[Samba] How to determine Samba Installation directory

[Rowland Penny]

On Wed, 30 Apr 2025 21:38:40 -0400
Mark Foley via samba <samba at lists.samba.org> wrote:

> On Wed, 30 Apr 2025 21:19:57 Rowland Penny <rpenny at samba.org> wrote:
> >
> > On Wed, 30 Apr 2025 15:40:06 -0400
> > Mark Foley via samba <samba at lists.samba.org> wrote:
> >
> > > I'm building Samba from a scratch download from samba.org.  One of
> > > the ./configure options is --prefix, which directs where to
> > > install the files. 
> > > 
> > > The "default" is /usr/local/samba, but from experience I know my
> > > distro does not put the files there. There is nothing in either my
> > > /usr/lib/samba or /usr/local/samba.
> > > 
> > > How can I determine where my current --prefix directory is?
> > > 
> > > THX --Mark
> > > 
> >
> > It is a bit more involved than that, if you just set the '--prefix'
> > option, then everything will end up in whatever directory you use.
> >
> > You need to find out how Slackware builds Samba and build it in
> > exactly the same way.
> >
> > Rowland
> 
> I don't think I'll be able to figure out how Slackware builds Samba.
> I've done this before many years ago and it worked, and I'll have a
> full backup in case things go wrong. I do know I'll have to use
> --with-system-mitkrb5.

No you do not and it would be more in keeping with how Samba is run on
DCs on the main usage base, Debian and Debian based distros, if you do
not use MIT.

> 
> Most of the files appear to be in /var/lib/samba, including:
> 
> account_policy.tdb
> account_policy.tdb.bak
> bind-dns/
> ntp_signd/
> private/
> registry.tdb
> registry.tdb.bak
> share_info.tdb
> share_info.tdb.bak
> sysvol/
> winbindd_cache.tdb
> winbindd_cache.tdb.bak
> winbindd_privileged/
> 
> and /var/lib/samba/private:
> 
> dns_update_cache
> dns_update_list
> encrypted_secrets.key
> hklm.ldb
> hklm.ldb.bak
> idmap.ldb
> idmap.ldb.bak
> kdc.conf
> krb5.conf
> ldap_priv/
> ldapi=
> msg.sock/
> netlogon_creds_cli.tdb
> privilege.ldb
> privilege.ldb.bak
> sam.ldb
> sam.ldb.bak
> sam.ldb.d/
> schannel_store.tdb
> schannel_store.tdb.bak
> secrets.keytab
> secrets.ldb
> secrets.ldb.bak
> secrets.tdb
> secrets.tdb.bak
> share.ldb
> share.ldb.bak
> smbd.tmp/
> spn_update_list
> 
> smb.conf is in /etc/samba
> 
> samba (executable) is in /usr/sbin
> 
> I think I'll try --prefix=/var/lib/samba and see was happens!
> 
> Do you think I should clear out /var/lib/samba first or will the new
> build use/keep that information (domain members, users, policies,
> ...)?
> 
> Will I have to provision from scratch? I can do so if needed, no
> problem.

Not if you 'join' a new DC to your domain.

> 
> I may have to rejoin domain members? I'll take them offline before
> doing this.

Again, if you are joining a new DC, then this shouldn't affect your
Windows clients.

Are you sure I cannot get you to jump ship to Debian ? While
problems can still occur on Debian, there are a lot more users of Samba
on Debian, so you are more likely to get help.

Rowland

> 
> --Mark
>