Proper Fileshare for a Windows 10 Host and Ubuntu (Linux) VirtualBox Guest Using Samba

samba-fileshare-virtualbox-notes.rst

VirtualBox Samba Fileshare Quick-Start Notes by Blake Rohde, 2020

Environments

VirtualBox Host OS:	Windows 10 Pro
VirtualBox Guest OS:	Ubuntu 16.04 LTS

Windows 10 (Host) Setup

Enable SMB Windows features

1. Click Start > Type Turn Windows features on or off
2. Within Windows Features > Ensure both SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support and SMB Direct are enabled/checked
3. Click OK
4. Restart Windows if prompted

Enable insecure guest access

1. Click Start > Type gpedit.msc to open the Local Group Policy Editor
2. Within Local Group Policy Editor > Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Lanman Workstation > Double-click Enable insecure guest logons > Select Enabled > Click OK
3. Close the Local Group Policy Editor.

Configure VirtualBox network settings

1. Start Oracle VM Virtualbox Manager (VirtualBox GUI)
2. Select the Guest Machine > Click Settings
3. Select Network > Adapter 1 tab > Set Attached to: to be Bridged Adapter
4. Click OK

Ubuntu (Guest) Setup

Create the fileshare directory

$ sudo mkdir /vm-files
$ sudo chown $USER:$USER /vm-files
$ sudo chmod 777 /vm-files

Install Samba and configure your user

$ sudo apt-get update -y
$ sudo apt-get install -y samba
$ sudo smbpasswd -a $USER

Configure Samba

$ sudo cp -pf /etc/samba/smb.conf /etc/samba/smb.conf.bak
$ sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf

Add the following to the bottom of the file:

[vm-files]
path = /vm-files
available = yes
valid users = <YOUR USERNAME HERE>
read only = no
browseable = yes
public = yes
writable = yes
map archive = no
create mask = 664
directory mask = 775

[global]
client min protocol = SMB3
client max protocol = SMB3
restrict anonymous = 2
encrypt passowrds = true

Restart and verify the configuration

$ testparm /etc/samba/samba.conf
$ sudo service smbd restart
$ sudo service smbd status

Find your Guest IP address

Since we configured the VirtualBox adapter as a Bridged Adapter, your Guest IP should be the same subnet as your Host IP. This is likely 192.168.x.x.

$ ipconfig

Windows 10 (Host) Connecting

1. Open a Windows Explorer window > Select This PC
2. Left/Alt-Click > Select Add a network location > Click Next > Click Choose a custom network location > Enter \\<YOUR GUEST IP ADDRESS>\vm-files > Click Next > Click OK

The Samba fileshare will now appear under the Network locations section on the This PC page within Windows Explorer.

Sources

• Samba setup: https://askubuntu.com/a/820550
• Windows 10 group policy setting: https://superuser.com/a/1438512