Joining AIX to Windows Domain

[jthiessen]

Hi,

I am looking to change our network from peer-to-peer to a domain environment in order to take advantage of Active Directory. Currently, our environment is stable with win2k servers as file and print servers, and our AIX box as DB2 and print server.
My question is, how well does AIX, or does it at all, integrate into an AD environment? Most of the apps on the AIX machine are connected to via telnet sessions, but I still see a possibility for complications. Does anyone have any ideas?

Josh

Josh

MCSE, CCNA, MCT, MCP

 

[rzs0502]

Installing the SAMBA package on AIX will let you add the server to the Windows domain and enable File and Print Sharing.

http://www.samba.org

has all the binaries and documentation.

Will you be testing this on a development / test machine?

 

[jthiessen]

I would like to test, for sure. The problem is that if I do not have the hardware to set up another AIX machine (has to run on RISC, right?). And obviously if I test on the existing AIX, the test win2k server will take over catalog and FSMO rules...kind of a mess I know.

Josh

MCSE, CCNA, MCT, MCP

 

[rzs0502]

If you have AIX 5.2 for Intel then you could use a cheaper box.
Best bet would be to do the install, config and testing on a Linux server.
Once working, you can take the smb.conf from Linux to AIX without having to play with configuration etc.

From experience with SAMBA on Linux, it's pretty safe to test on a live NT environment. Unless you decide to make the Unix machine the domain controller and master browser!
Let us know how it goes and if you need example configurations.

 

[aixmurderer]

rzs0502 - AIX 5.2 for Intel? Is that new? I thought AIX is only available for IBM RISC processors.

If really so it would be very cool, AIX in my humble opinion is still the easiest *nix OS to maintain.

IBM Certified Confused - MQSeries
IBM Certified Flabbergasted - AIX 5 pSeries System Administration
MS Certified Windblows Rebooter

 

[rzs0502]

Yip, AIX 5L comes with the Linux kernel for Intel machines.
Haven't tried it yet... (Haven't been able to get IBM to lend me a Demo! )

http://www.computerworld.com/softwaretopics/software/appdev/story/0,10801,48479,00.html

And I agree, AIX is a lot easier to maintain. Nothing beats smitty

 

[jthiessen]

IBM rep is going to get me a copy of that, so I can set up a test lab. I knew those reps were good for something...

Josh

MCSE, CCNA, MCT, MCP