LSDF Online Storage: SMB / CIFS
SMB or CIFS is a network protocol providing remote shared access to files. It implements a network file system similar to NFS allowing users of the LSDF Online Storage to mount or browse their storage projects from remote clients.
Prerequisites
Please note the following requirements and restrictions when using the LSDF SMB service:
- To access the LSDF Online Storage via SMB it is required to set a service password. Please follow this link to initially set, change or delete your service password. The service password will be used to authenticate your SMB client to the LSDF Online Storage SMB service.
- SMB shares of the LSDF Online Storage are only accessible from within the KIT network or via KIT-VPN.
- Posix style file commands like chmod must not be applied on files or folders on a SMB/CIFS share. Doing so may revoke access control lists (ACLs) preventing you or your project partners from accessing the shared file system via SMB. LSDF administrators can, if requested, prevent the usage of chmod on a storage project level.
Using SMB/CIFS on Linux with the Samba Command Line Client
Linux operating system need dedicated SMB clients to access shares. SMB clients are part of the Samba implementation for Linux and other UNIX like operating systems. To access a SMB share with the Samba command line client, e.g. to list all available shaes, issue the following commands:
$ smbclient -L os.lsdf.kit.edu -U 'os.lsdf.kit.edu\xy1234' -m SMB2
Enter os.lsdf.kit.edu\xy1234's password:
Domain=[LSDF] OS=[] Server=[]
Sharename Type Comment
--------- ---- -------
IPC$ IPC IPC Service (LSDF Online Storage)
kit Disk kit
iai-projects Disk iai-projects
iam-cms-projects Disk iam-cms-projects
scc-projects Disk scc-projects
ikp-projects Disk ikp-projects
ioc-projects Disk ioc-projects
ifh-projects Disk ifh-projects
itg-projects Disk itg-projects
imk-tro-projects Disk imk-tro-projects
imk-asf-projects Disk imk-asf-projects
ifkm-projects Disk ifkm-projects
(...)
The smbclient program provides a FTP like set of commands to access files and directories in an interactive shell:
$ smbclient //os.lsdf.kit.edu/kit -U 'LSDF\xy1234' -m SMB2 Enter os.lsdf.kit.edu\xy1234's password: Domain=[LSDF] OS=[] Server=[] smb: \> pwd Current directory is \\os.lsdf.kit.edu\kit\ smb: \> help
Details information on the usage of smbclient can be found in the manual.
Mounting a Remote File System on Linux (as root)
A remote SMB share can be mounted to a local directory. You do need root rights on the local system to perform the mount operation.
To mount a remote file system issue the following command:
$ mkdir /mnt/cifs $ mount -t cifs -o vers=2.0,username='xy1234' //os.lsdf.kit.edu/inst-projects /mnt/cifs Password for xy1234@//os.lsdf.kit.edu/inst-projects: ********** -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ df | grep cifs //os.lsdf.kit.edu/inst-projects 966367641600 138649829376 827717812224 15% /mnt/cifs
or
$ mount -t cifs -o vers=2.0,username='xy1234' //os.lsdf.kit.edu/kit /mnt/cifs Password for xy1234@//os.lsdf.kit.edu/kit: **********
Verify the success of the mount with the following command:
$ mount | grep cifs //os.lsdf.kit.edu/kit on /mnt/cifs type cifs (rw)
Using SMB/CIFS on Windows
You can use a CIFS share from a Microsoft operating system.
Adopting Universal Naming Convention (UNC) syntax
Use Windows Explorer entering the path to the share in UNC syntax:
Examples:
\\os.lsdf.kit.edu or \\os.lsdf.kit.edu\kit\inst\xy1234 or \\os.lsdf.kit.edu\inst-projects
Following the input of the UNC path, a window will pop up:
Loginname: os.lsdf.kit.edu\xy1234
Password: Service Password
Following authentication a new window pops up, showing the content of the share.
You can now manipulate Your files as accustomed.
Creation of a network (pseudo) drive with Windows Explorer
To connect to a network share in Windows Explorer select the control field
Select a drive letter to be associated with the network share and enter the network path (e.g. \\os.lsdf.kit.edu\kit). Select ‘use a different identification‘, as these differ from Your credential used locally.
Instead of the domain name in KIT, which You are accustomed to, take for user xy1234 e.g.: os.lsdf.kit.edu\xy1234. Use the dedicated service password instead of Your KIT Domain password.
