[Samba] Can't change directory to /public (Permission denied)-Illogical error in Samba 2.2.6

[David Morel]

Harm Kirchhoff wrote:

> The following error occured persistently, when trying to access a world
> rw-able directory public from Win2000 (samba version 2.2.6):
>
> (log file:)
>
> [2003/01/01 17:45:57, 0] smbd/service.c:make_connection(597)
>    harm (192.168.0.3) Can't change directory to /public (Permission 
> denied)
>
> The following is the share in the smb.conf file:
> [public]
>     comment = public share: read & write, no execute
>     path = /public
>     read only = No
>     guest ok = Yes
>
> Allthough the file permissions for the user Harm and administrator were
> set to rw:
> Permissions:rwxrwxrw-
> owner: root
> group: root
>
> Allthough Harm and administrator could open public when logged in
> locally, samba could see but not open the directory, when the users were
> logged in on the Win2000 machine, allthought they were able to see their
> own /home/Harm and /home/adminisitrator home directories.
>
> Once I set the Execute permission to Others, Harm and administrator were
> able to open the /public directory.
> Permission: rwxrwxrwt
>
> I think they should be able to open it with rw-permissions only.
>
> Is this an error or am I wrong ?
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ANNEX: Full smb.conf file:
>
>    # Samba config file created using SWAT
> # from localhost.localdomain (127.0.0.1)
> # Date: 2003/01/01 19:41:17
>
> # Global parameters
> [global]
>     workgroup = TOKYO
>     netbios name = HARM
>     server string = Samba Server
>     encrypt passwords = Yes
>     log file = /usr/local/samba/var/log.%m
>     max log size = 50
>     socket options = TCP_NODELAY SO_RCVBUF=8192 SO_SNDBUF=8192
>     dns proxy = No
>     printer admin = administrator
>
> [printers]
>     comment = All Printers
>     path = /var/spool/samba
>     printable = Yes
>     browseable = No
>
> [Canon LBP 350 Harm]
>     comment = Local Printer installed on Harm
>     path = /var/spool/samba
>     printable = Yes
>     printing = cups
>
> [print$]
>     path = /usr/local/samba/printers
>     admin users = administrator
>     write list = administrator
>
> [public]
>     comment = public share: read & write, no execute
>     path = /public
>     read only = No
>     guest ok = Yes
>
> [Home Directories]
>     comment = Home directories of all users
>     path = /home
>     read only = No
>
>
the execute bit on a directory is for browsing it. if you haven't it set 
for world, only user and group can browse it.