I just rebooted the computer to make sure this wasn't some weird RAM remnant, but the computer booted up:
carter ~ # /etc/init.d/samba status * status: started carter ~ # cat /etc/samba/smb.conf [global] workgroup = MYGROUP security = user encrypt passwords = yes guest account = guest wins support = yes local master = yes os level = 99 domain master = yes preferred master = yes hosts allow = 192.168.1. 127. interfaces = eth0 [tmp] path=/tmp writeable=yes [homes] path=/samba/michael valid users=michael writable=yes carter ~ # testparm Load smb config files from /etc/samba/smb.conf rlimit_max: rlimit_max (1024) below minimum Windows limit (16384) Processing section "[tmp]" Processing section "[homes]" Loaded services file OK. Server role: ROLE_STANDALONE Press enter to see a dump of your service definitions [global] workgroup = MYGROUP interfaces = eth0 guest account = guest os level = 99 preferred master = Yes domain master = Yes wins support = Yes hosts allow = 192.168.1., 127. [tmp] path = /tmp read only = No [homes] path = /samba/michael valid users = michael read only = No At the top there you see that Samba IS started. Under that you see MY smb.conf, and at the bottom you see the smb.conf that's being loaded. Nothing really in the logs that would suggest what's going on here: carter ~ # cat /var/log/samba/* cat: /var/log/samba/cores: Is a directory [2010/06/21 16:39:34, 0] nmbd/nmbd.c:854(main) nmbd version 3.4.6 started. Copyright Andrew Tridgell and the Samba Team 1992-2009 [2010/06/21 16:39:34, 0] nmbd/asyncdns.c:155(start_async_dns) started asyncdns process 20980 [2010/06/21 16:39:34, 0] nmbd/nmbd_become_dmb.c:337(become_domain_master_browser_wins) become_domain_master_browser_wins: Attempting to become domain master browser on workgroup MYGROUP, subnet UNICAST_SUBNET. [2010/06/21 16:39:34, 0] nmbd/nmbd_become_dmb.c:351(become_domain_master_browser_wins) become_domain_master_browser_wins: querying WINS server from IP 192.168.1.2 for domain master browser name MYGROUP<1b> on workgroup MYGROUP [2010/06/21 16:39:40, 0] nmbd/nmbd_become_dmb.c:110(become_domain_master_stage2) ***** Samba server CARTER is now a domain master browser for workgroup MYGROUP on subnet UNICAST_SUBNET ***** [2010/06/21 16:39:40, 0] nmbd/nmbd_become_dmb.c:292(become_domain_master_browser_bcast) become_domain_master_browser_bcast: Attempting to become domain master browser on workgroup MYGROUP on subnet 192.168.1.2 [2010/06/21 16:39:40, 0] nmbd/nmbd_become_dmb.c:305(become_domain_master_browser_bcast) become_domain_master_browser_bcast: querying subnet 192.168.1.2 for domain master browser on workgroup MYGROUP [2010/06/21 16:39:48, 0] nmbd/nmbd_become_dmb.c:110(become_domain_master_stage2) ***** Samba server CARTER is now a domain master browser for workgroup MYGROUP on subnet 192.168.1.2 ***** [2010/06/21 16:39:56, 0] nmbd/nmbd_become_lmb.c:395(become_local_master_stage2) ***** Samba name server CARTER is now a local master browser for workgroup MYGROUP on subnet 192.168.1.2 ***** [2010/06/21 16:39:33, 0] smbd/server.c:1073(main) smbd version 3.4.6 started. Copyright Andrew Tridgell and the Samba Team 1992-2009 [2010/06/21 16:39:33, 0] printing/print_cups.c:103(cups_connect) Unable to connect to CUPS server /var/run/cups/cups.sock:631 - No such file or directory [2010/06/21 16:39:33, 0] printing/print_cups.c:103(cups_connect) Unable to connect to CUPS server /var/run/cups/cups.sock:631 - No such file or directory [2010/06/21 16:39:34, 0] smbd/server.c:457(smbd_open_one_socket) smbd_open_once_socket: open_socket_in: Address already in use [2010/06/21 16:39:34, 0] smbd/server.c:457(smbd_open_one_socket) smbd_open_once_socket: open_socket_in: Address already in use