Implementing CIFS

Bombcar writes "Anyone who has used Microsoft products in the last ten years has used the SMB protocol (now known as CIFS). Some have become experts in the usage of Windows file sharing, Samba, and more. We know that there can be a 15 minute delay before new machines appear in 'Network Neighborhood'. We've read the Official Samba 3 book, and follow the Samba mailing list once in a while, perhaps even answering questions. But there is a limit to the knowledge given by these sources." Read on for Bombcar's review of Implementing CIFS from Prentice Hall. Implementing CIFS author Christopher R. Hertel pages 642 publisher Prentice Hall rating 8 of 10 reviewer Tom Dickson ISBN 013047116X summary In-depth (but not too deep) coverage of the CIFS/SMB protocol

It is one thing to be able to use Samba, Windows, and the Common Internet File System (CIFS) protocol. It is another thing entirely to understand CIFS with sufficient depth to begin coding using it. This is where Christopher Hertel's Implementing CIFS begins.

This thick book (over 600 pages) begins with a history of NetBIOS in the DOS era. It quickly progresses to NetBIOS over TCP/IP (which evolved into the current CIFS protocol). Hertel documents the beginnings of quirks that will last throughout the life of the protocol. There is an RFC that was proposed in 1987, but many vendors have added extensions to this. (It might surprise you to learn that Samba has added extensions, which are covered in Chapter 24).

After the basic overview, he quickly dives into real coding of an actual (though simple) implementation. This will be his style for the rest of the book (except for humorous asides now and then). An aspect of the protocol, such as Name Resolution, will be explained in some detail, and then expounded in actual code (and in a few cases pseudocode).

The detail is good but not overwhelming. Some people (with names like Jerry Carter or Andrew Tridgell) will want more depth than this book provides, but for with a protocol as varied as CIFS, choices have to be made. As the Samba website mentions, this book is written in "Geekish." The book covers aspects of older and newer SMB/CIFS implementations, including a description of the NTLM2 challenge/auth system.

One thing that should be noted is that the code examples work, but as the author points out, they usually have little or no error handling. This is common to many books, but it is something to remember.

Now, should you get this book? If you're just a user, you probably don't need it. But if you've ever wished you could understand the Samba technical mailing list, or wanted to know why it takes up to 15 minutes to see a new machine, then you'll enjoy this book. If you want to utilize CIFS in any manner (even if just implementing Samba for clients), I'd highly recommend reading this. It will help you to understand what is going on on your network, even if you're not writing the code yourself. And if you want to be a Samba coder, it is required reading.

What didn't I like? I first read the book in an airport, and found that it relies heavily on having access to a computer. I would have preferred more explanations of code fragments than was given. However, this is a minor issue; most people who are implementing CIFS will be using a computer! I was also left with a desire for more information, but the large Appendix D along with many sources recommended provide for further study.

As a bonus, Appendix A tells you how to make a good cup of Earl Grey tea! That alone to some would be worth the price of admission.

You can purchase Implementing CIFS from bn.com. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews -- to see your own review here, read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page.

Comments

Re:Network Neighborhood

[Bombcar]

The usual cause is badly synced browse lists.

If you add a samba server and tell it to run WINS (with wins=yes), and then tell EVERY windows machine that the wins server is at (IP address of Samba Server), things usually speed up considerably.

Also, there is (I believe), a C:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc\lmhosts file that works as a hosts file for WINS).

My Take

[110010001000]

This book is simply the best reference available for CIFS. I only say that because I have spent $$$ getting everything on the subject I can. With the recent changes in Microsoft licensing every sensible IT professional should be exploring alternatives. A SAMBA server is a great alternative. This book is all you need to go from knowing next to nothing to knowing enough to impress your geeky Network Admin friends.

This book is well written, clear and expansive. I didn't read it cover to cover (not at first anyway) I found pieces I needed, applied it, digested it, reviewed it and then went on to the next morsel I needed. If I missed something it was easy to find. By the way, it works with Win2K and WinXP neither of which is well documented by anyone anywhere.

This book is under an Open Source license

[Bruce Perens]

Like all books in Bruce Perens Open Source Series, this book is under an Open Source license.

• Download the unencrypted PDF.
• Download the Docbook XML source for the book.
• Download the figures.

Thanks

Bruce

Re:This book is under an Open Source license

[Bruce Perens]

Thanks. There are 10 books in the series now, all treated the same as this one - online source and PDF, Open Source license. As far as I can tell, all have at least broken even, and most have made money.

But the fact is that technical book authors are generally writing for some other reason than to get direct income from the book. Most do it for the intangibles - promotion of their own careers or projects they support, etc.

What I like about this series is that the books need never die, since anyone can edit and print them. They don't get into that state where the publisher sells a few hundred copies a year on order and doesn't revert the rights to the author for years. Authors hate that.

But we are careful with timing. We make sure the "pipeline" between the publisher and bookstores is full before the electronic copy is available. So, clone publishers don't have much incentive, as the stores have already filled their orders.

I have to admit that this would not work as well if people liked to curl up with e-books. If that day ever comes, we'll change the strategy, but the end product will still be Open Source books.

If you are very anti-open-source, it's probably because you don't yet understand the ways that Open Source works well for business and business people. I have a paper on the economic basis of Open Source that I'm working on, that you will probably find of interest. It should be out in a week or two.

Thanks

Bruce