International Journal of Science, Engineering and TechnologyAuthors: Jerry Pinto
Abstract: Samba, the open-source implementation of the SMB/CIFS protocol, has become a vital component in enabling file sharing across heterogeneous systems. In media streaming platforms where high throughput, low latency, and efficient concurrency are paramount, Samba's optimization directly influences performance, user satisfaction, and system scalability. This article explores the technical intricacies and performance tuning strategies for Samba in the context of media streaming, including caching mechanisms, transport-layer considerations, and filesystem interactions. Media streaming demands sustained data transfer rates for large media files, making Samba's configuration and tuning critically important for ensuring uninterrupted playback and robust access control. By drawing on real-world implementations and performance benchmarks, this article identifies bottlenecks in default Samba deployments and presents engineering solutions to enhance stream-read efficiency, reduce CPU utilization, and optimize memory handling. Moreover, it investigates the synergy between Samba and network file systems (NFS), SSD storage, and modern Linux kernel features like asynchronous I/O and systemd enhancements. As video consumption and digital content delivery grow exponentially, refining Samba for media workloads becomes essential. This paper serves as a practical guide for system architects, DevOps teams, and media IT infrastructure planners aiming to align Samba services with the stringent demands of modern streaming platforms.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16750827
