1 <samba:parameter name="server role"
4 basic="1" advanced="1" wizard="1" developer="1"
5 function="_server_role"
6 xmlns:samba="http://www.samba.org/samba/DTD/samba-doc">
8 <para>This option determines the basic operating mode of a Samba
9 server and is one of the most important settings in the <filename
10 moreinfo="none"> smb.conf</filename> file.</para>
12 <para>The default is <command moreinfo="none">server role = auto</command>, as causes
13 Samba to operate according to the <smbconfoption name="security"/> setting, or if not
14 specified as a simple file server that is not connected to any domain.</para>
16 <para>The alternatives are
17 <command moreinfo="none">server role = standalone</command> or <command moreinfo="none">server role = member server
18 </command>, which support joining Samba to a Windows domain, along with <command moreinfo="none">server role = domain controller</command>, which run Samba as a Windows domain controller.</para>
20 <para>You should use <command moreinfo="none">server role = standalone</command> and
21 <smbconfoption name="map to guest"/> if you
22 want to mainly setup shares without a password (guest shares). This
23 is commonly used for a shared printer server. </para>
25 <para><anchor id="AUTO"/><emphasis>SERVER ROLE = AUTO</emphasis></para>
27 <para>This is the default server role in Samba, and causes Samba to consult
28 the <smbconfoption name="security"/> parameter (if set) to determine the server role, giving compatable behaviours to previous Samba versions.</para>
30 <para><anchor id="STANDALONE"/><emphasis>SERVER ROLE = STANDALONE</emphasis></para>
32 <para>If <smbconfoption name="security"/> is also not specified, this is the default security setting in Samba.
33 In standalone operation, a client must first "log-on" with a
34 valid username and password (which can be mapped using the <smbconfoption name="username map"/>
35 parameter) stored on this machine. Encrypted passwords (see the <smbconfoption name="encrypted passwords"/> parameter) are by default
36 used in this security mode. Parameters such as <smbconfoption name="user"/> and <smbconfoption
37 name="guest only"/> if set are then applied and
38 may change the UNIX user to use on this connection, but only after
39 the user has been successfully authenticated.</para>
41 <para><anchor id="MEMBER SERVER"/><emphasis>SERVER ROLE = MEMBER SERVER</emphasis></para>
43 <para>This mode will only work correctly if <citerefentry><refentrytitle>net</refentrytitle>
44 <manvolnum>8</manvolnum></citerefentry> has been used to add this
45 machine into a Windows Domain. It expects the <smbconfoption name="encrypted passwords"/>
46 parameter to be set to <constant>yes</constant>. In this
47 mode Samba will try to validate the username/password by passing
48 it to a Windows or Samba Domain Controller, in exactly
49 the same way that a Windows Server would do.</para>
51 <para><emphasis>Note</emphasis> that a valid UNIX user must still
52 exist as well as the account on the Domain Controller to allow
53 Samba to have a valid UNIX account to map file access to. Winbind can provide this.</para>
55 <para><anchor id="PDC"/><emphasis>SERVER ROLE = CLASSIC PRIMARY DOMAIN CONTROLLER</emphasis></para>
57 <para>This mode of operation runs a classic Samba primary domain
58 controller, providing domain logon services to Windows and Samba
59 clients of an NT4-like domain. Clients must be joined to the domain to
60 create a secure, trusted path across the network. There must be
61 only one PDC per NetBIOS scope (typcially a broadcast network or
62 clients served by a single WINS server).</para>
64 <para><anchor id="BDC"/><emphasis>SERVER ROLE = NETBIOS BACKUP DOMAIN CONTROLLER</emphasis></para>
66 <para>This mode of operation runs a classic Samba backup domain
67 controller, providing domain logon services to Windows and Samba
68 clients of an NT4-like domain. As a BDC, this allows
69 multiple Samba servers to provide redundant logon services to a
70 single NetBIOS scope.</para>
72 <para><anchor id="AD-DC"/><emphasis>SERVER ROLE = ACTIVE DIRECTORY DOMAIN CONTROLLER</emphasis></para>
74 <para>This mode of operation runs Samba as an active directory
75 domain controller, providing domain logon services to Windows and
76 Samba clients of the domain. This role requires special
77 configuration, see the <ulink
78 url="http://wiki.samba.org/index.php/Samba4/HOWTO">Samba4
83 <related>security</related>
84 <related>realm</related>
85 <related>encrypt passwords</related>
87 <value type="default">AUTO</value>
88 <value type="example">DOMAIN CONTROLLER</value>