Inside Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Server: Apple replaces Samba for Windows networking services

Posted:
in macOS edited January 2014
The upcoming release of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Server will remove the formerly bundled open source Samba software and replace it with Apple's own tools for Windows file sharing and network directory services.



Apple began bundling Samba with Mac OS X 10.2, enabling Mac users to connect to Microsoft's Windows file and network directory services based on SMB (Server Message Block, a protocol also known as Windows File Sharing).



In both Mac OS X Server and client editions, Samba enables Macs to share files with Windows clients on the network and access Windows file servers. It has also later allowed Mac OS X Server to work as an NT Domain Controller to manage network accounts and make roaming profiles and home directories available to Windows PC users.



However, the Samba team has moved active development of the project to the more strict GPLv3 license, which prevents Apple from realistically using the software commercially.



Developers report that Apple has internally officially announced that it will pull Samba from Mac OS X Lion and Lion Server, and replace it with Windows networking software developed by Apple. The new replacement for Samba is said to be named SMBX, and supports Microsoft's newer SMB2 version of its proprietary but openly published protocol, which was originally released in Windows Vista.



While Mac OS X's previous Samba only supported the original SMB1, Microsoft's new SBM2 is both faster and more efficient, reducing the number of commands and subcommands from over a hundred to just 19, while adding pipelining of commands (to more efficiently transact over slow links), support for symbolic links, caching of file properties, and larger storage fields supporting better performance of large file transfers over fast networks.



Apple's Windows file sharing software in Lion will continue to allow Macs to both provide and access Windows-style file shares, but reportedly will not support the NT Domain Controller features of Samba, which relate to Microsoft's 1990's, NT-era directory service supported prior to Active Directory, which was released alongside Windows 2000.



Despite its age, some networks still use NT Domain Controller configurations because of its relative simplicity compared to Microsoft's more modern Active Directory. Apple is now said to be recommending Active Directory to users who are still dependent upon the older NT Domain Controller network directory services.



On the other hand, the version of Samba Apple had been using prevented Macs from seamlessly working with modern PCs running Windows 7, which include security changes in how encryptions protocols work. Apple's own software won't be constrained by the design limitation of Samba.



End users could conceivably obtain Samba on their own and integrate it into their Mac OS X environment themselves, but Samba does not currently provide ready to use binaries for Mac OS X, and a pure port of Samba would lack Apple's easy to use user interface and tight integration with other Apple software, including Open Directory, the company's own directory services solution.
«13456

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 107
    cityguidecityguide Posts: 129member
    Tighter AD integration would be most welcome. Even better if it leads to more support for IOS, which will help iPad in the enterprise.
  • Reply 2 of 107
    bobrikbobrik Posts: 36member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    However, the Samba team has moved active development of the project to the more strict GPLv3 license, which prevents Apple from using the software commercially.



    GPLv3 does not prevent anyone to use the software commercially. It just has conditions that Apple finds unacceptable.
  • Reply 3 of 107
    mdriftmeyermdriftmeyer Posts: 7,503member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by bobrik View Post


    GPLv3 does not prevent anyone to use the software commercially. It just has conditions that Apple finds unacceptable.



    Yes, those conditions include publishing all your source code that you use to extend the base GPLv3 package.



    Sorry, but GPLv3 isn't helping.



    Ask Torvalds why he is only at GPLv2 and he'll have to mention Corporations and protected IP.
  • Reply 4 of 107
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by bobrik View Post


    GPLv3 does not prevent anyone to use the software commercially. It just has conditions that Apple finds unacceptable.



    To put this in perspective, it also contains conditions that Linus Torvalds finds unacceptable.

    http://www.linux.com/archive/feature/114336

    http://lkml.org/lkml/2006/9/25/161



    GPLv3 is an ideological move divorced from the reality of the GPL. It essentially allows the FSF zealots to retroactively change licencing agreements (although I believe the final version may have toned this down a bit.
  • Reply 5 of 107
    jeffdmjeffdm Posts: 12,951member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mdriftmeyer View Post


    Yes, those conditions include publishing all your source code that you use to extend the base GPLv3 package.



    Doesn't v2 require that too? What is the difference with v3?
  • Reply 6 of 107
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by JeffDM View Post


    Doesn't v2 require that too? What is the difference with v3?



    I believe, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the primary idealogical difference comes down to "source code must be available" covers in derived works. In GPLv2, you can use a source work, if you modify it then you have to provide source for those modifications, but if your code just works with it then you don't have to open-source your own code. Under GPLv3 you can't use an open-source component without being entirely open-source yourself.
  • Reply 7 of 107
    r00fusr00fus Posts: 245member
    This will be a welcome change.

    Microsoft has changed a lot of how things work with Active Directory and openness for it's own sake isn't helping.



    I'm really glad that Apple (as of iOS3 and OSX Snow Leopard) finally moved to support modern Exchange protocols, since we're saddled with the microsoft email ball and chain at work.



    Now if we could get Macs and PCs to work more harmoniously on the AD, that would really promote Apple's growth in enterprise.



    Right now, Macs are a pain to manage in any Microsoft-dominated corporate IT environment (ie, most of them).
  • Reply 8 of 107
    mdriftmeyermdriftmeyer Posts: 7,503member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by JeffDM View Post


    Doesn't v2 require that too? What is the difference with v3?



    GPLv3 is not compatible with Apple's Open Source Licensing Policies.



    GPLv3 is more strict on CopyLeft. One exception of not CopyLeft but GPLv3 is Apache 2. In short, Apache agreed to the GPLv3 terms to make it compatible. Apple refuses to agree to the terms.



    GPLv2 is less restrictive on the Copyleft requirements.



    Eventually, any an all pieces of software that moves to GPLv3 will no longer be included in OS X as part of the Operating System. You'll have to install those packages on your own and thus lose the former integration.



    It's one reason MacPorts exists.





    http://www.opensource.apple.com/license/apsl/
  • Reply 9 of 107
    oomuoomu Posts: 130member
    NO you are WRONG !



    you commentators are wrong about gpl2/3



    about the reasons you think it's explaining why apple remove samba you are wrong : GPL 3 ask the same thing than GPL 2.



    it just has new provision to protect the goal of GPL 2 in remote web services (it was a way to circuvment the GPL 2 : put the modified source code behind a web interface and "voilÃ*" : no need to distribute a binary and then to provide the source code to users !"



    but for pratical use for Apple, it's NOT what you think.



    if apple has a problem with GPL3 _OR_ Samba, it's not the reason you think.



    -

    it seems difficult to believe Apple can recreate a complete cifs stacks from scratch.



    it's surely a fork of the samba project. else : wow !



    -

    Linux Torvalds is not against the gpl 3. He had doubts of the need, nothing else.



    For the Linux Project, you have to understand EVERY contributors to the kernel KEEPS their property of their own source code.



    So if you want to change the licence of the whole linux kernel project, you should ask the permission of all contributors. (it's a lot of people and companies)



    And, the gpl 3 doesn't bring useful (or urgent) protection to the health of the linux project, so the kernel maintainers are not interest in re-licence to the GPL 3.



    it's nothing else.



    -

    others project as samba or gnu (and others) ask contributors to give the property (or permissions) to the foundation managing the project to contribute to the main official trunk of the project.



    it has advantages and defaults, it's a choice suiting whatever needs the project has.



    -

    please, you don't need to romance things or to add polemics to be excited by changes.



    Apple doing its own cifs stacks ? WOW ! it's already "wowah" like that.
  • Reply 10 of 107
    boogabooga Posts: 1,082member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by bobrik View Post


    GPLv3 does not prevent anyone to use the software commercially. It just has conditions that Apple finds unacceptable.



    The biggest changes to GPLv3 that make it anti-commercial are:

    1. Patent Indemnification. If you use GPLv3 you give up the right to sue anyone for any patent which may cover or be substantially similar to anything you've ever GPLv3'ed.

    2. DMCA. If you use GPLv3 you are forbidden from doing anything with that code or derivative works which would enforce copyrights.

    3. Anti-TiVOization. Any GPLv3 software (or derivative works) must be modifiable and the modified version be usable like the original. No locking out modifications on your hardware.



    These, combined with expanded definitions for that consitutes a "derivative work" push the GPLv3 far beyond the original "if you use this code you have to share your modifications" intent of the GPLv2. Almost no corporation will touch GPLv3 with a ten-foot pole, causing a GPLv2 fork or a commercial re-implementation of the few innovations from the GPL world.



    The end result has been much less free software work and much more investment in proprietary software. Nice work, FSF.
  • Reply 11 of 107
    mdriftmeyermdriftmeyer Posts: 7,503member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mbarriault View Post


    I believe, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the primary idealogical difference comes down to "source code must be available" covers in derived works. In GPLv2, you can use a source work, if you modify it then you have to provide source for those modifications, but if your code just works with it then you don't have to open-source your own code. Under GPLv3 you can't use an open-source component without being entirely open-source yourself.



    I believe this is correct.



    Quote:

    According to Stallman, the most important changes are in relation to software patents, free software license compatibility, the definition of "source code", and hardware restrictions on software modification ("tivoization").[17][18] Other changes relate to internationalization, how license violations are handled, and how additional permissions can be granted by the copyright holder.



    http://www.ifso.ie/documents/rms-gpl...5.html#patents



    Quote:

    A second major area was how to deal with software patents. We decided that the implicit patent licences that we were relying on in GPL version two, were not solid enough so we put in an explicit grant of patent licence on the part of whoever distributes the software.



    [Richard points at audience member] If she gives you a copy of the program, she is implicitly giving you a patent licence for any patent that she has or controls that you would need to infringe in order to use the software or use its output.



    This follows various other free software licences that came out during the 90s.



    Sure. Whatever Richard.



    Oddly, Apache2 has the GPLv3 blessings but includes in their license :



    http://www.opensource.apple.com/sour.../httpd/LICENSE



    Quote:

    4. Redistribution. You may reproduce and distribute copies of the

    Work or Derivative Works thereof in any medium, with or without

    modifications, and in Source or Object form, provided that You

    meet the following conditions:



    (a) You must give any other recipients of the Work or

    Derivative Works a copy of this License; and



    (b) You must cause any modified files to carry prominent notices

    stating that You changed the files; and



    (c) You must retain, in the Source form of any Derivative Works

    that You distribute, all copyright, patent, trademark, and

    attribution notices from the Source form of the Work,

    excluding those notices that do not pertain to any part of

    the Derivative Works;
    and



    (d) If the Work includes a "NOTICE" text file as part of its

    distribution, then any Derivative Works that You distribute must

    include a readable copy of the attribution notices contained

    within such NOTICE file, excluding those notices that do not

    pertain to any part of the Derivative Works, in at least one

    of the following places: within a NOTICE text file distributed

    as part of the Derivative Works; within the Source form or

    documentation, if provided along with the Derivative Works; or,

    within a display generated by the Derivative Works, if and

    wherever such third-party notices normally appear. The contents

    of the NOTICE file are for informational purposes only and

    do not modify the License. You may add Your own attribution

    notices within Derivative Works that You distribute, alongside

    or as an addendum to the NOTICE text from the Work, provided

    that such additional attribution notices cannot be construed

    as modifying the License.



    You may add Your own copyright statement to Your modifications and

    may provide additional or different license terms and conditions

    for use, reproduction, or distribution of Your modifications, or

    for any such Derivative Works as a whole, provided Your use,

    reproduction, and distribution of the Work otherwise complies with

    the conditions stated in this License.



    This is the only reason Apple includes Apache 2 in their OS. Apache has basically given all rights of patented code up to the community but does not require third parties using Apache 2 to give their patents and copyrights of their derived work up to the greater community, which makes sense.
  • Reply 12 of 107
    boogabooga Posts: 1,082member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by oomu View Post


    it seems difficult to believe Apple can recreate a complete cifs stacks from scratch.



    it's surely a fork of the samba project. else : wow !



    They could easily have licensed a bunch of source from Microsoft. Or not... cifs isn't exactly rocket science, especially when you have Apple's resources.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by oomu View Post


    Linux Torvalds is not against the gpl 3. He had doubts of the need, nothing else.



    For the Linux Project, you have to understand EVERY contributors to the kernel KEEPS their property of their own source code.



    So if you want to change the licence of the whole linux kernel project, you should ask the permission of all contributors. (it's a lot of people and companies)



    And, the gpl 3 doesn't bring useful (or urgent) protection to the health of the linux project, so the kernel maintainers are not interest in re-licence to the GPL 3.



    it's nothing else.



    This is simply false. Linus has been quite vocal about his dislike of GPLv3, and that he prefers GPLv2 because it keeps to the spirit of what he wants to do with the Linux kernel more than GPLv3 does.
  • Reply 13 of 107
    oomuoomu Posts: 130member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Booga View Post


    This is simply false. Linus has been quite vocal about his dislike of GPLv3, and that he prefers GPLv2 because it keeps to the spirit of what he wants to do with the Linux kernel more than GPLv3 does.



    no.



    it was quite vocal in why he doesn't need it and why the linux project will not switch.



    nothing to do a fuss.



    beside, the point is : the reason you gave here about why Apple would give up samba cannot be the good one.



    there are surely a reason, of course, but it's not the one people told here.
  • Reply 14 of 107
    foljsfoljs Posts: 390member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by oomu View Post


    NO you are WRONG !



    you commentators are wrong about gpl2/3



    about the reasons you think it's explaining why apple remove samba you are wrong : GPL 3 ask the same thing than GPL 2.



    it just has new provision to protect the goal of GPL 2 in remote web services (it was a way to circuvment the GPL 2 : put the modified source code behind a web interface and "voilÃ*" : no need to distribute a binary and then to provide the source code to users !"



    but for pratical use for Apple, it's NOT what you think.



    if apple has a problem with GPL3 _OR_ Samba, it's not the reason you think.



    -

    it seems difficult to believe Apple can recreate a complete cifs stacks from scratch.



    it's surely a fork of the samba project. else : wow !



    They are "WRONG" huh?



    And you are right, despite not providing any reference or insight.



    Oh, and your (bad) english and syntax, does not inspire much confidence in your understanding of licences...



    1) GPLv3 has MANY, MANY changes pertaining to derived works, patents etc, that are troubling enough for a company like Apple to steer clear of the licence.



    2) Apple already abandoned the GCC tool-chain (in favor of LLVM and company) partly to avoid GPLv3.



    3) There is a discussion on the Samba mailing list that sheds some light on the decision (skip through the OSS rhetoric).



    Quote:

    Linux Torvalds is not against the gpl 3. He had doubts of the need, nothing else.



    Wrong here too. To quote Linus:



    "I don't see any real upsides to GPLv3, and I do see potential downsides. Things that have been valid under v2 are no longer valid under v3, so changing the license has real downsides."



    (From the Linux Kernel mailing list).
  • Reply 15 of 107
    zppxzppx Posts: 1member
    The beginning of your comment is pure rubbish, Apache License 2 was published in January, 2004, GPLv3 came out in June, 2007. ASF did not "agreed" with the FSF...



    Anyway, you can continue...



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mdriftmeyer View Post


    GPLv3 is not compatible with Apple's Open Source Licensing Policies.



    GPLv3 is more strict on CopyLeft. One exception of not CopyLeft but GPLv3 is Apache 2. In short, Apache agreed to the GPLv3 terms to make it compatible. Apple refuses to agree to the terms.



    GPLv2 is less restrictive on the Copyleft requirements.



    Eventually, any an all pieces of software that moves to GPLv3 will no longer be included in OS X as part of the Operating System. You'll have to install those packages on your own and thus lose the former integration.



    It's one reason MacPorts exists.





    http://www.opensource.apple.com/license/apsl/



  • Reply 16 of 107
    ghostface147ghostface147 Posts: 1,629member
    I am naive when it comes to this, but does this mean SMB is going to be a lot more reliable?
  • Reply 17 of 107
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by foljs View Post


    They are "WRONG" huh?



    And you are right, despite not providing any reference or insight.



    Oh, and your (bad) english and syntax, does not inspire much confidence in your understanding of licences...



    1) GPLv3 has MANY, MANY changes pertaining to derived works, patents etc, that are troubling enough for a company like Apple to steer clear of the licence.



    2) Apple already abandoned the GCC tool-chain (in favor of LLVM and company) partly to avoid GPLv3.



    3) There is a discussion on the Samba mailing list that sheds some light on the decision (skip through the OSS rhetoric).







    Wrong here too. To quote Linus:



    "I don't see any real upsides to GPLv3, and I do see potential downsides. Things that have been valid under v2 are no longer valid under v3, so changing the license has real downsides."



    (From the Linux Kernel mailing list).



    You're probably wasting your breath, the GPLv3 crowd I think is stuck in their utopian fallacy where everyone just shares software code for free & you never have to pay for anything ever again. OpenSource has been a huge success in large part because of the willingness of corporations to contribute to it, now with GPLv3 it will go the way of the hobbiest again & we'll go back to the old days or proprietary solutions that don't work together well. Congrats, you just gave Microsoft their comeback, they're already locked into the proprietary game.
  • Reply 18 of 107
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ghostface147 View Post


    I am naive when it comes to this, but does this mean SMB is going to be a lot more reliable?



    No because SMB won't be part of Mac OS X as SMB refers to Samba.



    This is going to be super interesting and Lion is getting awesomer and awesomer in my eyes.



    I had a feeling Mac OS X Server was going to be rolled into Mac OS X and distributed as a simple server for home networking. I felt it when Apple released it with the Mac Mini Server, it felt more likely when the iPad was released, and seemed to make more sense when Apple ditched the XServe.



    I so can't wait for this release.
  • Reply 19 of 107
    ghostface147ghostface147 Posts: 1,629member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by lowededwookie View Post


    No because SMB won't be part of Mac OS X as SMB refers to Samba.



    Hmm, so I guess instead of SMB://<fileshare> it will be <whatever>://<fileshare> to connect to windows shares?
  • Reply 20 of 107
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by lowededwookie View Post


    No because SMB won't be part of Mac OS X as SMB refers to Samba.



    No it doesn't.
Sign In or Register to comment.