \
    -e PERMISSIONS="true" \
    -e TZ="Europe/London" \
    -v /mnt/data:/data \
    -v /mnt/backup:/backup \
    -d upagge/samba
```

### Full docker-compose.yml

```yaml
services:
  samba:
    image: upagge/samba
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      TZ: 'Europe/London'
      SHARE: "Documents;/documents;yes;no;no;user1,user2"
      SHARE2: "Media;/media;yes;yes;yes"
      USER: "user1;${SAMBA_USER1_PASSWORD}"
      USER2: "user2;${SAMBA_USER2_PASSWORD}"
      PERMISSIONS: "true"
    ports:
      - "139:139/tcp"
      - "445:445/tcp"
    volumes:
      - /mnt/documents:/documents
      - /mnt/media:/media
    deploy:
      resources:
        limits:
          memory: 512M
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD", "smbclient", "-L", "\\\\localhost", "-U", "%", "-m", "SMB3"]
      interval: 60s
      timeout: 15s
      start_period: 10s
      retries: 3
```

## Ports

| Port | Protocol | Description |
|------|----------|-------------|
| 137 | UDP | NetBIOS Name Service (only with `-n`) |
| 138 | UDP | NetBIOS Datagram Service (only with `-n`) |
| 139 | TCP | SMB over NetBIOS |
| 445 | TCP | SMB direct |

**Note**: Ports 137 and 138 are only needed when using the `-n` flag or `NMBD` variable.

## Troubleshooting

### -G Parameters for Shares Not Overriding Global Settings

If `-G` parameters for individual shares do not override global `force user` and `force group` settings, make sure you are using the latest version of the image.

**This issue has been fixed**: when using environment variables, `GENERIC` was processed before `SHARE`, so share sections did not exist yet. The processing order has now been corrected.

Example of correct usage:

```bash
docker run -it -p 139:139 -p 445:445 -d upagge/samba \
    -s "public;/cloud/share;yes;no;yes" \
    -G "public;force user = nobody" \
    -G "public;force group = nogroup" \
    -G "public;guest ok = yes" \
    -G "public;read only = no"
```

Or with environment variables:

```bash
docker run -it -p 139:139 -p 445:445 \
    -e SHARE="public;/cloud/share;yes;no;yes" \
    -e GENERIC="public;force user = nobody" \
    -e GENERIC2="public;force group = nogroup" \
    -d upagge/samba
```

### "Access is denied" Error

If you get an `Access is denied` error or see `change_to_user_internal: chdir_current_service() failed!` in the logs:

```bash
docker run -it --name samba -p 139:139 -p 445:445 \
    -v /path/to/directory:/mount \
    -d upagge/samba -p
```

Add the `-p` flag or set the `PERMISSIONS=true` variable.

If changing permissions is not possible, use the `USERID` and `GROUPID` variables:

```bash
docker run -it --name samba -p 139:139 -p 445:445 \
    -e USERID=1000 \
    -e GROUPID=1000 \
    -v /path/to/directory:/mount \
    -d upagge/samba
```

### High Memory Usage

Limit container memory:

```bash
docker run -it --name samba -m 512m -p 139:139 -p 445:445 \
    -v /path/to/directory:/mount \
    -d upagge/samba -p
```

### Connecting via smbclient

By default, smbclient tries to use SMB1. Use the `-m SMB3` flag:

```bash
smbclient -L \\localhost -U % -m SMB3
smbclient //localhost/share -U user -m SMB3
```

### NetBIOS Not Working

When using `-n` or `NMBD`, host network mode may be required:

```bash
docker run -it --network host \
    -e NMBD=true \
    -d upagge/samba -n -p \
    -s "share;/data"
```

## Security

- Only SMB2/SMB3 is used by default (SMB1 disabled)
- Use strong passwords
- Store passwords in `.env` file or Docker secrets
- Restrict share access to specific users

### Enhanced Security Mode

For environments requiring additional protection, use the `-E` flag or `SECURE=true` environment variable:

```bash
docker run -it -p 445:445 -d upagge/samba -E -p \
    -u "user;password" \
    -s "secure_share;/data;yes;no;no;user"
```

This enables:
- **Server signing** (mandatory) — prevents packet tampering
- **Client signing** (mandatory) — ensures client authenticity
- **SMB encryption** (desired) — encrypts traffic when client supports it

**Note**: Some older clients may not support these features. Only enable if all clients are compatible.

## Feedback

If you have any problems or questions, please create an [issue on GitHub](https://github.com/upagge/samba/issues).