On a Linux system, which command-line utility is used to access (connect to) a Windows/SMB network share?

Introduction / Context:
Interoperability with Windows file sharing relies on the SMB/CIFS protocol. On Linux, the Samba suite provides tools to browse, connect to, and mount SMB shares. Choosing the correct client utility is crucial when you want to list shared resources or copy files to and from Windows servers from the terminal.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• You need to interact with a remote SMB share (for example, //server/share).
• Administrative privileges are not strictly required just to list or copy files via the client.
• Samba tools are installed (for example, the 'samba-client' package).

Concept / Approach:
'smbclient' is the interactive SMB/CIFS client similar to an FTP client. You can list shares, connect, and use commands like 'ls', 'get', and 'put'. For mounting an SMB share into the filesystem, 'mount -t cifs' (or 'mount.cifs') is used; however, the question asks for a command to access an SMB share, which fits 'smbclient' precisely.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
As an alternative, test a mount: 'sudo mount -t cifs //server/share /mnt/share -o username=user'. Verify that the share becomes accessible under the mount point. Both approaches confirm SMB connectivity but 'smbclient' is the standalone tool for direct access without mounting.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• NFS: A different protocol for Unix-like systems; not SMB.
• SMD: Not a valid tool in the Samba suite.
• smbserver: Not the correct client; Samba daemons are 'smbd' and 'nmbd'.
• None of the above: Incorrect because 'smbclient' is correct.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing 'smbclient' (client) with 'smbd' (server daemon), and forgetting to include domain or workgroup in usernames when required (for example, DOMAIN\user or user@realm).

Final Answer:
smbclient