Linux server use as Domain Controller in windows client envirement

[balvant]

This is my first post on linux forums and also i m new to linux so if i post on wrong zone pls forgive me.
we have exisiting setup is Windows server 2003 with AD, around 45 client all client is domain user with security policy and client os is windows xp prof. All client use one application which is made in VB MS-SQL. Sql server is seprate. Now question is can we change our existing Windows server to any Linux or Samba or Novell server which is handle of allow login of xp user and security policy like WS2003 ofcourse in its own tool. We can not convert existing client from xp. Is it possible with any way.
Any advice or pointers would be highly appreciated.

Thanks.

[Rubberman]

You can use OpenLDAP as a domain controller with Linux. With some configuration, you can use that to replace an MS Active Directory server. Sorry I don't know all the details and pitfalls you need to watch out for since I have never installed or managed such, but what I read indicates that a lot of people are doing it with much success.

[Bemk]

I know that it should be possible to replace the servers, but I have found it very difficult to set up some test systems, for the admins at my school. (I know Unix systems better than they do)