Bug#528134: [Pkg-samba-maint] Bug#528134: samba-common: smbpasswd -a user does not creat /etc/samba/smbpasswd file

I was able to produce the following error using smbpasswd when the directory /etc/samba did not exist:

[root@varda]# smbpasswd -a
New SMB password:
Retype new SMB password:
startsmbfilepwent_internal: file /etc/samba/smbpasswd did not exist. Couldn't create new one. Error was: No such file or directoryUnable to open passdb database.

startsmbfilepwent_internal: file /etc/samba/smbpasswd did not exist. Couldn't create new one. Error was: No such file or directorystartsmbfilepwent_internal: too many race conditions creating file /etc/samba/smbpasswd

add_smbfilepwd_entry: unable to open file.
Failed to add entry for user root.
Failed to modify password entry for user root
[root@varda]#

If this looks like the error you got, try the following:

# cd /etc

# mkdir samba
# smbpasswd -a