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SAMBA+ 4.21 has just been released. Packages for various SUSE and Red Hat platforms as well as for Debian GNU/Linux, Ubuntu and AIX  has been developed by SerNet's Samba developers and are available now.

This is the first stable SAMBA+ release of the new Samba 4.21 release series. Please make sure to test thoroughly before upgrading and read the release notes carefully! The release notes, which contain information about changes and new features of the new major release, are available here.

With the new 4.21 release Samba 4.20 has been turned into the "maintenance mode" and Samba 4.19 into the "security fixes only mode". Samba 4.18 will probably not receive any updates beyond this point. The SAMBA+ 4.18 repositories will be disabled soon. Please update to a recent version of SAMBA+.
Details on accessing the packages and upgrading can be found in the 
SAMBA+ How-to collection.

If you are running your own or third-party scripts which make use of Samba's Python modules, you will need to install the sernet-samba-python3 package after upgrading to the new SAMBA+ version 4.21 on your Debian or Ubuntu. RHEL and SUSE based systems are not affected.

For more information regarding SAMBA+ within US Dollar Pricing see US SAMBA+ Shop. For EUR Pricing and ROW consult the World SAMBA+ Shop or directly the SAMBA+-Team .


SerNet has officially released SAMBA+ 4.20.5. Packages for various SUSE and Red Hat platforms as well as for Debian GNU/Linux and Ubuntu are available now. SAMBA+ 4.20.5 for AIX will follow soon.

These packages address several issues, which are listed in the release notes:

SAMBA+ packages are available as software subscriptions and can be purchased in the SAMBA+ shop. Detailed information and prices can be found at

The new SAMBA+ packages are included in the existing subscriptions. If you have any further questions or would like to request a quote, please feel free to contact us.


SerNet has secured significant funding from the German Sovereign Tech Fund (STF) to advance the Samba project, a vital open-source software that enables identity and access management (IAM) and seamless interoperability between Windows, Linux, and Unix systems via the SMB protocol. Over the next 18 months, Samba core developers will tackle 17 key milestones in six target groups aimed at enhancing Samba’s security, scalability, and functionality. The project's focus is on areas like transparent failover, SMB3 UNIX extensions, and modern security protocols such as SMB over QUIC. These improvements are designed to ensure that Samba remains a robust and secure solution for organizations that rely on a sovereign IT infrastructure that is as independent as possible of proprietary software regimes, but including optimal interoperability.

This project aligns perfectly with the mission of the Sovereign Tech Fund. By funding work on Samba the fund is bolstering one of the most critical technologies that underpin global IT infrastructures, particularly in sectors where cross-platform compatibility is vital.

Jeremy Allison, long standing member of the Samba core team said: "I'm very pleased that the Sovereign Tech Fund has recognised the importance of Samba in providing critical open source infrastructure to enterprises worldwide. The commissioned work will ensure that Samba remains a competitive and secure choice to create data storage and authentication services for all users."

Johannes Loxen, founder of SerNet and long-time fundraiser for the Samba project, was very impressed by the constructive and targeted work at the STF: "We are very grateful for the support of everyone at the Sovereign Tech Fund and their efforts in making this funding possible."

After the contract was signed, development work began as early as September 1 and is expected to be completed by the end of February 2026 for all milestones. Work results will be uploaded to the public Samba software repositories for public use immediately after the milestones and tests have been completed. A detailed project report will be published after the first milestone is reached in November 2024 and will be continuously updated.

About Samba:
Samba is an essential free and open-source implementation of the SMB protocol, enabling seamless interoperability between systems running Windows, Linux, and Unix. It is a cornerstone in Identity and Access Management (IAM), playing a crucial role in Active Directory environments by facilitating file sharing and authentication across mixed-OS networks. As part of all major Linux distributions, Samba’s wide adoption spans public institutions, enterprises, and educational facilities worldwide. For more input refer to https://samba.org.

About Sovereign Tech Fund:
The Sovereign Tech Fund supports the development, improvement, and maintenance of open digital infrastructure. The funds' goal is to sustainably strengthen the open source ecosystem with focus on security, resilience, technological diversity, and the people behind the code. Read more on https://www.sovereigntechfund.de.

About SerNet:
SerNet is part of the Open Source community and offers products and services for commercial users of Samba like software subscriptions, support, consulting and development services. SerNet GmbH has been founded in Germany in 1997 together with members of Samba Team. SerNet, Inc. in California is a 100% subsidiary of SerNet GmbH. Get more information about Samba by SerNet here: https://samba.plus.


SDC in Santa Clara

“By developers, for developers” is the motto of this year's SNIA Developer Conference in Santa Clara, California. Once again specialists in storage and network technologies will come together from September 16-18, 2024 to feature insights into the latest industry advancements.

We are delighted that members of the SerNet Samba team are making a meaningful contribution to the overall 2024 agenda!

On Monday afternoon, September 16, Ralph Böhme will provide insights into the latest advances in Samba development in his talk "Samba Development Status Update". Volker Lendecke's presentation on "NFS and SMB Common Infrastructure" will follow, also on the afternoon of September 16.

You are welcome to make an appointment with our team in advance at sales@remove-this.sernet.de. We look forward to your visit & vivid discussions!


SerNet has officially released SAMBA+ 4.19.8. Packages for various SUSE and Red Hat platforms as well as for Debian GNU/Linux, Ubuntu and AIX are available now.

These packages address several issues, which are listed in the release notes.

SAMBA+ is offered by SerNet as a subscription-based service, ensuring you have access to the latest updates. Subscriptions are available for purchase in our SAMBA+ shops, with detailed information and pricing listed in both USD and EUR:

For customers with an existing subscription, the SAMBA+ 4.20.1 packages are already included, giving you access to the most recent enhancements. If you have any questions or need further assistance with SAMBA+ 4.20.1, our team is ready to make sure you get the most out of SAMBA+.


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