Re: [school-discuss] Replacing Active Directory with Linux File Server

["David M. Bucknell" <david@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Les, Tim and Peter,

Many thanks for these excellent and careful responses.  It's good to  
have up-to-date opinions based on experience.

It sure seems to me that it would be a good time to make a  
documentation and training effort here on schoolforge.net

Sounds like there are some new tools being made as we speak.

By the way, nobody's bothering with NFS anymore?

I will get into the nitty gritty a bit before asking any more.

Thank you very much again.

David

----- Message from peter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ---------
    Date: Mon, 24 May 2010 18:59:24 -0500
    From: Peter Scheie <peter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: schoolforge-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 Subject: Re: [school-discuss] Replacing Active Directory with Linux  
File Server
      To: schoolforge-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


> Yes, it can.  Google for cupsaddsmb.
>
> Peter
>
> Tim Dressel wrote:
> > Hi Richard,,,, just hijacking a thread there, can CUPS now hand out drivers
> > like a windows print server does for windows clients? This was always my
> > argument for not going CUPS because of the deployment overhead.
> >
> >
> >
> > On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 10:43 AM, Les R <openadmin@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > > 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
> > > > --
> > > > * Flossed.org -- Free and Open Schools -- Free and Open Minds
> > > > * IKN (International Knowledge Networks, Co., Ltd. Thailand)
> > > > * http://intknowledge.com
> > > > * Web Ideas, Tools and Sites for Teachers, Schools, Businesses and You.
> > > > * Sustainable Learning Technologies
> > > > * Cell: +66(0*)84 329 1183; Office: +66(0*)2 980 9464 (*No "0" if calling
> > > > from
> > > > overseas.)
> > > >
> > > > ----------------------------------------------------------------
> > > > This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.


----- End message from peter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx -----



--
* Flossed.org -- Free and Open Schools -- Free and Open Minds
* IKN (International Knowledge Networks, Co., Ltd. Thailand)
* http://intknowledge.com
* Web Ideas, Tools and Sites for Teachers, Schools, Businesses and You.
* Sustainable Learning Technologies
* Cell: +66(0*)84 329 1183; Office: +66(0*)2 980 9464 (*No "0" if calling from
overseas.)

----------------------------------------------------------------
This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.