Path Traveled Start Server does not hang during boot All other Windows clients display this symptom, or there are no other Windows Clients, or it's too difficult to test the other Windows clients The Linux server can ping its own address from its console's command line The Windows machine can ping the IP address of the Linux server The Linux server can ping the offending name or IP, or the offending name or IP is the same as the server's main IP. The Windows client can ping the offending name or IP, or the offending name or IP is the same as the server's main IP. It appears to be a samba or fileserver or network neighborhood problem

Here are some things to check:

• Due to a bug in Windows, Network Neighborhood is often inaccurate, failing to show the Linux server or even saying the network can't be navigated. If you can't find the Linux host computer in Network Neighborhood, use Start:find:computer to search for it by name (host name only). If you find it, double-click it to "go into" the directories. If you can do that, Samba is working. A return to Network Neighborhood and an F5 to refresh will probably make the Linux server appear in Network Neighborhood.
• Make sure Samba is running. There should be a copy of smbd and nmbd both running. Find out with the following command:
  ps ax | grep mb
• Make sure the workgroup name on the identification tab of the network properties / tcp/ip properties form contains no spaces. Samba can't deal with spaces in the workgroup. If this presents a problem, it must be worked out or Samba abandoned.
• Make sure the workgroup name on the identification tab of the network properties / tcp/ip properties form matches the workgroup name in the [global] section of /etc/smb.conf.
• While you're looking at smb.conf, make sure password level = 20 to make up for the fact that Windows automagically uppercases passwords. Password level=20 makes the Samba password case insensitive for the first 20 characters.
• While you're looking at smb.conf, if any of the Windows clients are Windows 95 Service Release 2 or later, make sure you have encrypt passwords = yes. Without that you'll be asked for a password, but when you type in the right password you'll be told it's wrong. Moving to Samba's encrypted passwords can be a little tricky. Follow these instructions.
• Samba isn't simple. Check out our Samba Tutorial.