idmapwb

idmapwb [-d domain] [-u sid|username] [-g sid|groupname] [-r uid|gid]

-d domain
    Specifies the Windows domain to query or modify.

-u sid|username
    Maps a Windows SID or username to a Unix UID. Requires winbindd to be running.

-g sid|groupname
    Maps a Windows SID or groupname to a Unix GID. Requires winbindd to be running.

-r uid|gid
    Resolves a Unix UID or GID to the corresponding Windows SID. Requires winbindd to be running.

The idmapwb command is used to manage the mapping between Windows Security Identifiers (SIDs) and Unix user and group IDs when using Samba in a Windows Active Directory environment. It's a critical tool for ensuring proper access control and identity management when integrating Linux systems with Windows networks.

Essentially, idmapwb provides a way to translate Windows identities into a format that Linux understands and can use for file permissions, authentication, and other security-related tasks. This is particularly important when file shares are accessed from both Windows and Linux machines, as user and group identities need to be consistent across both platforms.

The command primarily interacts with the winbind daemon, which is a component of Samba responsible for resolving Windows identities. Through idmapwb, you can query, modify, and manage the mapping of SIDs to UIDs/GIDs, ensuring a seamless integration between the Windows and Linux security models.

The idmapwb command heavily relies on the winbind daemon. Ensure winbind is correctly configured and running before using idmapwb. Improper SID/UID mappings can result in access control issues. The command is usually part of the Samba suite, so verify that Samba is installed and configured correctly before usage.

If idmapwb fails to resolve SIDs or UIDs, check the winbind configuration in smb.conf and ensure that winbind is correctly joined to the Active Directory domain. Use wbinfo to verify winbind functionality. Check system logs for errors related to winbind or Samba.

The domain specified with the -d option must match the domain configured in smb.conf for winbind. If not specified, the command may use the default winbind domain, which might lead to incorrect mappings.

idmapwb is developed as a utility within the Samba project. Its evolution has been driven by the need for better interoperability between Windows Active Directory environments and Unix-based systems, particularly in enterprise settings. Initially, the focus was on simply resolving SIDs to UIDs/GIDs, but over time, more advanced features were added to manage and query the mappings more effectively. The command is not designed as standalone software but as a tool to manage samba services.

wbinfo(1), net(8), smb.conf(5)