Ubuntu 14 SAMBA Active Directory Member Server

This guide will detail how to setup an Ubuntu 14.x server as a SAMBA Active Directory member server. There have been some configuration changes since earlier Ubuntu releases due to the adoption of the latest stable SAMBA 4.1 release.

1. Ensure you have a working AD DC with a statically assigned IP.
2. When installing Ubuntu and configuring networking, ensure you set the DNS server to your AD DC and configure NTP time sync against your DC.
3. Install required packages

   sudo apt-get install -y samba krb5-user winbind libnss-winbind libpam-winbind
   # Press enter at the Kerberos realm prompt, we'll customise that later

4. Edit /etc/nsswitch.conf and change these lines:

   passwd: compat winbind
   group: compat winbind

5. Rename /etc/samba/smb.conf and then make it (substituting your own NetBIOS and AD domain settings):

   [global]
       workgroup = TEST
       server string = Samba Server Version %v
       security = ads
       realm = TEST.LOCAL
       domain master = no
       local master = no
       preferred master = no
       socket options = TCP_NODELAY IPTOS_LOWDELAY SO_RCVBUF=131072 SO_SNDBUF=131072
       use sendfile = true
   	 
       idmap config * : backend = tdb
       idmap config * : range = 100000-299999
       idmap config TEST : backend = rid
       idmap config TEST : range = 10000-99999
       winbind separator = +
       winbind enum users = yes
       winbind enum groups = yes
       winbind use default domain = yes
       winbind nested groups = yes
       winbind refresh tickets = yes
       template homedir = /home/%D/%U
       template shell = /bin/false
   	 
       client use spnego = yes
       client ntlmv2 auth = yes
       encrypt passwords = yes
       restrict anonymous = 2
       log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m
       max log size = 50
   		 
   #============================ Share Definitions ==============================
   		 
   [testshare]
       comment = Test share
       path = /samba/testshare
       read only = no
       @valid users = "Domain Users"
       force group = "Domain Users"
       directory mode = 0770
       force directory mode = 0770
       create mode = 0660
       force create mode = 0660
   

6. Rename /etc/krb5.conf then make it (again substituting your own NetBIOS and AD domain settings):

   [logging]
       default = FILE:/var/log/krb5libs.log
       kdc = FILE:/var/log/krb5kdc.log
       admin_server = FILE:/var/log/kadmind.log
   		 
   [libdefaults]
       default_realm = TEST.LOCAL
       ticket_lifetime = 24h
       forwardable = yes
   		 
   [appdefaults]
       pam = {
           debug = false
           ticket_lifetime = 36000
           renew_lifetime = 36000
           forwardable = true
           krb4_convert = false
       }
   

7. Test Kerberos authentication against your Windows DC

   kinit administrator
   # Enter your AD password
   # If it was successful you should be returned to the command prompt

8. List Kerberos tickets

   klist
   # Credentials cache: FILE:/tmp/krb5cc_1001
   # Principal: [email protected]TEST.LOCAL
    
   #
   # Issued Expires Principal
   # May 20 14:51:31 May 21 00:51:31 krbtgt/TEST.LOCAL@TEST.LOCAL
   

9. Join SAMBA to the domain:

   sudo net ads join -U administrator
    
   # Enter the TEST\administrator password when prompted.
   #
   # If successful, should report "Joined  to realm 'test.local'".
   #
   # If you see a message about being unable to create a DNS entry, open the DNS MMC on your DC and create an "A" record for your SAMBA server manually.
   

10. Test Winbind:

    sudo update-rc.d winbind defaults
    sudo service winbind start
    
    wbinfo -u
    # Lists AD users
     
    wbinfo -g
    # Lists AD groups
     
    getent passwd
    # Should list AD users at the bottom with UIDs in the 10000+ range
     
    getent group
    # Should list AD groups at the bottom with GIDs in the 10000+ range
    

11. Create your share:

    sudo mkdir -p /samba/testshare
    sudo chown "administrator":"domain users" /samba/testshare
    sudo chmod 0770 /samba/testshare

12. Restart SAMBA services to ensure everything is ready:

    service winbind restart
    service nmbd restart
    service smbd restart

13. You should then be able to browse your SAMBA share from your Windows server/client without any authentication prompts.