Discover how Samba lets Linux and Unix systems share files and printers with Windows, act as an Active Directory domain controller, and more.
Category
File Management
Pricing
Free and open source, from Free
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
1992
Open SourceSelf-Hosted
Overview
Samba is a free, open-source implementation of the SMB/CIFS protocol, originated by Andrew Tridgell in December 1991 and January 1992 at the Australian National University, and maintained since May 1996 by the volunteer-led Samba Team.
Key Features
Samba lets Unix and Linux systems share files and printers with Windows clients and, since the 4.x series, can act as a full Active Directory domain controller with Kerberos and LDAP services, not just a basic file server.
It also supports classic domain member and NT4-style domain control for legacy environments, and it ships packaged into essentially every major Linux and BSD distribution.
Pricing
Samba is entirely free and open source, licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3 or later, with LGPLv3 or later covering some libraries; there is no company, subscription, or license fee.
Key Features
SMB/CIFS File and Print Sharing — Lets Unix and Linux systems share files and printers with Windows clients and vice versa.
Active Directory Domain Controller — Samba 4.x can act as a full Active Directory domain controller, including Kerberos and LDAP services.
Windows Domain Member Support — Allows Linux servers to join an existing Windows Active Directory domain as a member server.
NT4-Style Domain Control — Legacy support for classic Windows NT-style domain control for older environments.
Cross-Platform Interoperability — Works across Linux, BSD, macOS, and Windows, making it a common bridge in mixed-OS networks.
GPLv3 and LGPLv3 Licensing — Released under GPLv3 or later, and LGPLv3 or later for some libraries, ensuring the code remains free and open.
Command-Line and Daemon Tooling — Includes smbd, nmbd, winbindd, and command-line utilities for configuration, testing, and diagnostics.
Wide Distribution Support — Packaged directly into virtually every major Linux and BSD distribution.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Free and open source with no licensing cost, even for enterprise-scale deployments
Mature, battle-tested codebase in continuous development since 1992
Full Active Directory domain controller capability, not just basic file sharing
Packaged into essentially every Linux and Unix distribution, so installation is straightforward
Cons
Configuration and Active Directory setup can be complex for administrators unfamiliar with Windows networking internals
No commercial support organization by default; enterprise support requires third-party vendors or distribution-level contracts
SMB protocol version compatibility issues can arise with very old or very new Windows clients
As a community project, release cadence and documentation quality can vary compared with a commercial vendor
Pricing
Open Source Free N/A
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Samba software used for?
Samba is used to let Unix and Linux systems share files and printers with Windows computers and to interoperate with, or replace, Windows Active Directory domain controllers.
Is Samba free?
Yes, Samba is free and open-source software licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3 or later.
Who created Samba?
Andrew Tridgell wrote the first version of Samba in December 1991 and January 1992 while a PhD student at the Australian National University; the project has since been maintained by the volunteer-led Samba Team.
Where does the name Samba come from?
Tridgell found the name by running the Unix grep command against the system dictionary looking for words containing the letters S, M, and B in that order, referencing the SMB protocol it implements.
Can Samba act as an Active Directory domain controller?
Yes, since the Samba 4.x series, Samba can function as a full Active Directory domain controller, not just a file and print server.
What license does Samba use?
Samba is licensed under GPLv3 or later, having moved from GPLv2, with some libraries under LGPLv3 or later.
Does Samba work on macOS and BSD?
Yes, Samba runs on Linux, the BSDs, macOS, and other Unix-like systems in addition to being usable from Windows clients.
Is there a company behind Samba?
No, Samba is maintained by the volunteer, global Samba Team along with contributions and funding from various companies and organizations rather than a single commercial vendor.