How to get list of Windows's shared folders on Ubuntu

As an IT admin, it can be beneficial to know the list of Windows shared folders on a Ubuntu system. This is important for tasks such as backing up data, setting up access rights, and troubleshooting network issues.

To view the list of Windows shared folders on a Ubuntu system, you first need to install the Samba client package. Samba is a software suite that allows Ubuntu systems to access files and printers on Windows systems. To install the Samba package, open a terminal window and enter the following command:

sudo apt-get install samba

Once the package is installed, you can view the list of Windows shared folders with the following command:

smbclient -L -U

Replace with the IP address or hostname of the Windows system, and with a valid Windows user name. Entering this command will prompt you for the password of the specified user. Once the password has been entered, the command will return a list of shared folders on the Windows system.

It is important to note that the list of Windows shared folders is dependent on the user’s access rights. If the user does not have sufficient privileges, they may not be able to view certain folders. Additionally, some folders may be hidden from view if they are marked as “private” or “restricted”.

Another way to view the list of Windows shared folders is to use the Windows File Sharing Protocol (SMB). This protocol allows Ubuntu systems to access files and printers on Windows systems. To access the list of shared folders using SMB, you will need to install the “CIFS” package on the Ubuntu system.

Once the “CIFS” package is installed, you can view the list of Windows shared folders with the following command:

smbclient -L -U

The command will prompt you for a password, and once the password has been entered, it will return a list of shared folders on the Windows system. As with the Samba command, the list of shared folders is dependent on the user’s access rights.

In summary, as an IT admin, it is important to know the list of Windows shared folders on a Ubuntu system. To view the list of shared folders, you can either install the Samba client package and use the “smbclient” command, or install the “CIFS” package and use the “smbclient” command. The list of shared folders is dependent on the user’s access rights and some folders may be hidden if they are marked as private or restricted.