How to enable shares in Windows and connect to them from Debian Linux

Enabling shared folders in the host system is necessary if the guest wants to access folders of the host via networking with CIFS or SMBFS. If the more convenient Shared Folders feature of the VMware software can be used it is not necessary.

• rightclick a folder, properties, shares, share this folder
• edit permissions and give access to an existing user with a not too simplistic password

Note: It is recommended to set up CIFS and mount shares automatically during booting. If that is not possible the second choice is to try to get file sharing with the host system working with SMBFS instead of manually getting up a folder window like the following:

• doubleclick each icon in Computer->Network->Windows Network
• end then menu File->Connect to server

• Menu Places->Connect to server

  Service type-> Windows share
  Server: name of the Windows computer

then an authentification dialog comes up, where a real windows user has to be entered, even if the windows share has permission for everyone:

  username
  WORKGROUP
  password