One of the first Open Source software to successfully bridge the gap that existed between Windows and Linux users, Samba allowed accessing of files on a Windows network share easily. Current implemenŽtations of Samba integrate well into a Windows doŽmain network as well as an Active Directory based setup.

Owing to the ease of adding a Samba-based server into an existing Windows network, it came to be used primarily as a replacement for Windows Server on a file server. The low cost and ability to make file shares on Linux machines also look like Windows shares drove up the usage of Samba significantly. AlŽthough it did run into copyright violation issues now and then, Samba is still going strong for providing baŽsic file sharing services.