How to Connect Your Linux Home Server to Your Windows-Based Network

Did you know that it has always been possible to connect your Linux home server to your Windows-based network? Even though there has always been some friction between Linux and Microsoft, the two share some industry-standard components. Utilizing Samba in Linux and the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol, you can effectively integrate your Linux home server into your Windows-based environment.

Step1 Configure your Ethernet interface card with an available IP address or DHCP. Under most Linux variants, you can go to the “main menu” (similar to the “start” button in Windows) and select “system settings” and “network.” If you are entering a static IP address, be sure to set the subnet mask to the same as the rest of your network (i.e. 255.255.255.0 for most).

Step2 Configure Samba to accept incoming connections. Go to “main menu,” “system settings” and “security level.” Check the box next to your Ethernet card, making it a trusted device.

Step3 Initialize SMB service by going to “system settings,” then “server settings” and “services.” In the box that appears, scroll down to “SMB” and ensure a checkmark is placed next to it.

Step4 Establish users on your Linux home server. Go to “system settings” and “users & groups.”

Step5 Establish your Samba server settings. Go to “system settings,” “server settings” and “Samba.” Once under “server settings” (within the “preference” menu), set the workgroup to the same as your Windows workgroup. Select “OK” when you’re done.

Step6 Set up Samba users by selecting “Samba users” under the “preferences” menu item. Click the “add user” button. Fill out the information as necessary, and click “OK” when finished.

Step7 Shut down and restart your Linux server. Make sure to do this according to protocol.

Step8 You should now be able to connect to your Linux server. You can access an Internet Explorer window and type “\\[servername]” or “\\[ip address]” (where [servername] is the name you’ve assigned to the server and [ip address] is the IP address given to the server).