Configuring CIFS(Common Internet File System) with alfresco

After struggling a lot I found that Its very easy to configure CIFS with alfresco in Windows Server.


You only need to follow some basic steps which are available in many please(Steps are at end).But this is not only for the step which you will need to follow for CIFS configuration,you should also know how to debug if your configuration is not proper or something is missing and you dont know what is missing.Please refere below things for same.

netstat -a

This command is manly used for finding out which port is occupied.If you want port with process id you can use below command

netstat -a -o -n


Both of above commands can be used for identifying that the port 445 is used or not.

net view ServerName

above command is identification for server access.It will give you error code so that troubleshott becomes easy.

nbtstat -a SERVER

Testing cifs server name



Below are steps for alfresco CIFS configuration.Which is taken from docs.alfresco.com.

1. Install Windows Server 2008 R2 out-of-the box. You do not need to change the /etc/hosts or File and Printer Sharing configuration. 
2. Configure a WINS server.
   1. If the server is a domain controller or already part of a domain, this may already be controlled by a Domain Policy. To install one on Windows Server 2008 R2, see the following article: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff710463%28WS.10%29.aspx.
   2. To manually configure an existing WINS server use the following steps: 
      1. Go to Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings > Local Area Connection > Properties.
      2. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and then select Properties. .
      3. On the General tab, select Advanced and then select the WINS tab.
      4. Click Add and then add the IP address of the WINS server in your network and select Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP.
      5. Click OK > OK > Close.
3. Ensure that you install Alfresco using the x64 setup wizard. See Installing Alfresco Enterprise on Windows.
4. Configure the Windows Server 2008 R2 firewall to create a rule to block 445.
   1. Open Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center > Windows Firewall > Advanced Settings.
   2. Select Inbound Rules.
   3. On the right-side of the window, click New Rule.
   4. Follow the instructions on the wizard:
      1. Rule Type > Port, Next.
      2. Rule apply to "TCP", Specific Local Ports > 445, Next,
      3. Action > Block the connection, Next,
      4. Profile > Select ALL network types (Domain, Public, Private)
      5. Name > "Alfresco CIFS (Block 445)", Description the same.
   5. Select Finish.
5. Configure the Windows Server 2008 R2 firewall to create a rule to allow 137,138,139.
   1. Open the Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center > Windows Firewall > Advanced Settings.
   2. Select Inbound Rules.
   3. On the right-side of the window, click New Rule.
   4. Follow the instructions on the wizard:
      1. Rule Type > Port, Next.
      2. Rule apply to "TCP", Specific Local Ports > 137,138,139, Next,
      3. Action > Allow the connection, Next,
      4. Profile > Select ALL network types (Domain, Public, Private)
      5. Name > "Alfresco CIFS (Allow 137,138,139)", Description the same.
   5. Select Finish.
6. Configure the client (Windows XP and Windows 7)
   1. Go to Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings > Local Area Connection > Properties. 
   2. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
   3. On the General tab, select Advanced and then select the WINS tab.
   4. Click Add and then add the IP address of the WINS server in your network and select Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP.
   5. Click OK > OK > Close.