The Redhat Linux Operating System on which ICommander runs for most customers
with multiple users includes an open source software package named Samba that
enables complete interoperability with Windows PC's and Servers on a Network.
This includes the ability to share out directories on the Linux Server so that they may be accessed via Network Places on Windows Systems and/or have a Windows Drive letter mapped to them. Our implementation of ICommander on your Redhat Linux Server uses the Samba file sharing to create a "my_trfrs" share for private files of each user. This is a subdirectory of the user home directory on the Linux server. It becomes the primary portal between the user workstation and the Linux server for access to files from either system. It also becomes a convenient place for the user to place important private Windows program data files to assure that they get backed up daily.
We also generally setup a public shared directory area using Samba. This share may be used by anyone with an account on the Linux server to store files created with various Windows programs as well as some Linux files. This shared Samba directory structure can eliminate the need for a Windows PC or Server to act as a File Server. It is a no cost extension of what the Linux Server can do for you by consolidating storage of data files from all Windows systems on the Network and assuring they are backed up regularly. If you have users who do not have a personal Linux account, a shared account may be established to give them access to the public Samba shares.
The Samba software used for the file sharing provides many other
interoperability features. ICommander uses Samba utilities for setting up
printers attached to Windows PC's as Linux Printers and, if one or more printers
are attached directly to the Linux Server, the reverse may be done by sharing
those printers out to the Windows network. Samba also provides utilities that
ICommander File Manager uses to access shared directories on PC's on the Network
as though they are temporarily part of the Linux File System.