The Mac Observer

Skip navigational links

Choose text size: Select small text. Select medium text. Select large text.

Featured Article: Podcast - Mac Geek Gab #178: Batch Permission Changes, Encrypting Follow-up, Re-Enabling AirPort, and GigE speeds

Samba Will Be Better Thanks to Microsoft Agreement

by , 4:25 PM EST, January 4th, 2008

Under the terms of the March 24, 2004 European Commission antitrust ruling against Microsoft and a subsequent loss of the appeal, Microsoft has been required to hand over documentation that will allow the Samba team to make Samba work much better, according to LinuWorld recently.

Samba is an open source project used by Mac OS X, Linux, and other UNIXes to interface to the Windows file and print system.

"They're giving us all the documentation to make everything work," said Jeremy Allison, co-author of Samba. "We will have no more excuses to suck ... if we don't have something, we won't be able to say it’s not our fault we don’t know how to do it."

The Samba developers will have to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDA) for the documentation, but will still be able to write open source software in Samba to make the interface work as intended.

There have been persistent reports of minor gotchas and technical difficulties in the Samba implementation, including Mac OS X, over the years, and this agreement will be good news especially for Mac OS X in the enterprise.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:Guest
Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:29 pm Subject: Finally, Samba will work!

Samba finally has documentation so they can interoperate with already released systems. Of course, Microsoft will change the protocol for XP service pack 3 and Vista service pack 1, so Samba will break in subtle ways, and they'll have to take another 3 years of suing Microsoft to get newer documentation [and this process just repeats endlessly].

Or am I just being optimistic?


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:17 pm Subject: Is there any Microsoft Program wich works?

Microsoft should stay far from open source products in order to keep them running, once "infected" by MS the risk to crash is too high


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:32 pm Subject: UNIXes?

I thought the plural of Unix was Unices, just as the plural of Linux is Linuxen.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Sun Jan 06, 2008 9:54 pm Subject: MS will just change it again

As soon as MS gives the information required by law, they will change how their SMB networking works, and take as long as possible to pass that information along while going through multiple court challenges.


 Reply | Quote
Comment on this Article


Guest Posts Visible. Hide Them.
Back to top  Page 1 of 1    

You cannot edit your comments.   You cannot delete your comments.
Log in | Register | Having Problems? Reset TMO Cookies & Try Again
Username:   Password:   Log me on automatically each visit   

You are not logged in, and this post will appear as "Guest." Log in with your username and password from the TMO forums. If you do not have a username, you can register here.
Please note that guests are limited to including a maximum of two URLs per post.

Post A Comment
  Subject


  Your Comments



Please enter the word exactly as you see it in the image above. Registered users aren't prompted for this. Having trouble reading the image get a new one.

Recent Headlines - Updated Saturday, November 29th, 2008

Sat., 9:00 PM
Podcast - Apple Weekly Report #135: Apple Lawsuits, Banned iPhone Ad, Green MacBook Ad
Fri., 12:45 PM
Podcast - Mac Geek Gab #178: Batch Permission Changes, Encrypting Follow-up, Re-Enabling AirPort, and GigE speeds
Thu., 1:30 PM
iPO Review - Scosche kickBACK iPhone case
7:00 AM
Happy Thanksgiving from TMO!
Wed., 6:00 PM
TMO Appearances - Nancy Gravley Joins MacJury Gift Guide
5:15 PM
TMO Visits The Bay, a Premium Apple Reseller in New Zealand
3:25 PM
iPO Oh the Games You'll Play - iPhone: The Wii of Handheld Gaming Devices?
2:15 PM
Sonnet Releases Simply Fast FireWire 800 to 400 Adapter
1:10 PM
Mac Gaming News - Disney Plans 1st Annual PotC Online Thanksgiving Event
12:05 PM
iPodObserver - UK Shuts Down iPhone 3G Ad
11:15 AM
TMO Appearances - Jeff Gamet on MacJury Gift Guide
10:30 AM
TMO Contest - TMO Announces Macworld Expo Pass Winners
9:50 AM
PhotoCopy 1.1 Adds iPhoto Event Support
9:15 AM
Acclivity Buys MYOB US
8:30 AM
Review - Bento 2 Holiday Pack
7:50 AM
Microsoft Offers Black Friday Office Discount
7:30 AM
iPO Quick Tip - iPhone: Google Street View
 

The Mac Observer Reader Specials

Apple Stock Quote

  • AAPL: $92.47. Change Today: +3.54.
  • (Prices delayed up to 20 minutes.)
  • Discuss in our Apple Finance Board

Hot Topics

What's the buzz? These articles have TMO readers talking.

Apple iTunes

Top Deals From DealsOnTheWeb