Connect Ubuntu 11.04 and Windows Systems via Samba–Part One
This article describes how to join Windows and Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal Systems to the same domain or workgroup so that both systems can access and share files seamlessly. This tutorial will be written in series, starting with configuring Windows Systems. Our next articles will focus on configuring Ubuntu Systems and joining both systems to the same domain. When both PCs are in the same workgroup, file sharing between the two systems will be easy to accomplish.
The first thing to do is assign our Windows Computer a name and create a Workgroup name. Both systems will need to be member of this workgroup.
To get started, click ‘Start –> and right-click ‘Computer’ and select ‘Properties’
Then select ‘Advanced system settings’ from the left menu
Next, select ‘Computer Name’ tab and click ‘Change’
This is where you change Windows computer name as well as the workgroup name. Please enter a workgroup name that both systems must belong to. It can be anything, but make sure to add the same workgroup name to your Ubuntu machines. When done, close out and restart your computer.
After restarting, click ‘Start –> then type ‘Network and Sharing Center’ in the search box, then select ‘Network and Sharing Center’
Next select ‘Change advanced sharing settings’ option from the left
And finally, enable ‘File and printer sharing’ and save.
Close out and you’re done configuring Windows for file sharing. In our next tutorial, I will show you how to configure Ubuntu so that it becomes a member of the same workgroup created above.
this is an ok tutorial, however, in the title, it explicitly says “to workgroup OR domain” and nowhere in the tutorial does it specify how to connect Ubuntu to a Windows DOMAIN. A Windows Workgroup is quite different than a Windows domain… Seems to me there is a MUCH needed part 4…
thank you for your tutorials are amazing.
so after a few hours banging my head against the keyboard I found what could be a solution for those who get the error message:
“Unable to Mount Location
Failed to retrieve share list from server”
My ubuntu machine was not showing up on my win 7 networks window
and under computer management share folders> shared
I couldn’t create a “new Share”.
so what I did was open my libraries music and video folders (which is what i wanted to stream) right click > share with > Specific People and on the window that will open up find the arrow and select “guest” click [add] and [share] click [done] and boom you’re set.
hope this helps I really couldnt find a legit way to do it. this worked for me. I’m very new to this os in fact i just installed it on a beat up laptop i had collecting dust. now its gonna stream my movies to my living room set.