By specifying the name of a domain controller with this option, and using security = [ads|domain] it is possible to get Samba to do all its username/password validation using a specific remote server. Ideally, this option should not be used, as the default '*' indicates to Samba to determine the best DC to contact dynamically, just as all other hosts in an AD domain do. This allows the domain to be maintained (addition and removal of domain controllers) without modification to the smb.conf file. The cryptographic protection on the authenticated RPC calls used to verify passwords ensures that this default is safe. It is strongly recommended that you use the default of '*', however if in your particular environment you have reason to specify a particular DC list, then the list of machines in this option must be a list of names or IP addresses of Domain controllers for the Domain. If you use the default of '*', or list several hosts in the password server option then smbd will try each in turn till it finds one that responds. This is useful in case your primary server goes down. If the list of servers contains both names/IP's and the '*' character, the list is treated as a list of preferred domain controllers, but an auto lookup of all remaining DC's will be added to the list as well. Samba will not attempt to optimize this list by locating the closest DC. If parameter is a name, it is looked up using the parameter and so may resolved by any method and order described in that parameter. security * NT-PDC, NT-BDC1, NT-BDC2, * windc.mydomain.com:389 192.168.1.101 *