OS Manuals

/usr/bin/smbclient

Samba client programs

From samba-client 4.25.1-r1 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running smbclient --help (exit 0). permalink

Usage: smbclient [OPTIONS] service <password>
  -M, --message=HOST                           Send message
  -I, --ip-address=IP                          Use this IP to connect to
  -E, --stderr                                 Write messages to stderr
                                               instead of stdout
  -L, --list=HOST                              Get a list of shares available
                                               on a host
  -T, --tar=<c|x>IXFvgbNan                     Command line tar
  -D, --directory=DIR                          Start from directory
  -c, --command=STRING                         Execute semicolon separated
                                               commands
  -b, --send-buffer=BYTES                      Changes the transmit/send buffer
  -t, --timeout=SECONDS                        Changes the per-operation
                                               timeout
  -p, --port=PORT                              Port to connect to
  -g, --grepable                               Produce grepable output
  -q, --quiet                                  Suppress help message
  -B, --browse                                 Browse SMB servers using DNS

Help options:
  -?, --help                                   Show this help message
      --usage                                  Display brief usage message

Common Samba options:
  -d, --debuglevel=DEBUGLEVEL                  Set debug level
      --debug-stdout                           Send debug output to standard
                                               output
  -s, --configfile=CONFIGFILE                  Use alternative configuration
                                               file
      --option=name=value                      Set smb.conf option from
                                               command line
  -l, --log-basename=LOGFILEBASE               Basename for log/debug files
      --leak-report                            enable talloc leak reporting on
                                               exit
      --leak-report-full                       enable full talloc leak
                                               reporting on exit

Connection options:
  -R, --name-resolve=NAME-RESOLVE-ORDER        Use these name resolution
                                               services only
  -O, --socket-options=SOCKETOPTIONS           socket options to use
  -m, --max-protocol=MAXPROTOCOL               Set max protocol level
  -n, --netbiosname=NETBIOSNAME                Primary netbios name
      --netbios-scope=SCOPE                    Use this Netbios scope
  -W, --workgroup=WORKGROUP                    Set the workgroup name
      --realm=REALM                            Set the realm name

Credential options:
  -U, --user=[DOMAIN/]USERNAME[%PASSWORD]      Set the network username
  -N, --no-pass                                Don't ask for a password
      --password=STRING                        Password
      --pw-nt-hash                             The supplied password is the NT
                                               hash
  -A, --authentication-file=FILE               Get the credentials from a file
  -P, --machine-pass                           Use stored machine account
                                               password
      --simple-bind-dn=DN                      DN to use for a simple bind
      --use-kerberos=desired|required|off      Use Kerberos authentication
      --use-krb5-ccache=CCACHE                 Credentials cache location for
                                               Kerberos
      --use-winbind-ccache                     Use the winbind ccache for
                                               authentication
      --client-protection=sign|encrypt|off     Configure used protection for
                                               client connections

Deprecated legacy options:
  -k, --kerberos                               DEPRECATED: Migrate to
                                               --use-kerberos

Version options:
  -V, --version                                Print version
Options (42)
OptionDescriptionSource
-M, --message HOSTSend messagehelp
-I, --ip-address IPUse this IP to connect tohelp
-E, --stderrWrite messages to stderr instead of stdouthelp
-L, --list HOSTGet a list of shares available on a hosthelp
-T, --tar c|x>IXFvgbNanCommand line tarhelp
-D, --directory DIRStart from directoryhelp
-c, --command STRINGExecute semicolon separated commandshelp
-b, --send-buffer BYTESChanges the transmit/send bufferhelp
-t, --timeout SECONDSChanges the per-operation timeouthelp
-p, --port PORTPort to connect tohelp
-g, --grepableProduce grepable outputhelp
-q, --quietSuppress help messagehelp
-B, --browseBrowse SMB servers using DNShelp
-?, --helpShow this help messagehelp
--usageDisplay brief usage message.help + man
-d, --debuglevel DEBUGLEVELSet debug levelhelp
--debug-stdoutThis will redirect debug output to STDOUT.help + man
-s, --configfile CONFIGFILEThe file specified contains the configuration details required by the client.help + man
--option name=valueSet the smb.conf(5) option "<name>" to value "<value>" from the command line.help + man
-l, --log-basename LOGFILEBASEBasename for log/debug fileshelp
--leak-reportEnable talloc leak reporting on exit.help + man
--leak-report-fullEnable full talloc leak reporting on exit.help + man
-R, --name-resolve NAME-RESOLVE-ORDERUse these name resolution services onlyhelp
-O, --socket-options SOCKETOPTIONSsocket options to usehelp
-m, --max-protocol MAXPROTOCOLSet max protocol levelhelp
-n, --netbiosname NETBIOSNAMEPrimary netbios namehelp
--netbios-scope SCOPEThis specifies a NetBIOS scope that nmblookup will use to communicate with when generating NetBIOS names.help + man
-W, --workgroup WORKGROUPSet the workgroup namehelp
--realm REALMSet the realm namehelp
-U, --user DOMAIN/]USERNAME[%PASSWORDSet the network usernamehelp
-N, --no-passDon't ask for a passwordhelp
--password STRINGSpecify the password on the commandline.help + man
--pw-nt-hashThe supplied password is the NT hash.help + man
-A, --authentication-file FILEGet the credentials from a filehelp
-P, --machine-passUse stored machine account passwordhelp
--simple-bind-dn DNDN to use for a simple bind.help + man
--use-kerberos desired|required|offThis parameter determines whether Samba client tools will try to authenticate using Kerberos.help + man
--use-krb5-ccache CCACHESpecifies the credential cache location for Kerberos authentication.help + man
--use-winbind-ccacheTry to use the credential cache by winbind.help + man
--client-protection sign|encrypt|offSets the connection protection the client tool should use.help + man
-k, --kerberosDEPRECATED: Migrate tohelp
-V, --versionPrint versionhelp

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.