Updating Samba

Introduction

The following documentation describes the process of updating Samba to a newer version.

If you want to migrate a Samba NT4 domain to Samba Active Directory (AD), see Migrating a Samba NT4 Domain to Samba Active Directory (Classic Upgrade).

Common Misconceptions About Samba 4

One of the common misconceptions is: "Samba 4" means "Active Directory only": This is wrong.

The Active Directory (AD) Domain Controller (DC) support is one of the enhancements in Samba 4.0. However all newer versions include the features of previous versions - including the NT4-style (classic) domain support. This means you can update a Samba 3.x NT4-style PDC to a recent version, like you updated in the past - for example from 3.4.x to 3.5.x. There is no need to migrate an NT4-style domain to an AD.

Additionally, all recent versions continue to support setting up a new NT4-style PDC. The AD support in Samba 4.0 and later is optional and does not replace any for the PDC feature. The Samba team understand the difficulty presented by existing LDAP structures. For that reason, there is no plan to remove the classic PDC support. Additionally we continue testing the PDC support in our continuous integration system.

Updating Multiple Samba Domain Controllers

If you are updating multiple Samba Active Directory (AD) Domain Controllers (DC), the recommended order is:

• Update one Samba AD DC that is is not holding any flexible single master operations (FSMO) role.

• Start Samba on the updated DC.

• Verify that the directory replication between all DCs is working correctly:

# samba-tool drs showrepl

• Test the installation to ensure that the new version works correctly.

• Upgrade all other Samba DCs one at a time and always verify that the replication is working correctly.

The Update Process

Run the following steps, regardless if you are updating a Samba Active Directory (AD) domain controller (DC), a Samba NT4-style PDC, a Samba domain member, or a standalone installation:

• Stop all Samba services.

• Create a backup.

• Read all release notes of versions since the one you are updating from. They contain important information on new features, changed parameter options, and so on.

• Install the latest version over your existing one:

• If you compile Samba from the sources, use the same "configure" options like for your previous version. For more information, see Build Samba From the Sources.

• If you update using packages, read the distribution documentation for information how to update.

• Start Samba.

Start the same daemons like for your previous version:

• On Samba AD DCs: samba
• On Samba NT4-style PDC/BDCs: smbd, nmbd
• On Samba domain members: smbd, nmbd (winbind, if used)
• On Samba standalone hosts: smbd

• Only on Samba AD DCs: Run the Samba AD DC database check.

• Check your Samba log files for errors.

• Test your updated installation.

Samba AD DC Database Check

The "samba-tool" utility enables you to detect and fix problems in the Samba Active Directory (AD) database. For example, if a previous Samba version stored an attribute incorrectly and the updated version fixes the problem. You must run the check and fix command on every Samba AD DC locally, because some fixes apply to non-replicated attributes and modifications are not replicated to other DCs.

To check the AD database, run:

# samba-tool dbcheck --cross-ncs

To fix reported errors, run:

# samba-tool dbcheck --cross-ncs --fix

If you pass the "--yes" parameter to the command, all questions are automatically answered with "yes". Note that if you omit the "--yes" parameter, the database check executes three fsync() calls for each object. This can result result in a longer run duration. For example, passing the "--yes" parameter to the command fixed 3500 objects in 10 seconds in our test environment. Without this parameter, the command required 4:50 minutes for the same operation.

After a repair, re-check the database to verify a successful operation.

Notable Enhancements and Changes

This section provides a list of notable enhancements and changes. In any case, read all release notes of versions between the previous and the new one. They contain important and additional information on new features, changed parameter options, and so on.

All Samba Installations

File Execution Permissions

Updating to 4.0.0 and later

For more information, see Execution of files.

Samba Active Directory Domain Controllers

Fixing replPropertyMetaData Attributes

Updating to 4.5.0 and later

Samba versions prior 4.5.0 stored the "replPropertyMetaData" attribute incorrectly. As a consequence, administrators could experience, for example, renaming conflicts. The problem has been fixed in 4.5.0 and later versions and Samba now stores the attribute correctly. The "samba-tool" utility has been enhanced to detect incorrectly stored "replPropertyMetaData" attributes:

# samba-tool dbcheck --cross-ncs

To fix the attributes, run:

# samba-tool dbcheck --cross-ncs --fix --yes
...
CN=NTDS Settings,CN=DC1,CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com: 0x00000003
CN=NTDS Settings,CN=DC1,CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com: 0x00000000
ERROR: unsorted attributeID values in replPropertyMetaData on CN=NTDS Settings,CN=DC1,CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com

Fix replPropertyMetaData on CN=NTDS Settings,CN=DC1,CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com by sorting the attribute list? [YES]
Fixed attribute 'replPropertyMetaData' of 'CN=NTDS Settings,CN=DC1,CN=Servers,CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=samdom,DC=example,DC=com'

Note that the "--yes" parameter automatically fixes all problems found and not only the "replPropertyMetaData" attributes!

Run the check and fix operation on all Domain Controllers (DC), because "replPropertyMetaData" is a non-replicated attribute and modifications are not replicated to other DCs.

For more information, see the Samba AD DC database check section.

Default for LDAP Connections Requires Strong Authentication

Updating to 4.4.1 or later / 4.3.7 or later / 4.2.10 or later

The security updates 4.4.1, 4.3.7 and 4.2.10 introduced a new smb.conf option for the Active Directory (AD) LDAP server to enforce strong authentication. The default for this new option "ldap server require strong auth" is "yes" and allows only simple binds over TLS encrypted connections. In consequence, external applications that connect to AD using LDAP, cannot establish a connection if they do not use or support TLS encrypted connections.

Applications connecting to Samba AD using the LDAP protocol without encryption, are displaying error messages like:

ldap_bind: Strong(er) authentication required (8)
       additional info: BindSimple: Transport encryption required.

For further information, see the 4.4.1, 4.3.7, or the 4.2.10 release notes.

AD Database Cleanup of Deleted LDAP DNS Entries

Updating to 4.1.12 or later

Previously, Samba incorrectly created many deleted Active Directory (AD) objects for removed DNS entries. The problem has been fixed. If you start the first Domain Controller (DC) with a fixed Samba version, all deleted objects are removed. As a result, this can result in a slow performance until the deleted objects are removed.

Incorrect TLS File Permissions

Updating to 4.1.2 or later / 4.0.12 or later

Previously, Samba created the *.pem files used for LDAP TLS encryptions with insecure permissions. To avoid insecure connections, delete the files on all domain controllers (DC):

# rm /usr/local/samba/private/tls/*.pem

Restart Samba after you deleted the files to automatically re-create the new certificates.

Fixing dynamic DNS update problems

Updating to 4.0.7 or later

See Fix DNS dynamic updates in Samba versions prior 4.0.7 for details.

Fixing incorrect Sysvol and Directory ACLs

Updating from early 4.0.x versions, 4.0 beta and 4.0 release candidates

• To reset wrong Sysvol ACLs, run:

# samba-tool ntacl sysvolreset

• To reset all well known ACLs in the directory, run:

# samba-tool dbcheck --cross-ncs --reset-well-known-acls --fix

• To fix errors in the Active Directory (AD) database, run:

# samba-tool dbcheck --cross-ncs --fix

Samba Domain Members

No remarkable important changes.