Blog

SAMBA+ packages version 4.14.6 and 4.13.10 have just been released by SerNet. They are available for various Enterprise Linux distributions including SLES and RHEL as well as Debian GNU/Linux, Ubuntu and AlmaLinux. The updated SAMBA+ packages for AIX will follow soon.

For details, please refer to the release notes for Samba 4.14.6 or Samba 4.13.10.

SAMBA+ packages and all later versions are available as software subscription. They can be purchased at the SAMBA+ shop, detailed information and prices are listed at https://shop.samba.plus. The subscriptions are managed at our platform OPOSSO (https://oposso.samba.plus). Users can activate their subscriptions here and manage access credentials. The new SAMBA+ packages are included in existing subscriptions.

Fast deployment, low maintenance requirements, easy upgrades, uncomplicated relocation - in short: effective time and cost savings. This is what characterizes the new SAMBA+ Container released by SerNet. SAMBA+ Container is now available for purchase via the SAMBA+ Shop, as a subscription for 1, 2 or even 3 years. 

SAMBA+ integrated in an Ubuntu container allows a quick and easy setup of a file server using the script "csmb". The file server can be used either as a standalone server (users are stored locally) or as a domain member server (as part of an existing domain). We provide more detailed documentation for SAMBA+ containers in our SAMBA+ How-to. 

The established SerNet subscription models with terms of 1, 2 or 3 years also facilitate both extensive testing and long-term planning. Of course, all updates available during the subscription period are included. 

Support from SerNet

SAMBA+ Container can be supplemented with support services by purchasing SAMBA+ support budgets or by signing a support contract. All inquiries regarding Samba, SAMBA+ and the SAMBA+ container, e.g. configuration, installation, planning or operation, are covered by SerNet support. Ask us – e.g. via contact@remove-this.sernet.com – we will be happy to help you. 

The future of SAMBA+ Container

The SerNet Samba team is already working on the further development of SAMBA+ containers. Printing services will soon be added to the Samba file server container, and a container for Active Directory Domain Controllers is also planned for release. Our team will be happy to keep you informed about development progress - just contact us. 

SAMBA+ 4.14.5 has just been released by SerNet. Packages for various SUSE and Red Hat platforms as well as for Debian GNU/Linux and Ubuntu are available now. The SAMBA+ AIX packages will follow soon.

For details, please see the release notes for Samba 4.14.5.

SAMBA+ packages and all later versions are available as software subscription. They can be purchased at the SAMBA+ shop, detailed information and prices are listed at https://shop.samba.plus. The subscriptions are managed at our platform OPOSSO (https://oposso.samba.plus). Users can activate their subscriptions here and manage access credentials. The new SAMBA+ packages are included in existing subscriptions.

For the 20th time, sambaXP took place – and for the 2nd time, organizer SerNet hosted the event around the open source software Samba purely digitally. From May 4 to 6, 2021, participants from all over the world followed tutorials and a total of 24 presentations, and exchanged ideas remotely. The recordings are now online and can be viewed on the Samba YouTube channel. This year's sponsors again included Microsoft and Google.

The diverse program and interested attendees made for a rewarding event again in this 2nd Pandemic year. According to Nadine Dreymann, who is responsible for the organization of sambaXP on behalf of SerNet, 164 participants from 6 continents and a total of 30 countries registered for the virtual sambaXP. Dreymann also said, "Special thanks again to our sponsors Microsoft and Google, whose long-standing support contributes to the success." She states that Microsoft also added real value with the SMB Interoperability Lab (IO Lab), which was held in parallel with sambaXP for the first time.

Among the recordings of sambaXP 2021 are presentations by colleagues from SerNet's Samba team:

• Stefan Metzmacher: Samba Multi-Channel/io_uring Status Update (YouTube link: https://youtu.be/eYxp8yJHpik)
• Ralph Böhme: The New VFS (YouTube link: https://youtu.be/JUlT2QYddKY)
• Volker Lendecke: Socket activation for Samba's RPC services (YouTube link: https://youtu.be/IlD97BluvCM)

Additionally, the recording of the tutorial "Integrating SAMBA+ AIX into an existing AD domain" is available for watching (YouTube link: https://youtu.be/FwQpcnb-jTs). Björn Jacke, a long-time member of the international Samba team and SerNet's AIX expert, gives insights into SerNet's Samba packages for IBM's Unix operating system AIX.

For the coming year, Dreymann gives the outlook for a sambaXP 2022 at the traditional location in Göttingen: "We hope and very much look forward to the international Samba team and all interested parties meeting again in person, discussing with each other on site and also celebrating together."

SAMBA+ packages are now available for AlmaLinux. SerNet's Team Samba currently offers SAMBA+ 4.14 and 4.13 for AlmaLinux 8. SAMBA+ 4.12 packages will follow.

A few months ago Red Hat announced that it would deliver CentOS only in the form of CentOS Stream and thus as a rolling release from the end of 2021. AlmaLinux from the provider CloudLinux OS is currently establishing itself as an alternative and is binary-compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (RHEL8) in version 8.3.

With the prompt roll-out of SAMBA+ packages for AlmaLinux, SerNet is responding to initial customer inquiries on this topic. The team always strives to be aware of customer wishes and requirements and to ensure fruitful cooperation. If you would like to contact us directly ­­– about AlmaLinux or other topics ­– please write to contact@remove-this.sernet.com.