Samba

Install Samba Server

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install samba smbclient cifs-utils

Create the /video Folder

sudo mkdir /video

Configure the Share

Now, edit the file /etc/samba/smb.conf.

sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf

Find the workgroup variable and name your workgroup (e.g., workgroup = WORKGROUP).

Then scroll to the end of the file and add the following configuration:

[video]
   comment = Video folder
   path = /video
   writable = yes
   guest ok = no
   valid users = @smbshare
   force create mode = 770
   force directory mode = 770
   inherit permissions = yes

Press Ctrl+O, then Enter to save, and Ctrl+X to exit.

Done !

Create the group

sudo groupadd smbshare

Give the group control over the /video folder:

sudo chgrp -R smbshare /video

Set inherited permissions:

sudo chmod 2775 /video

Create the user

Now add a no-login user: this user cannot log into the server but can access Samba.

sudo useradd -M -s /sbin/nologin sambauser

Add the user to the smbshare group:

sudo usermod -aG smbshare sambauser

Set a Samba password:

sudo smbpasswd -a sambauser

Enable the Samba account

sudo smbpasswd -e sambauser

Done !

Install Required Packages

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install cifs-utils

Create the Mount Destination

We will create a folder on our local machine where the remote /video folder will be mounted, e.g. /mnt/video.

sudo mkdir /mnt/video

Prepare the .credentials File

To avoid typing our username and password every time, create a .credentials file storing the login info.

Create it in the /smb folder:

sudo mkdir /smb
sudo nano /smb/.credentials

Write:

username=smbuser
password=password

• smbuser: the user we created on the remote-machine
• password: the password set earlier

Press Ctrl+O, then Enter to save, and Ctrl+X to exit.

Set proper file permissions:

sudo chmod 600 /smb/.credentials

Mount the Shared Folder

sudo ufw allow from <your-remote-ip> to any app Samba

Now mount the folder:

sudo mount -t cifs -o credentials=/smb/.credentials //remote-ip/video /mnt/video

Replace remote-ip with your remote-machine's IP address.

Verify the mount:

sudo mount -t cifs

You’ll see details confirming the mount is successful.

Now you can access the /video folder of the remote-machine from your local-machine!

(Optional) Auto-mount on Boot

By default, shares aren't auto-mounted after reboot. To automate this, edit the /etc/fstab file.

First, back it up:

sudo cp /etc/fstab /etc/fstab.bak

Then add the mount configuration line:

sudo echo //remote-ip/video    /mnt/video  cifs   _netdev,nofail,credentials=/smb/.credentials,x-systemd.automount,x-systemd.device-timeout=15 0 0 >> /etc/fstab

Reboot the machine:

sudo reboot

After rebooting, verify the mount:

sudo mount -t cifs

And done!