CyberBlog

t is relatively easy to configure Samba on Ubuntu 9.04 using command-line tools and by editing the /etc/samba/smb.conf file. However, if you want a more graphical interface, it’s quite simple to install SWAT, the Samba Web Administration Tool, which lets you configure Samba via your web browser.
Here’s how to do it.
First, install Samba. (If you don’t know how to install Samba, you can use my handy guide.) Unless you already have Samba installed, there’s obviously no point in installing the Samba Web Administration Tool.
Once you have Samba installed, you’ll need to pick an account that is a member of the local admin group, since you’ll need an account with admin-level permissions to use all of SWAT’s functions (otherwise you’ll only see status pages, and will be unable to change any settings.) Make sure the admin group has permission to the /etc/samba/smb.conf file with these commands:
sudo chmod g+w /etc/samba/smb.conf
sudo chgrp adm /etc/samba/smb.conf
Next, install both SWAT, and the inetd Internet superserver, which is required for SWAT to run properly:
sudo apt-get install swat xinetd
This will install both SWAT and the inetd superserver, and their dependencies. Once the installation has finished, you’ll need to create a file in the /etc/xinetd.d directory:
sudo gedit /etc/xinetd.d/swat
(Obviously you can use vi or emacs or the text editor of your choice.)
Once you’re in the swat file, add this text:
# default: off
# description: SWAT is the Samba Web Admin Tool. Use swat \
# to configure your Samba server. To use SWAT, \
# connect to port 901 with your favorite web browser.
service swat
{
port = 901
socket_type = stream
wait = no
# Use only_from if you want to restrict access
# only_from = localhost
user = root
server = /usr/sbin/swat
log_on_failure += USERID
disable = no
}
Save the file, edit your text editor, and restart the inetd server:
sudo /etc/init.d/xinetd restart
Then fire up a web browser and navigate here:
http://localhost:901
Enter a username and a password from the admin group, and you’ll have access to SWAT. Note that SWAT also includes all of Samba’s man pages in easily-read web page format