Feature changed by: Richard Colvin (allianux) Feature #308557, revision 11 Title: Easier Samba Network shares configration openSUSE-11.3: Unconfirmed Priority Requester: Important Requested by: belal mandurah (belal_mandurah) Partner organization: openSUSE.org Description: There are lots of confusing settings when setting up a network and they are in diffrent location to edit (smb.conf, netbios name, host name, domain name, workgroup name, ports, allowed services ... etc) It is really frustrating when you cant access shared files, especially for home users. I suggest that there should be an easier way to configure a network , perhaps a wizard. something that maybe look like M$ wizard when setting up a network. Discussion: #1: Thomas Schmidt (digitaltomm) (2010-01-12 17:47:43) Did you check the samba-server yast module? It offers an easy way to set up these services. #2: belal mandurah (belal_mandurah) (2010-02-28 08:42:43) (reply to #1) Yes, i checked it. It may be easy for more expert computer people, but it is far from easy for a novice one. In M$ thier wizard it is a 1,2,3 steps with "view examples" on how your network look like, they can let my grandmother understand how to setup a network. You know :). #3: Richard Colvin (allianux) (2010-04-01 13:15:38) I would second this request. This is will be a very good feature for newbies and the non techie user to setup their home network, workgroup and NAS. The general home desktop users finds the existing network and domain setup too technical and time wasting. They require a very simple and easy network setup which will probably only be for a Windows Workgroup and NAS setup. Is this too late a request for OpenSuse 11.3? #4: belal mandurah (belal_mandurah) (2010-05-23 06:28:17) This is why non techical people and newbies dont like linux in general and opensuse in particlar. They aim for the techinical people, while newbies are givin lower priority and less attintion for thier needs :) . The 2010 survey showed that there is really less newbies audince for opensuse becuase in my opinion it is still complicated to deal with basic needs (for example setting a simple workgroup). Mint is an example of how they really listen to the newbies and non technical people and give them what they need, and that made them succesfull. I hope things will change here becuase I'm seriously thinking of migrating to Mint :) They really give "fate" for people http://community.linuxmint.com/idea/search #5: Richard Colvin (allianux) (2010-09-17 17:14:38) How about getting this feature into openSUSE 11.4? It is a very easy feature to include and would give new users a added reason to use openSUSE. Why should users, new or experianced have to rely on 3rd part sites such as Swerdna to get their Workgroup running. Come on openSUSE devs! #6: Jeremy Thornton (leebrad) (2010-09-17 18:08:40) I concur, the SAMBA configuration capabilities using YAST are just fine for someone who understands what they are doing, but the problem really comes down to MS Windows and Apple has made people think that software should always be easy in setup and complicated to fix. That being said, it does save time when it is easy, which is what many do not have a lot of for especially learning a new OS. Moreover, as those above has alluded to and Ubuntu is marketing on is that the ease of use is one of the greatest obstacles to adoption of linux besides hundreds of distros. SUSE has done a great job at polish, but maybe the yast module could be left as is and then make say a separate new user wizard that has a similar group of yast modules that for example says: "To setup a file sharing server click here (SAMBA)" then "Name your Network Workgroup (WORKGROUP)". As you can see a simple phrase indicating what they are doing coupled with the simple association that a more advanced linux user would already understand. This would allow new users to learn what Samba is, etc. as they go while setting up their new system. + #7: Richard Colvin (allianux) (2013-03-25 14:30:06) + Now that SWAT is removed from opensuse 12.3 (due to lack of maintenance + from the SAMBA devs) can the YAST2 Samba Server module receive some + love please. We do need decent SAMBA SERVER and CLIENT interfaces + providing full functionality from within the YAST module set. -- openSUSE Feature: https://features.opensuse.org/308557