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Windows systems share resources such as file systems and printers using something called Server Message Block (SMB). In order for a Linux system to serve such resources over a network to a Windows system and vice versa it must, therefore, support SMB. This is achieved using Linux based technology called Samba. In addition to providing integration between Linux and Windows systems, Samba may also be used to provide folder sharing between Linux systems (as an alternative to NFS which was covered in Sharing Fedora Linux Folders with Remote Linux and UNIX Systems).
In this chapter we will look at the steps necessary to share file system resources and printers on an a Fedora system with remote Windows and Linux systems.
== Installing Samba on a Fedora Linux System ==
Next, the firewall needs to be configured to allow Samba traffic. To achieve this, run the Firewall Configuration tool by selecting the ''System->Administration->Firewall'' menu option.
If you would like to access shared resources hosted on other Windows or Linux based systems, select check box next to the ''Samba Client'' item in the Trusted Services list. Similarly, if you would like other Linux and Windows system to be able to access shared resources on your system, enable the ''Samba Client'' option. Click ''Apply'' top to commit the firewall configuration changes.
== Sharing Fedora Linux Folders ==
Type or browse to the path you wish to share and enter a share name if you do not like the one provided by the tool. Set the ''Writable'' and ''Visible'' toggles to your desired settings and click ''OK''. Select the ''Access''' tab and either select a user added in the previous step,, or allow access to all users.
Click on ''OK'' when you have configured the information in this dialog. The main dialog should appear with the new share listed:
Once completed, the folder you specified will be visible from any Windows systems on the same network (and workgroup specified in the Server Settings page) as your Fedora Linux system. You should now have remote access to your Linux folder from the Windows system.
== Accessing Windows Shares From from Fedora ==
As previously mentioned, Samba is a two way street, allowing not only Windows systems to access files and printers hosted on a Fedora system, but also allowing the Fedora system to access shared resources on Windows systems. To access any shared resources on a Windows system, begin by selecting the ''Places->Network'' desktop menu option. This will display the ''Network'' browser dialog including an icon for the Windows network (if one is detected) as illustrated in the following figure: