# Activating Unix Core Server Database Directory Sharing

Samba share is one way for a Unix Core Server database to share data with an Open iT Analysis Server in a Windows environment. This guide will cover the steps to enable Samba share, allowing a Unix Core Server database directory to be shared with the Analysis Server.

The operating system used in this configuration is CentOS 8.4.

1. Check the machine if Samba is already installed:

   Command Syntax

   rpm -q samba

   This command will either indicate that the Samba package is not installed on the machine or display the installed version of Samba.

   Sample output if Samba is already installed

   samba-4.13.3-5.el8_4.x86_64

2. If Samba is not yet installed in the machine, run the following command to install; otherwise, skip this step.

   Command Syntax

   yum install samba samba-client samba-common -y

   Make sure that all packages are downloaded and the installation is completed successfully.

1. Check if the firewall is enabled using the command below:

   Command Syntax

   firewall-cmd --state

2. Enable Samba services using these commands:

   Command Syntax

   firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-service=samba

3. Reload the firewall:

   Command Syntax

   firewall-cmd --reload

net config workstation

1. Go to the etc directory, which is by default in /etc/samba/, and back up the smb.conf configuration file. This configuration file is used by the Samba service.

   Command Syntax

   sudo cp /etc/samba/smb.conf /etc/samba/smb.conf.bak

2. Update smb.conf to set up shared folder. In this example, the database directory is in /var/data/database.

   Configurations

   [global]
   workgroup = svg
   server string = Samba Server %v
   netbios name = mnl510lin
   security = user
   map to guest = bad user
   dns proxy = no
   
   #============================ Share Definitions ============================== 
   [openit_data] 
   path = /var/data/database
   browsable = yes
   writable = yes
   guest ok = yes
   read only = no

   Parameter	Description
   workgroup	The workgroup/domain of the Windows machine.
   netbios name	The name of the Unix machine.
   path	The path of the Core Server database set upon installation.
   writable	If you need write access to the shared Core Server database directory, set the value to yes.

   Samba Share Configuration Parameters
   
   

3. Save the changes.

4. Verify the Samba settings by running the command:

   Command Syntax

   testparm

5. Change the SELinux context for the Samba shared directory:

   Command Syntax

   chcon -vR -t samba_share_t /var/data/database

6. Enable and start the Samba services:

   Command Syntax

   systemctl enable smb.service
   systemctl enable nmb.service

   Command Syntax

   systemctl start smb.service
   systemctl start nmb.service

7. Go to the Windows machine where the Analysis Server is installed and verify that the shared directory is visible. You may use the IP address of the Unix machine to access the database.

1. On the Analysis Server machine, follow the instructions in the Setting the Core Server File Database Location section. Use the configured Samba share directory as the value.

2. Run the SyncDatabase command.

3. Make sure the process finishes successfully. If the process fails, go back and review the steps above to double-check, or proceed with the Troubleshooting section.

The subfolders in the data directory are not visible on the Windows machine.

To resolve the issue, run the following command:

chcon -vR -t samba_share_t [data_dir_path]

Then, restart the Samba service.

Verify that the subfolders are now visible on the Windows machine.

An error is encountered when running the chcon command.

To resolve ths error, run the following command to verify that SELinux is in enforcing mode:

getenforce

To set SELinux to enforcing mode, run the following command:

setenforce Enforcing