Book excerpt: Author and Samba Team Member Gerald Carter dedicates most of this book to the processes of installing and configuring Samba, distinguishing between both Linux/Windows, and Unix/Windows-based systems. He discusses the mechanics of file sharing across the dual platforms and expertly outlines the means necessary to remedy common problems, including helping to identify which version of Samba you are running and where to look for the patch or bug fix you will need to resolve it. He also assists in locating utilities like autoconf that automatically compiles a system configuration file with common default settings. Finally, he discusses security and password issues, as well as peripheral support for server printers.