CIFS/SAMBA DNS question

[John Jimenez]

Should the host and the SAMBA shares use seperate IP addresses? If so can I do I create a seperate IP for SAMABA shares?

Here is a more detailed description of my issues.
We currently are using NFS, and I am attempting to migrate to CIFS. I set up CIFS shares on a test server (HPUX 11.11) in a different subnet. I am able search by IP, but the name of the server comes up as "unknown". Once I login and connect into it the "Server string" name comes up instead of the "NetBIOS name". but the bigger issue, is that I am having trouble creating mapping to it.

I asked systems to manually create a DNS record for both my HP-UX 11.11 host and another with the "server string name" both with the same IP address. He mentioned that I might have issues with one of them in regards to "reverse lookup". This is my first experience with SAMBA/CIFS so any input on setup hints would be appreciated.

[John Jimenez]

Both host name and server string name have been manually added. I can see the shares when I connect to both hostname and server string. So, should I have only set up the host name in DNS?

[Heironimus]

You only need the host name. The "server string" is only used for display, as a description or comment.

If you want you can bind Samba to a specific IP, but you don't have to. It's your choice, just like for many other services.

[John Jimenez]

Thanks for the info Heironimus.

I am now able to map it, so I can set up users to manually copy files to and from the share, but now I have another question. We are also going to have automated scripts copy files from one server to another. I am little concerned that the scripts might now work because of authentication. I booted the server and the client was still able to see the share when it came up. But if the client is rebooted, I have to make sure to log into the share. I read something about using the -n. Is anyone running auto scripts using Samba? How do you deal with the authentication? Do you just make sure the servers running them are logged in?

[Heironimus]

Are you using HP CIFS Client for the mounts? You can tell cifslogin to save the password for you, though it's up to you to evaluate the security risks of doing so.

[John Jimenez]

I have the following installed on HPUX 11.11
=> #swlist -l product | grep -i cifs
CIFS-Client A.02.02.02 HP CIFS Client
CIFS-Development A.02.03.02 HP CIFS Server Source Code Files
CIFS-Server A.02.03.02 HP CIFS Server (Samba) File and Print Services

But I have not installed anything on the clients. I am testing on windows xp PC, where users will access. But the scripts will be run from windows 2000 and 2003 servers. Was I supposed to install something on the client?