VMWare does not support samba server and do not include the required RPMs in the ISO image.
As we know samba is riddled with security problems and it's usage is frowned upon
However, if used in a responsible manner. I.e behind firewalls it should be safe. DON'T use it on an ESX conneted directly to the internet. Actually you better not connect your ESX servers directly to the internet at all.
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> USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!!! <----
Also you may affect ESX stability by using unsupported RPMs and void the VMWare support license by using them.
Samba on ESX 4 for dummies:
Download the required RPMs from the ISO image and/or the Centos FTP site: ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/os/Linux/distributions/centos/5.2/updates/x86_64/RPMS/ (as new versions arrive find the right Centos distro)
You will need (in this order):
samba-common-3.0.28-1.el5_2.1.x86_64.rpm (is in the iso)
cups-libs-1.2.4-11.18.el5_2.3.x86_64.rpm
samba-3.0.28-1.el5_2.1.x86_64.rpm
Upload the files to your ESX server with an FTP client and use port 22 (Filezilla is great). Connect with a valid user (not Root) and use port 22.
Use these commands to install (in this order):
rpm -Uvh samba-common-3.0.28-1.el5_2.1.x86_64.rpm
rpm -Uvh --nodeps cups-libs-1.2.4-11.18.el5_2.3.x86_64.rpm
rpm -Uvh samba-3.0.28-1.el5_2.1.x86_64.rpm
To set up samba to use it you'll need this info if you are a dummy 
1.Open the firewall in ESX: esxcfg-firewall -o 445,tcp,in,smb-server
(you could also make scripts to open/close fw for every use)
2. Edit the smb.conf: nano /etc/samba/smb.conf
(you may need something like this under Share Definitions. Use [ before the labels vmfs and vmimages)
vmfs]
comment = vmfs
browseable = yes
writable = yes
valid users = root
path = /vmfs/volumes
vmimages]
comment = vmimages
browseable = yes
writable = yes
valid users = root
path = /vmimages
3. Turn samba on: chkconfig --level 3 smb on
4. Start samba service: /etc/init.d/smb start
5. Restart the FW: /etc/init.d/firewall restart
6. Set root smb password: smbpasswd -a root
This concludes the Samba in ESX 4 guide for real dummies 
Message was edited by: ArildS