Using Samba's smbclient to Backup Files from Linux to a Windows Server

I recently needed to setup a way to backup files from a linux workstation to a windows server. I found that the utility, from the Samba project, smbclient was able to be scripted to provide such services. Smbclient acts much like a command line ftp program.

NOTE: If you will be using a Windows 2003 server, please upgrade your Samba package to 3.0.x. Windows 2003 uses SMB keys to authenticate SMB requests. Prior versions of smbclient will give an error such as:
tree connect failed: NT_STATUS_ACCESS_DENIED

A work around for this error can be to disable the security feature on the Windows 2003 server:

Key: HKLM\SYSTEM\CCS\Service\lanmanserver\parameters\
Value: RequireSecuritySignature
Content: 0 to disable, 1 to enable

Create Password File

• Use your favorite text editor to create a file called ".smbclient". (I use the "." (period) before the file to somewhat hide the file.)
  * In the file add the following components, in this format:
  • username=joetest
  • password=12345678
  • domain=WINDMN
• Obviously you need to change the components to fit your environment. If you do not have a Windows Domain to authenticate against, you can remove the line completely.
• At the command prompt, make sure to make the .smbclient file readable ONLY by you!
  • chmod 500 .smbclient

Test Command

• Now we can test the connection to the server using the ".smbclient" file.
• At the prompt type:
  • smbclient //servername/share -A .smbclient
• You should get a response similar to:
  • added interface ip=10.1.2.10 bcast=10.1.2.255 nmask=255.255.255.0
Domain=[WINDMN] OS=[Windows 5.0] Server=[Windows 2000 LAN Manager]
smb: \>
• If you experience errors, please check the "note" at the beginning of the article.

Create Script

• Now you want to use your favorite editor to create a shell script for automating this backup.
• You can pass to a command prompt anything you normally would type at the smbclient prompt.
• I personally want...
  • To change directories on the remote server (cd backup)
  • Set the local directory to be working from on the workstation (lcd /home/username/files)
  • Not prompt for permission for each file when putting multiple files (prompt)
  • Recursively copy folders (recurse)
  • And finally exit
  • The command would look something like:
    • smbclient //servername/share -A .smbclient -c "cd backup; lcd /home/username/files; prompt; recurse; mput *; exit;"
• If you aren't sure what options you want, or are available, you can simply type "help" at the command prompt for smbclient... then type "help " to learn more about what it does
• At this point the shell script would look something like:
  • #!/bin/sh
/usr/local/bin/smbclient //servername/share -A /home/username/.smbclient -c "cd backup; lcd /home/username/files; prompt; recurse; mput *; exit;"
• You will notice I have explicitly defined the path to the "smbclient" binary, and the ".smbclient" password file.
• At prompt you should be able to run something like:
• sh backupscript.sh

Add Script to be run by Cron

• To better understand how to add files to a crontab ( to be run on a scheduled basis), I recommend using your favorite search engine to find tutorials.