Windows 7 networking with Linux

[kenmo]

I have three Windows computers and 1 Mandriva 2009...

They are all networked....

All my computers were upgraded from Windows Xp to Windows 7 (Home Premium Family Pack). One Windows computer is configured as a server. It has a shared drive and two usb printers.

The last computer to upgrade Windows 7 was the server. Prior to the upgrade all Windows & Linux computers could access the shared folder & printers on the server. They are all in the same workgroup name...

Since upgrading to Windows 7 only the Linux computer can not access the shared folder or printers.... All Win 7 computers can...

My Windows computers can also browse the folders on Mandriva but not vice versa... I've even disabled the firewall on the Windows 7 server

The linux mount command which I used before to mount the XP share no longer works...

mount -t cifs //192.168.1.197/shared /mnt/network -p kenmo

Which would prompt me for my Samba password and mount the Windows share...

Also I'm not using Windows 7 Home Group but am using Workgroup....

Is there some new tricks for Linux to talk to Windows 7 shares?

TIA

[jagabo]

Try allowing Guest access to the share(s). Right click on the share, select Share With -> Specific People, add Guest to the list.

[disturbed1]

Try passing the security = option in your mount command.
mount -t cifs -o sec=ntlmv2,credentials=credfile //192.168.1.197/shared /mnt/network
Instead of user=$USER,pass=$PASS you can pass your username and password through the use of a credentials file

credentials=filename
           specifies a file that contains a username and/or password and optionally the name of the workgroup. The format of the file is:

                         username=value
                         password=value
                         workgroup=value

           This is preferred over having passwords in plaintext in a shared file, such as /etc/fstab. Be sure to protect any credentials file properly.

It's been a while since I played with Windows 7, even then it was for a brief period of time, but I did notice they messed with the default smb settings that could also cause connection issues between Windows 7 and other Windows' pre Vista. I believe it's set to accept NTLMv2 responses only. There should be a setting to change the lan manager's settings to NTLMv2 only if negotiated, rather than only accepting NTLMv2. Change that value if Mandriva hasn't updated/included the specifics to support NTLMv2.

[kenmo]

I found the fix here... Vue666 who started the thread is my username at DSLReports.com.... This fixed my problem....

Cheers

Kenmo aka Vue666

[disturbed1]

What was the fix?

[freebird73717]

I'm assuming his post was this one
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r23327544-WIN7-networking-with-Linux

[disturbed1]

I'm assuming his post was this one
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r23327544-WIN7-networking-with-Linux

Thanks
It was Windows 7 being set to only allow NTLMv2 connections, and or not passing the correct security option with the mount command. mount.cifs defaults to the older NTLMv1. The Linux Samba tools have supported NTLMv2 since 3.0, the kernels' CIFS module has reliably supported NTLMv2 since 2.6.23.

[kenmo]

Sorry...here's the link....

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r23327544-WIN7-networking-with-Linux

And it's the same one mentioned above by freebird.... Are you also a DSLReports user?

[freebird73717]

nope. Just good with google!

[kenmo]

Still having problems with the Linux computer dropping it's connection to Windows shares... BUT oddly the three Win 7 computers still maintain their drive mappings to the Mandriva box....

I tried quite a few things which are all documented in the thread I have at dlsreports and is mentioned above...

[jagabo]

Maybe this will help (WDTV runs linux):
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1195085

[kenmo]

Sorry but I don't understand how this is applicable...??? I'm not using WDTV...

It's a simple home network of 3 Windows 7 computers and one Linux pc...

Nor am I using a wireless network....

[jagabo]

WDTV is a linux computer at heart. It has similar problems with dropping connections to Windows networked computers (actually I think the problem is within the router's DHCP assignments and the fix in the link I gave is a workaround for this). I don't know if it will be applicable in your situation but it's something to look at.

[RLT69]

Problem is it's not the router that's causing the problem it's Windows 7. As the author has stated, the connection was fine when the Linux machine connected to Windows XP. Once the computer was upgrade to Windows 7 then the problems started. Windows 7 is having problems with the SMB protocol and/or having Master Browser issues.

It's interesting that a Static IP address would fix this problem.

[jagabo]

I saw a much more detailed description of this problem with Win7 and Linux. Something about the way Windows networks elect a master browser and how its changed with Win7. I'll have to see if I can dig it up.

Maybe it was this one: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=17484361&postcount=2218

[kenmo]

Ok...now I understand...thanks kindly....

Do I turn this setting on all Windows 7 computers or just the computer which is functioning as the file server?

Again thanks....

[kenmo]

Anyone?

[jagabo]

I think you only have to make the change on one computer. But why don't you just try it? Then let us know...

[pepegot1]

You cannot have a WIN XP & WIN 7 computer home networked. They must both be Win 7. So, Linux & Win 7, I doubt it.

[jagabo]

I have a mixture of Win7, XP, and a WDTV Live (Linux), all networked.

[kenmo]

I was using XP as my server and the clients were two Windows 7 computers and one Linux (Mandriva 2009)... I did not have any problems until I upgraded my server from XP to Win 7....

[kenmo]

Linux machine just disconnected from the Win 7 server after being connected since Friday evening...

I only switched the computer browser service to automatic on the server. Now I'm going to change it to automatic on the two other Windows 7 computers to see it that does anything...

[kenmo]

Has anyone had stability with Linux maintaining it's Windows mounts? My issue has not been resolved... And it is very intermittent...

The use of the sec=ntlmv2 has no helped to resolve the issue....

ie: mount -t cifs -o sec=ntlmv2 //192.168.1.197/shared /mnt/network

[jagabo]

Have you tried using fixed IP addresses? Or very long DHCP leases?

[kenmo]

I've defined all four of my computer's ip adds as fixed in the DHCP server in my router....

I've also put entries for all of my computers in each computer's host file...

The Winodws 7 computers never lose their drive mappings to the Mandriva 2009 computer but the Linux computer will disconnect it's Windows mounts... This is very intermitent. The Linux has dropped it's mount 4 hours after an initial mount and maintained the mount as long as 5 days... The only thing that resolves the issue is (as they say in ITIL - "workaround") a reboot of the Windows 7 computer that the Linux box has it's shares mounted.... No reboot of the client Linux computer is required....

I even thought it may have been a time synch issue and made sure the 3 Win 7 and one Linux pc had the same defined time sources & time was in synch....

IMHO Linux does not make a good client on a Windows 7 network but does make an outstanding server.... And I'm not bashing Linux. I love Linux. I can see a point in the near future where all or most of my computers are running a version of Linux....

[dklovedoctor]

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itpronetworking/thread/ecda546e-5fa0-4...c-3bd132c1be68

Act as Danish Zahur suggests!