Hi David,
It sort of depends on what services you want from the server and the
type of environment you're working in.
IMO, file services are simple. We currently run a simple samba setup
on Linux for a lab of MS windows boxes.
However, we also run a large NFS file server for a large Sunray
terminal deployment that we now also use with
a couple of labs of standalone Ubuntu machines. We authenticate users
with an LDAP server with user management
done by Open Admin for Schools (my SIS software).
We are now deploying a large number of netbook portables with MS
windows, and will have to provide file services to
these wireless machines via samba on the NFS server. User management
will either be by LDAP or by direct user
management from Open Admin.
Printing service is easily managed by CUPS.
So, solutions are fairly straight forward if your needs are just file
and print services. If you want all dingle balls, etc. then
just buy the Server. The important thing is where all the user /
directory service data resides. Active Directory is of course,
on the Dark Side, Luke.... We keep all user data in Open Admin
(strangely enough (grin)) and push it downstream from
there. The advantage is that the secretaries keep the users up to
date! We just train them to click the update buttons for
external servers, LDAP, and Google Apps in Open Admin.
Les Richardson
Open Admin for Schools
http://richtech.ca/openadmin
On 24 May 2010 10:41, David M. Bucknell <david@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
What's the latest take on replacing a Windows 2003 file server with
Linux?
Need Active Dir-like capabilities and perhaps an Exchange tie-in or
replacement.
I've been reading this:
http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/01/17/2255247
which has lots of people saying don't bother.
I thought Samba and LDAP were the answers, but people are saying they
aren't
good enough or they're too management-intensive.
Any (the more recent, the better, I guess) experiences you're willing to
share?
Thank you,
David
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