To keep Samba passwords synchronized with Linux passwords, which action should be taken?

To ensure that Samba passwords remain synchronized with Linux passwords, the PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules) configuration must include the pam_smbpass.so module. By integrating pam_smbpass.so into the PAM stack, any changes made to a user's password on the Linux system are automatically reflected in Samba. This means that when a user updates their Linux password, Samba can also update its records to keep the password consistency intact without requiring separate authentication processes.

Using PAM for this purpose is advantageous because it centralizes authentication management, allowing you to take advantage of existing Linux authentication policies and mechanisms. This configuration allows for a seamless user experience, as users can log in to both their Linux accounts and Samba shares using the same credentials.

Other options do not provide the same level of integration or synchronization. For instance, creating a symlink for smbpasswd does not address the password synchronization aspect and does not leverage the existing PAM framework for user management. Similarly, while running Winbindd is important for integrating Samba with Windows domain management, it does not directly handle the synchronization of passwords. Storing Linux passwords in a separate file contradicts the standard practice of keeping user credentials securely managed in the system's authentication database, which PAM modules are designed to interact with effectively.