To help this case going forward I ensured there is an easy repro for anyone to try. The following works well on a clean Ubuntu (and most likely any) install.
$ sudo apt install smbclient samba $ mkdir /tmp/testshare $ sudo chmod 0777 /tmp/testshare/ $ cat << EOF | sudo tee -a /etc/samba/smb.conf [testshare] comment = Test bug 1893906 path = /tmp/testshare browseable = yes read only = no create mask = 0700 directory mask = 0700 valid users = ubuntu guest ok = yes include = /etc/samba/test1.conf include = /etc/samba/test2.conf include = /etc/samba/test3.conf include = /etc/samba/gtest1.conf include = /etc/samba/gtest2.conf include = /etc/samba/gtest3.conf EOF $ cat << EOF | sudo tee -a /etc/samba/test1.conf comment = Test bug 1893906 - 1 include = /etc/samba/test1b.conf EOF $ cat << EOF | sudo tee -a /etc/samba/test1b.conf comment = Test bug 1893906 - 1b EOF $ cat << EOF | sudo tee -a /etc/samba/test2.conf comment = Test bug 1893906 - 2 EOF $ cat << EOF | sudo tee -a /etc/samba/test3.conf comment = Test bug 1893906 - 3 EOF The overall structure we now created is like: smb.conf \- test1.conf \- test1b.conf \- test2.conf \- test3.conf $ sudo systemctl restart smbd $ smbclient -L 127.0.0.1 -U ubuntu%ubuntu | grep testshare testshare Disk Test bug 1893906 - 3 We see (and can experiment with) the comment that is just nicely set in each case. -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1893906 Title: smbclient ignores included config files To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/samba/+bug/1893906/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs