Replacing a windows network with Linux? 2

[MrPlough69]

Heya everyone,

Just wondering if anyone's gone through the process of replacing Active Directory and Windows workstations with a linux based solution? or what software would be required to replace the user/workstation management.

I've been using Linux for a few years now for web/proxy servers and have installed gentoo a couple of times, so i've got a basic idea of it.

Cheers in advance.

 

[rvnguy]

MrPlough69 ,

I am accomplishing something similar sans the desktop (desktop is the easier in my opinion) with the exception of specific apps that are not avail except for windows. See the following thread of my post:

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1068453&page=5

this seems to be a common question as these other posts will display:

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1068380&page=4

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1064266&page=8

and others here and else where.

I am not sure but if you already own "Active Directory" why you would want to scrap it. I think (as I am also new to Linux, that SAMBA does much of the Domain controller functions that are present in the MS environ while their may be others. Samba is a package(program) that runs on whatever version of Linux you decide on.

I have not yet evaluated all the versions of Linux available, but have loaded and run basic evals on CENTOS, UBUNTU, and Linuxfromscratch (which I am into currently) this lets you do what you want but assumes that you know what you want. I have read that Gentoo is fairly robust as a server and workstation environ with fair tools also.

But alas you asked about server/workstation Management and SAMBA seems to be required by most more experienced users in the Linux world. I am sure that you will receive many other posts to your query. Good Luck

rvnguy

 

[Chacalinc]

Read this how-to by example of SAMBA. It talks about creating something like Active Directory with linux/samba. It provides several examples.

Cheers.

 

[MrPlough69]

Cheers,

I'll have a look in to that, but i thaught samba was a service designed to provide sharing etc to windows computers. Is there no linux equivalent?

The main motivation behind this would be cost, our schools agreement costs about £13k per year!

What about the red hat enterprise stuff? is that the kind of thing i'd be looking for?

 

[Chacalinc]

Are you talking about have *ALL* your network with linux? I mean, both servers and workstations?

So take a look to LDAP.

Cheers.

 

[MrPlough69]

Aye, replacing the entire network would be the plan! LDAP looks more promising, I'll check it out.

Cheers.

 

[stevexff]

The Fedora project have recently released (June 1) a directory service based on LDAP. It's free, and may do what you want.

http://directory.fedora.redhat.com

HTH

Steve

 

[MrPlough69]

Cheers Steve, that's exactly what i was looking for! I'm gona stick that on me test server and have a tinker about with it.

I read somewhere that our government is looking at pushing oss as a way to save money in schools, so I thaught it would be a good idea to check it out.

Also the more I use linux the more i like it

Cheers.

 

[LawnBoy]

Novell offers eDir, an LDAP based directory service (that MS poorly imitates with AD). It runs on Netware, Windows, Solaris, AIX, and linux.

http://www.novell.com/products/edirectory/

It's not free, but it is an excellent product from a well known 'major player'. I run it on Netware and love it.