Connecting to Windows shares using Active Directory?

Question

After upgrading my host to 12.04 I can no longer connect to Windows Shares in my AD (Active Directory) based network. I was able to do it previously using 11.10. I thought it might be an issue with the upgrade so I flattened my box and re-installed from scratch and I still can't connect.

When I use the Files>Connect to Server command, I am met with a constant password challenge when accessing any windows server using any known working network account.

I checked the logs on the windows machine to see if there are failed connections but there are none, yet 12.04 asks me for my password over and over as if my credentials were wrong.

Any suggestions?

Solution 1

It's syntax in this case that seems to be causing the issue. I can verify that when I type the server and domain in lowercase with my credentials, it does not connect.

However...

When I type the server and domain in all CAPS with my credentials, it connects just fine.

Solution 2

I was having the same issue connecting to windows shares through nautilus. I was able to connect without issue by mounting shares from the command line, but it's just not as convenient.

What fixed it for me was typing my domain in all caps. Lowercase domain name will never connect. Uppercase connects every time. Weird.

Solution 3

It's definitely something with the GUI, because I had the same problem, but the method described in http://deathofagremmie.com/2012/05/01/mounting-a-synology-diskstation-on-ubuntu-12.04/ worked fine--at least, to attach to my Buffalo TeraStation on my local network. Can't say whether this will work in an AD environment.

Solution 4

Well if both your machines are connected over LAN then you should be able to access your windows machine using the Browse Network option in nautilus.

And have a read of https://help.ubuntu.com/10.04/serverguide/samba-ad-integration.html

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Or try using connect to server and use the samba share protocol to connect

smb://ip-address-of-windows-machine

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Solution 5

In order to reconnect to my windows shares saved in 11.10 nautilus bookmarks, I went to the "edit bookmarks" menu item and edited as follows:

my username and domain were encoded in the "Location" field as smb://domain;username@server/share/folder when just upgraded from 11.10 to 12.04.

I changed to smb://domain%5Cusername@server/share/folder and, after being asked for my password, I successfully connected. I guess this is in the spirit of the reply by jasonmyers.

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Comments

[dotdawtdaught]

Thanks for the suggestion. When I browse the network, I poker around in Network>Windows Network>DOMAIN>Server and I am challenged for user credentials. When I enter in my credentials (known working) they are not accepted. Again there are no failed authentications in my windows server logs.

[Nolfster]

try connecting using samba share protocol smb://ip-address-of-windows-machine

[dotdawtdaught]

Where should I type this URL?

[dotdawtdaught]

OK, so I just booted off the 11.10 live CD and my networking shizzle works just like it did before. It looks like 12.04 just isn't ready for Windows Networking. I am just going to reinstalled 11.10 and get back to work. Thanks for your suggestions.

[dotdawtdaught]

james, you are a GENIUS! Thank you so much for this observation!