From the Sun Developer Network (SDN), here's a how-to on getting the most out of the CIFS server feature in the OpenSolaris OS that involves using ZFS and CIFS to create a home NAS box that replaces a Windows share machine. The operation takes about two hours to assemble the server hardware, install the OS and to configure the storage.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Get the Hardware (you will need)

• A multi-pack (six 40GB drives)
• A retired W2100Z workstation. (This is a great platform with dual 64-bit AMD processors, an internal SCSI drive, and a place to put 3 more drives.)
• Some DIMMs for the W2100Z
• An extra SCSI card

Step 2: Assemble the Hardware (don't forget the anti-static strap)

• Attach the SCSI card to the multi-pack, which will help ZFS work better. Next...

Step 3: Install OpenSolaris SXDE 1/08

(complete installation for this example takes about 90 minutes)

• 1. Download and burn the DVD.
• 2. Insert the DVD.
• 3. Boot the workstation.
• 4. Answer the questions.
• 5. Click the Finish button.

Now, you should be ready to proceed to Step 4. Step 4: Configure the OpenSolaris OS

(the CIFS Getting Started Guide will make things much easier; be sure to get it)

Several sub-steps are involved:

• Create the Users: Create a root user account and after this, create a "privileged" regular user and a user that can own the files. Use the user IDs admin and media for these purposes. To add the users, use the Users and Groups action on the Administration section of the Start Menu.

• Create a Storage Pool: Configure the storage using the ZFS GUI, which allows you to see all the storage attached to your system and how it is being used. Select all the drives on the multipack and create a single RAIDZ1 pool named mediapool. Then, switch to a terminal window so you can check the status of this new pool.

• Create the File Systems: (see SDN article for necessary code) Don't forget to set the ZFS property to casesensitivity=mixed

• Configure CIFS: (code is once again provided, plus the reminder to set and keep the workgroup set to WORKGROUP)

• Set Up Authentication: (the command needed to configure the CIFS server to use pluggable authentication module (PAM) is provided; after which one must reset all the user passwords)

• Share File Systems and Set File System Permissions: If you've used the CIFS Getting Started Guide, you will know how to next set useful names on the Windows machines

Step 5: Configuring Windows

Here's an important tip: When mounting a CIFS share from an OpenSolaris system, you must authenticate to that server. In addition, the authentication must be from the perspective of the server and not the client.

Finally, the commands that will allow all of your Windows machines to access a shared file system on your new OpenSolaris NAS box are provided. [...read more...]

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