Sadistic Boss Strikes Again!

[slurpyx]

Guys.. here's the deal.....

my boss told me to use windows 2003 domain with windows xp clients... fine with me.. i study and implemented WinBlows Active Directory, DNS and DC..

All of a sudn.. and i dont know where he reads it!

Now he wants meto implement Linux(Gentoo or Slackware is my Choice)/Unix on Network..

My Question is...

#1) Can a Linux Server mimic a windows Domain controller? Can it authenthicate windows clients? if.. so.. can any1 shed me some light on this.. a url or something would be nice.

#2) I know about samba.. is there a betr alternative.. etc?

#3) Whats the Best Linux Distro out there?

#4) Which is betr... Gentoo or Slackware (i go for slack but my boss brags about gentoo TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!)

#5) Im looking at this task for linux:

A) Linux Server will act as file server, http server, sql server etc..

B) Authenticate windows and linux clients..

#6) Can a Linux box implement.. somewhat a group policy thru windows clients... if not.. whats my choice?


Tnx!

 

[ericbrunson]

1) Samba cannot be the PDC for a an NT based domain, other than that, it can participate freely.

2) No, there is nothing better than Samba.

3) Fedora (that's a joke, that is a completely subjective question and if you'd searched this forum before posting it you would have found several other lengthy discussions on the subject).

4) Slackware (again, joking, see above)

5) Not really a question...
A) Sure, it does all that.
B) Still not a question, but it can do that.

6) I don't understand the question.

 

[Truusvlugindewind]

Change your tone about your boss! He tells you to dump windows and start using linux?!? Here's your tasklist:
- roll out the red carpet for him
- lick his shoes
- get him coffee
- etc etc

Oke, serious:
Learn everything there is to know about samba. That will be your main application.
Why not use Gentoo. There is no best distro and Gentoo is one of the better out there. When the boss says "Gentoo" then "Gentoo" it is . Choosing the right distro is the most difficult there is and he did it for you...

I've got Slack too but that is because I don't have the hardware and time to install Gentoo properly (compile everything).

 

[clonny2]

Gentoo, while being a good distro, if you need to satisfy your boss with a name brand then use RedHat Advanced Server or Suse Enterprise Server.

If you have never used linux, I would stay away from Slackware. Most likely would be too dificult for the novice linux admin.

RedHat and Suse have gui admin tools that you can use. Also, for administration look at installing webmin,

http://www.webmin.com

. Web interface for administrating linux servers.

>---------------------------------------Lawrence Feldman
SR. QA. Engineer SNAP Appliance
lfeldman@snapappliance.com

 

[mseth]

slackware is a hell of a lot easier than gentoo to set up and use for a newbie.

 

[unixfreak]

Gentoo is a nightmare (sorry).

P.S. Samba actually mimics Windows better than Windows does.

Cheers

 

[thedaver]

Gentoo and Debian are awesome for EXPERIENCED users. Slackware or RedHat or Suse are better for getting started.

DO NOT expect a GUI Admin interface in linux to do what you intended in all cases, or be complete in functionality. It is quick likely that you will need to perform certain config or tasks via command line. That's not bad per se, but I think it's important to set the right expectation from anyone who's moving from Windows Servers.

http://www.surfinbox.com/loans/

 

[unixfreak]

thedaver said:

> Gentoo and Debian are awesome for EXPERIENCED users

I am *very* experienced. I've been running Linux daily for eight years an done pretty much everything with it that's at all possible. Gentoo is too time consuming to install, both the pre-config part and the three-four days it takes for the actual install/compile.
On top of that it wastes far too much disk space and a fast computer.

It's also not quite mature enough. Fancy recommending running etc-update and then it breakes everything? Cool.

Cheers

 

[tarn]

I'd suggest that if "you" are the sysadmin then "you" should be telling your boss what he requires not the other way around.

As for a good Linux distro: the best is the one you are most fimilar with and there for know that you can support. If you don't know any then you'r in trouble and it's probably time to tell your boss to shell out on a bit of training for you.

If however you have the time and hardware to run a paralell system then I'd suggest you setup a couple of test environments using at least Redhat and/or Suse.

Almost anything's posible with Unix/Linux Authentication with LDAP, file sharing Samba, but some things could be a real challenge for the novice.

Good luck
Laurie.

 

[slurpyx]

Tnx for the advice.. and thnx a lot!

gonna work on this..

tnx again!