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What is probably the world's first productive setup of Samba and Linux clients with SMB3 UNIX Extensions is now up and running at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (UAS). Björn Jacke from the SerNet Samba team recently worked with colleagues from the university's IT department to equip the Samba server and connected Linux clients with this new feature for academic purposes.  

Frankfurt UAS had consciously decided not to use dual protocols SMB and NFS. Instead, it now relies on uniform integration with SMB3: Samba's rights and sharing management offers much greater flexibility and easier administration. Without the Unix Extensions, students using Linux workstations were previously restricted in that symlinks or Unix commands such as chmod did not behave as they would on a typical POSIX/Linux system. The operations could not be mapped directly via the SMB protocol. Jacke: “With the new SMB3 UNIX Extensions, Linux clients now work perfectly with SMB mounts from Samba servers, enabling optimal integration without compromise. This makes studying at Frankfurt University even more enjoyable for students.”

Samba 4.22 with SMB3 Unix Extensions

The SMB3 UNIX Extensions feature is available since Samba version 4.22, which was released in April 2025. The topic also dominated this year's sambaXP and can be reviewed in several recordings published on the SAMBA+ YouTube channel.

SerNet has already incorporated some additional features into the current SAMBA+ packages, which will only be part of Samba from version 4.23 onwards in fall 2025.

SerNet: Worldwide partner for Samba projects

Support – remote or directly onsite – is part of the core business of SerNet's Samba team. The team supports companies and organizations in setting up, maintaining, and optimizing Samba infrastructures. The project implementation in Frankfurt shows how practical know-how and technological development come together at the customer's site.

How can we assist you with your Samba environment?

SerNet offers professional assistance with all questions relating to Samba, SMB, and Active Directory – from planning and implementation to ongoing support and development projects. Find out more about our services or contact us directly.

Following the official release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 10 on May 20, 2025, the Samba team at SerNet swiftly released SAMBA+ 4.22 for RHEL 10. Subscribers can seamlessly access these latest packages.

Additionally, SAMBA+ 4.22 packages are immediately available for the following binary-compatible distributions:

• AlmaLinux 10
• CentOS Stream 10
• Oracle Linux 10
• Rocky Linux 10

SAMBA+ is particularly suitable for RHEL environments due to its optimized integration, robust performance, and consistent security updates. Built specifically with enterprise needs in mind, SAMBA+ ensures reliable interoperability between Linux/Unix servers and Windows-based clients. Moreover, regular, timely updates and comprehensive testing guarantee compatibility with RHEL's latest security enhancements and system improvements.

SAMBA+ 4.22 includes key enhancements such as SMB3 Directory Leases and SMB3 POSIX Extensions, further boosting performance, efficiency, and compatibility in enterprise scenarios.

For further details and to download your SAMBA+ packages, have a look at our version overview. More information and pricing can be found in the USD shop or the EUR shop. Existing subscriptions include access to the new packages.

The Samba team at SerNet has completed two key milestones in the ongoing development of SMB over QUIC for Samba. The technology  promises secure, high-performance access to file servers across untrusted networks. These developments are part of the project funded by the Sovereign Tech Agency (STA). The STA supports critical open-source infrastructure to strengthen digital sovereignty and resilience.

Milestone 5.1: Enable QUIC transport in Samba smbd

Samba now supports listening on UDP port 443, enabling a QUIC-based alternative to traditional TCP connections (ports 445 and 139). The groundwork integrates the Linux kernel QUIC driver lxin/quic into Samba's networking logic. This allows Samba to act as a secure “SMB VPN”, ideal for remote work, mobile access, and high-security scenarios.

Milestone 5.2: Enable QUIC testing via socket_wrapper

Testing QUIC implementations without relying on real network interfaces is crucial for fast, automated validation. The team extended socket_wrapper, a tool that emulates network sockets over Unix domain sockets, to simulate QUIC communication using the ngtcp2 userspace library. This approach allows developers to test SMB over QUIC under controlled conditions without kernel dependencies.

With these two milestones, Samba takes a significant step toward full SMB over QUIC support, offering a modern, secure transport layer for the next generation of file services. 

Learn more about the full project and its milestones: https://samba.plus/stf-project

All presentations from sambaXP 2025 are now accessible at YouTube, featuring hours of valuable content and expertise in Samba, open-source technologies and much more. Dive into the latest insights shared at the recent on-site conference, held at Hotel Freizeit In in Göttingen from April 7–8.

One highlight of this year's event was the keynote by Mirko Swillus from the Sovereign Tech Agency (STA). He addressed the necessity and complexities of maintaining digital infrastructure, drawing parallels to physical infrastructure: "Digital infrastructure maintenance resembles the upkeep of roads and bridges. It’s crucial yet often invisible. The Sovereign Tech Agency exists precisely to ensure the sustainability of these fundamental building blocks of our digital society."

Swillus further emphasized international collaboration, stating: "Open source doesn't have borders; it’s a global phenomenon. We must work collectively to sustain these critical resources." And that's exactly what STA does whith its Sovereign Tech Fund. For example, STA currently funds a major Samba project managed by SerNet GmbH. The initiative focuses on enhancing Samba’s security, scalability, and functionality.

Thanks to all speakers and to this year’s sponsors for their support, enabling another successful sambaXP.

Missed the event or want to revisit your favorite sessions? Start exploring the sambaXP 2025 playlist today!

And stay tuned for updates on sambaXP 2026 at sambaxp.org.