14 DAY TRIAL // Samba 4.1.0 RC4, an app that seamlessly integrates Linux/Unix servers and desktops into Active Directory environments using the winbind daemon, is now available for download and testing.
According to the developers, this latest version introduces a huge number of improvements and it just might be the last development version released before the final one arrives.
“Samba 4.1.0 contains the first release of our client tools and client library that work over the new protocols SMB2 or SMB3. Note that SMB3 only works either to a Samba server version 4.0.0 or above, or to a Windows Server running Windows 2012 or Windows 8.”
“The default protocol for smbclient and smbcacls is still SMB1 (the NT1 protocol dialect). An SMB2 or SMB3 connection can be selected in one of two ways. The easiest way to test the new protocol connection is to add the -mMAX_PROTOCOL command line switch to either smbclient or smbcacls,” reads the official announcement.
Another major feature is the improved support for encrypted transport. According to the developers, users can now select SMB3 transport which allows encrypted transport connections to Windows servers that support SMB3, as well as Samba servers.
Samba 4.1.0 also features support for server-side copy operations via the SMB2 FSCTL_SRV_COPYCHUNK request and various Btrfs filesystem improvements.
As usual, every new release of the Samba branch includes all of Samba's technology parts, both a file server, which can be upgraded from existing Samba 3.x releases, and the AD domain controller previously known as “samba4.” This means that previous versions of Samba will be compatible with the newest releases.
Download Samba 4.1.0 RC4 for Linux from Softpedia. Download Samba 4.1.0 RC4 for Mac from Softpedia.
Remember that this is a development version and it should NOT be installed on production machines. It is intended for testing purposes only.