When attempting to run certain Windows applications or installers (like `setup.exe`) using Wine on Linux systems, execution may halt unexpectedly. A common obstacle encountered is the error message:
err:winediag:SECUR32_initNTLMSP ntlm_auth was not found or is outdated. Make sure that ntlm_auth >= 3.0.25 is in your path. Usually, you can find it in the winbind package of your distribution.This indicates that Wine’s security subsystem (`SECUR32`) cannot locate or utilize the necessary `ntlm_auth` helper program, specifically requiring version 3.0.25 or newer.
This utility is crucial for handling NTLM authentication, often needed by Windows applications for network-related tasks. This article explores the typical causes behind this error and presents effective solutions derived from common troubleshooting practices.
Understanding the Cause: Why the ‘ntlm_auth’ Error Occurs
The error message itself provides significant clues. The core issue revolves around the availability and version compatibility of the `ntlm_auth` executable, which Wine attempts to call.
| Potential Cause | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Missing or Incorrectly Installed `winbind` | The error message points out that `ntlm_auth` is typically supplied by the `winbind` package. If `winbind` is not installed, was partially removed, or its installation is corrupted, the `ntlm_auth` executable might be missing from the system’s PATH or inaccessible to Wine. |
| Dependency Issues | Even if `ntlm_auth` is present, it might fail to execute due to problems with its own dependencies. For instance, `ntlm_auth` relies on other libraries (like components from the Samba suite). If a required library is missing, outdated, or has an ABI (Application Binary Interface) incompatibility (e.g., after a system library like `libicu` is updated independently of Samba/winbind), `ntlm_auth` might fail to load or run, leading Wine to report it as unavailable. An example scenario involves `libsamba-util.so` failing because it expects an older version of `libicu` than is currently installed. |
Here is a quick overview of the root cause of the error :
Solutions to Resolve the ‘ntlm_auth’ Error
Based on the identified causes, here are methods to address the missing or outdated `ntlm_auth` problem.
Solution 1: Reinstall the `winbind` Package
Since `ntlm_auth` is primarily distributed via the `winbind` package on many Linux distributions (like Debian or Ubuntu), ensuring this package is correctly installed is the most direct solution. Reinstalling can fix issues related to missing files, incorrect permissions, or path problems.
For systems using the `apt` package manager (Debian, Ubuntu, etc.), you can achieve this by first removing and then installing `winbind`, or by using the reinstall command directly:
Option A: Remove and Install
sudo apt-get remove winbind && sudo apt-get install winbindOption B: Reinstall
sudo apt install --reinstall winbindExecuting either of these commands refreshes the `winbind` installation, ensuring that `ntlm_auth` and its associated components are properly placed and configured within the system’s executable path.
Solution 2: Investigate Underlying Dependency Conflicts
If reinstalling `winbind` does not resolve the issue, the problem might lie deeper within the dependency chain of `ntlm_auth`. As noted earlier, conflicts can arise, particularly after system updates that affect shared libraries.
While specific diagnostic steps depend heavily on the exact nature of the conflict, understanding this possibility is key. If `ntlm_auth` fails silently due to a library issue (like the `libsamba-util.so` vs. `libicu` ABI mismatch example), Wine will simply report `ntlm_auth` as unavailable.
Investigating system logs or attempting to run `ntlm_auth` manually from the command line might provide more detailed error messages about missing or incompatible libraries. Addressing these underlying library conflicts would then allow `ntlm_auth` to function correctly.
Verification
After applying a potential solution, the most straightforward way to verify the fix is to attempt running the Windows application via Wine again.
- Re-execute the command that previously triggered the error (e.g., `wine setup.exe`).
- Monitor the terminal output or Wine logs.
If the ‘err:winediag:SECUR32_initNTLMSP’ ntlm_auth was not found or is outdated` message no longer appears, and the application proceeds further (even if other unrelated errors occur later), the specific `ntlm_auth` issue has likely been resolved.
Conclusion
The ‘ntlm_auth was not found or is outdated’ error in Wine typically signals an issue with the `winbind` package or its dependencies. For many users on Debian-based systems, reinstalling `winbind` using the system’s package manager effectively resolves the problem by ensuring the `ntlm_auth` utility is present and accessible.
In more complex cases, investigating potential library conflicts that prevent `ntlm_auth` from running may be necessary. Addressing these points should allow Windows applications relying on NTLM authentication to function more reliably under Wine.
