Configuring Samba as a standalone server and enabling home directories

In this recipe we will learn how to install and configure Samba as a standalone server in order to provide basic file-sharing services through the use of a user's home directory.

One of the most common ways to share files across different computer systems is to install and configure Samba as a standalone file server. Standalone servers are configured to provide local authentication and access control to all the resources they maintain. They are independent of all domain controllers and where a standalone server is expected to function like a workgroup server, they can use both, a simple or complicated configuration in order that all data served will be readily accessible to the entire user base. All-in-all every administrator knows that Samba remains a very popular open source distribution and it is the purpose of this recipe to show you how to deliver an instant approach to file sharing that provides seamless integration...