How to debug Samba authorization (authentication) procedure

Question

I'm running a small home network linux-based server which acts as an internet router, torrent client and file server. I have problems connecting Windows clients to server Samba shares ('user name or password is invalid'). How can I enable logging of all stages of Samba authentication/authorization procedure, such as "client connected", "client provided username ... and password ..." etc. so I can find out what exactly is wrong since I'm sure I'm providing proper username and password?

Solution

• set logging in smb.conf to level 2 or higher, e.g.

  log level = 3

• watch log files - usually in /var/log/samba/

  tail -F /var/log/samba/log.[client-machine-name]

• look for "authentication for user" ... and context