** Overview

OS-9 Samba File Manager is a software solution that enables OS-9 users
to participate in Microsoft networks with file and print services. 
It provides OS-9 users the ability to mount shared directories 
on Windows NT (Server and Workstation), Windows 95/98, and Windows
for Workgroups computers or compatible systems running TCP/IP.

Samba File Manager gives OS-9 users simultaneous read and write access 
to files stored on remote computers without first requiring users to 
download or copy the files to a local drive. Using it, users can 
mount multiple shared directories and browse for available resources
on given server.

Mounting is very similar to Network File System (NFS) mount, but uses
a password to prevent unauthorized access to shared resources. 

Version II of Samba File Manager uses multiplexing feature. This allows
multiple asynchronous input/output requests to be handled by the server 
at one time. Typical server can deal with 2 outstanding requests at one
time (for example, Windows 95/98). Advanced server (Windows NT) increases
this value up to 50 requests.

Version II also includes simple print client.

** Files 

  - smbmount/smbmount_spf
    This is the mount command. We need a special mount command for Samba,
    because there's lot more to say to the SMB server.
    smbmount tells the filesystem the real uid of the caller. This
    user is allowed to unmount the filesystem later.

  - samba
    This is a Samba client core - a special file manager. It emulates all
    OS-9 I/O calls with sending requests to the Samba server and interpreting
    results as OS-9 requires.

  - smbprint
    Print client code (not included in trial version)

  - smbdrv
    This driver is required because OS-9 need a pair driver/manager
    for any device in the system. The driver do nothing and only declares
    the Samba specified device static storage.

  - smbview
    Display all available resources on given Samba server (script).
 
  - smbstat
    Display mount information for all connected Samba devices (script).

  - smbsetime
    Syncronize clock with given Samba server (script).

  - smbjobs
    Display print jobs list on given Samba server (script)


** Requirements

  - OS-9/68k v2.4 and above
  - Microware's ISP v1.4 and above, Microware's SPF v2.x (LAN Comm Pak v3.x)

** Limitations

- Online documentation only.

- The limitations Samba client  has are the natural limitations of the SMB
  protocol, which was designed with MS-DOS based PCs in mind. The first
  limitation is the lack of uid, gid and permission information per
  file. You have to assign those values once for a complete mounted
  directory. Other problems are discussed at the Samba File Manager
  Web site.

- Supported server platforms (i.e tested with):
    Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11, Windows 95/SP1, 
              Windows 98/SE, Windows NT 4.0(SP6), Windows 2000
    Linux Suse 7.1/Samba 2.0.x
    IBM OS/2 Warp Server


** Author
  Ilja V.Levinson, Yekaterinburg, Russia
  E-mail: support@os9samba.com
  Web   : http://www.os9samba.com