FC17, Samba, Browsing Windows Shares not accessible

[Nipperspot]

I installed Fedora 17 including all updates. I need to browse the Windows network where I can access and/or view the available shares (folders and printers). I cannot browse the Windows computers on the network. When I open Files from the Favorites bar and click on Browse Network, I see the "Windows Network" icon. I double-click the "Windows Network" icon where it takes about 10 seconds to show the "Workgroup" icon. I double-click on the "Workgroup" icon, I see the 'Opening "Workgroup"' window for a while, and then it shows the computers names on the network. When I double-click on one of the computer names, it shows Opening the computer name for some time and then "Unable to mount location", "Failed to retrieve share list from server" with an OK button. I cannot get past this point. I never had this problem in the past when I installed Fedora and accessing network shares.

There are there (3) different Windows computers where each of the Windows computers can access the folder shares and shared printers: Windows 8 Pro x64, Windows 7 Home Premium x64, and Windows XP SP3.

I have also reloaded Fedora 17 x64 several times with running updates with the same result. I also ran many Google searches along with searches in the Fedora Forum. Both with never finding a solution (obviously) to this problem.

Here is the info that may be needed to help me correct this problem.

Fedora Core 17, Linux kernel: 3.6.7-4.fc17.x86_64.

cifs-utils.x86_64                    5.8-1.fc17
samba.x86_64                         2:3.6.9-96.fc17.1
samba-common.x86_64                  2:3.6.9-96.fc17.1

Note - I tried with the Firewall disabled and Firewall enabled with Samba and Samba Client selected to open those ports with the same result above. I also disabled the Windows Firewalls in Windows with the same result.

# cat /etc/selinux/config 

# This file controls the state of SELinux on the system.
# SELINUX= can take one of these three values:
#     enforcing - SELinux security policy is enforced.
#     permissive - SELinux prints warnings instead of enforcing.
#     disabled - No SELinux policy is loaded.
SELINUX=disabled   # enforcing
# SELINUXTYPE= can take one of these two values:
#     targeted - Targeted processes are protected,
#     minimum - Modification of targeted policy. Only selected processes are protected. 
#     mls - Multi Level Security protection.
SELINUXTYPE=targeted 


# cat /etc/samba/smb.conf
[global]
	workgroup = WORKGROUP
	server string = Samba Server Version %v
	# log files split per-machine:
	log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m
	# maximum size of 50KB per log file, then rotate:
	max log size = 50
	security = user
	passdb backend = tdbsam
	wins support = yes
	load printers = yes
	cups options = raw
[homes]
	comment = Home Directories
	browseable = no
	writable = yes
;	valid users = %S
;	valid users = MYDOMAIN\%S
[printers]
	comment = All Printers
	path = /var/spool/samba
	browseable = no
	guest ok = no
	writable = no
	printable = yes

# systemctl status smb
smb.service - Samba SMB Daemon
	  Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/smb.service; enabled)
	  Active: active (running) since Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:21:07 -0500; 11min ago
	 Process: 744 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/smbd $SMBDOPTIONS (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
	Main PID: 747 (smbd)
	  CGroup: name=systemd:/system/smb.service
		  ├ 747 /usr/sbin/smbd
		  └ 756 /usr/sbin/smbd

# systemctl status nmb
nmb.service - Samba NMB Daemon
	  Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/nmb.service; enabled)
	  Active: active (running) since Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:21:07 -0500; 11min ago
	 Process: 716 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/nmbd $NMBDOPTIONS (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
	Main PID: 719 (nmbd)
	  CGroup: name=systemd:/system/nmb.service
		  ├ 719 /usr/sbin/nmbd
		  └ 720 /usr/sbin/nmbd

# systemctl status iptables.service
iptables.service - IPv4 firewall with iptables
	  Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/iptables.service; disabled)
	  Active: inactive (dead)
	  CGroup: name=systemd:/system/iptables.service

# getenforce
Disabled

Thank you for any feedback, help, etc. you may be able to provide.

[marko]

I think you might need to install the samba-winbind package

[Nipperspot]

I think you might need to install the samba-winbind package

Package was not installed. Installed the package, same problem. I even restarted Fedora 17 with the same result.

[beaker_]

Well the first big hint goolge should give you is that linux does not use netbios/wins name resolution by default. And you don't say if you're using nautilus or dolphine so I'll assume your browser needs or want netbios name resolution. Try adding wins to the host parameter in nsswitch.conf. Yeah order does matter..., a little, and you might want to restart just to be sure.

[Nipperspot]

Well the first big hint goolge should give you is that linux does not use netbios/wins name resolution by default. And you don't say if you're using nautilus or dolphine so I'll assume your browser needs or want netbios name resolution. Try adding wins to the host parameter in nsswitch.conf. Yeah order does matter..., a little, and you might want to restart just to be sure.

I changed the hosts order in the nsswitch.conf file:

# vi /etc/nsswitch.conf

#hosts:     db files nisplus nis dns
hosts:      files dns wins #myhostname

Then I ran:

# systemctl enable smb.service
# systemctl enable nmb.service
# systemctl start smb.service
# systemctl start nmb.service

I tried to access the Windows network shares and had the same problem.

I then installed:

# yum install system-config-samba

to verify the samba setup, looks good. Same problem of accessing Windows networking shares. I restarted the smb and nmb services:

# systemctl restart smb.service
# systemctl restart nmb.service

and had no success again, same problems of trying to access network shares.

I remember seeing in this thread that samba got reinstalled, which I do not remember seeing in other threads:

# yum reinstall samba

After reinstall samba, when I access one of the Windows 8 and Windows 7 network shares, I receive the prompt for entering the username and password (which I expected). After entering the Windows username and password for the computer, I was able to access (or browse) the available Windows shares.

[funkioto]

Reinstall worked for me too.
Interesting..

[solo2101]

i ussually have to allow samba in the firewall...

[beaker_]

Funny because samba has little - nothing to do with network browsing.

[solo2101]

nmbd..........

[beaker_]

Oh I'm sorry, I should have said samba and winbind have zero - nothing todo with browsing a network.