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