Samba

Samba is software that allows computers running different operating systems—like Windows, Linux, and macOS—to easily share files and connect to the same network as if they were all using the same operating system. It is widely used to ensure that people can access shared documents, printers, and network resources, regardless of the type of computer they are using. In addition to file sharing, Samba helps manage user access by allowing organizations to control who can log in to their systems and what resources they can use, making it a key tool for keeping networks secure and organized.

In addition to facilitating interoperability, Samba is the leading open Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution, integrating user authentication and access control in environments using a mix of operating systems. It’s also the preferred open source Server Message Block (SMB) software for a variety of Linux distributions and Unix brands.

Samba is a free and open source software providing both SMB protocol support and enterprise-grade IAM capabilities. It plays a pivotal role for enterprises, public institutions, educational facilities, as well as commercial cloud providers worldwide. It is an integral part of all Linux distributions and is widely used to maintain secure, efficient, and unified IT infrastructures.

As the only open source software providing both the SMB protocol for file sharing and Active Directory-based identity management, Samba enables seamless interoperability between different operating systems and allows organizations to exchange data and manage user access. Its inclusion in all major Linux distributions (such as Debian, Ubuntu, and Red Hat) underscores its role as a fundamental component of modern network infrastructure.

Whether it’s your local TV station, a leading research institute, or a major public institution – Samba is essential for diverse IT environments across all industries. From small businesses to global enterprises, educational institutions shaping future generations, media outlets delivering daily news, healthcare providers managing sensitive data, government agencies ensuring public services, high-performance data centers, and everywhere else: those managing critical infrastructure rely on Samba to support secure collaboration and efficient IT management across different operating systems. Additionally, manufacturers of Network-Attached Storage (NAS) and private cloud providers integrate Samba into their products to ensure seamless cross-platform compatibility.

Its impact extends beyond individual organizations—it promotes technological compatibility, collaboration, and innovation in the public interest by strengthening open source alternatives. If Samba were to break or be compromised, it could lead to major disruptions in file sharing, identity management, and overall network security, affecting critical public services, educational activities, and commercial operations worldwide.

The Sovereign Tech Fund is commissioning work on security, interoperability, and performance to keep Samba a reliable, modern solution for file sharing and identity management across Windows, Linux, and Unix. Security improvements strengthen authentication, access controls, and compliance with Microsoft’s latest protocols, ensuring seamless integration in enterprise environments.

To improve interoperability, Samba extends SMB3 UNIX extensions for better cross-platform file access and adds directory leases and transparent failover to boost performance and reliability. Performance optimizations leverage io_uring for faster I/O operations, SMB over QUIC for secure remote access, and SMB Direct with RDMA for high-speed data transfers. These upgrades make Samba a more secure, efficient, and scalable solution for businesses, public institutions, and research organizations worldwide.

1. Security Enhancements
   • Strengthen authentication with Microsoft's latest protocols (e.g., MS-NRPC Netlogon security hardening)
   • Implement SID Filtering for better domain security
2. Fileserver Features
   • Implement SMB3 Directory Leases for improved caching and performance
   • Add Transparent Failover / Persistent Handles for seamless file access during server failures
3. SMB3 UNIX Extensions
   • Enhance support for Unix-specific file attributes, permissions, and symbolic links
   • Improve Linux desktop environments with extended libsmbclient support
4. Performance Optimizations
   • Integrate io_uring for faster, more efficient asynchronous I/O operations
   • Support SMB over QUIC for secure, high-speed file sharing over untrusted networks
   • Enable SMB Direct with RDMA for low-latency, high-speed data transfers