Server/Client

[RyanF109]

After becoming attached to and loving Linux followed by doing some work with Windows Server/Client support, i have been infuriated by Windows' usual slow speeds, problems, and general unreliability.

My question is; would it be realistic to deploy a network in a workplace using Linux servers and clients, instead of using Windows Server and Active Directory.

If so: What program(s) would provide similar results to Active Directory?

I generally feel that a Linux setup would be far more reliable and result in far less problems.

[Dutch_Master]

+1 on all accounts

What you probably need is LDAP and Kerbekos:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightweigh ... s_Protocol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerberos_(protocol) (link fails in forum, select the protocol from the page that shows up... )

Most distro's offer suitable packages from their repo's. Not having use for either I can't help you on these tools

[wyliecoyoteuk]

You also need Samba, which is the linux equivalent of windows file and printer sharing.
And Winbind, which allows binding to a windows domain.

You might also be interested in BackupPC.

[bobthebob1234]

There should totally be a tutorial or something on this subject. I have tried, managed to get a LDAP tree setup, but couldn't get Kerbekos, but I was young and didn't really know what I was doing.


Also +1 for BackupPC. Amazingly simple backup software

[guy]

but couldn't get Kerbekos

Try Kerberos with two 'r's
However Kerberos is a protocol, not an app.

If you want a more complete and flexible solution for corporate authentication, authorisation and accounting (AAA) encompassing external network access across the Internet, alternatively check out the RADIUS protocol.

Any half-decent enterprise Linux distro should have suitable services for both these available.

Another thing you might want to think about is your email server: there are some pretty good Outlook substitutes around, though if your managers rely on horrible things like public folders or specialised apps that dig deep into the Outlook/desktop API, you will need to choose with care. I know at least one large outfit that has recently disabled public folders for this among other reasons.

Oh yeah, and for those specialised legacy apps that are tailored to IE, there is a neat Firefox extension for Windows called IETab. It basically fires up IE in the tab, so you can browse IE-specific services. IE can have trouble with the standards-compliant web interfaces Linux services, so Firefox plus IETab gives access to the whole lot, as well as giving more secure and flexible browsing of the public Internet.

So yes, Linux server / Windows client corporate environments are being increasingly do-able and increasingly seen. However be warned, it can be hard to root out (sic) all your Windows servers and you might spend quite a while with a mixed ecology.