server setup - where do I even start?

[johnmc]

Hi guys and gals!
I'll admit from the start - I'm not even qualified to be called Noob! So, I'm not able to use "correct" terminology for what I want to do... apologies! I am, however, a reasonably good learner (and tenacious, too), so I'll try to explain what I'm wanting.
I guess what I'm after is a guide to creating a "user authorisation server" (?) of some kind...
My photography Club has 3 non-networked Windows PC's, and around 35 Club Members using these machines. I currently maintain 3 identical User lists on each machine, so they can sit down at any machine and "Log On". Of course, this means I have to create 3 separate User records for every person who decides to join our Club!
So, I'd like to create a "network server" (?), on which I will maintain ONE User list, and which will recognise/authorise any User who logs into any attached machine.
We don't need mail/internet (no internet access available). And would probably be OK with the User's photo files continuing to be saved/scattered across the separate machines (rather than saving them on the server), if that would make things easier. They've kinda got used to that idea Of course, I could easily swap a couple of hard-drives into the server box if it's just as easy/easier to create a "file server" (I think that's the one bit of terminology I'm reasonably happy with!).
So - can anyone point me in the right direction, here? Much appreciative of any help you can offer.

[oz]

Welcome to the forums!

There are tutorials posted all over the web with instructions on how to setup and configure a server. Just google some server terms such as linux server setup and configuration to get a listing of them. You can find a poll with favorite server distribution as voted by our membership here:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/cof...rs-2009-a.html

Do let us know what you go with and how it all turns out for you.

[johnmc]

Hi, ozar!
Thanks for the reply. Obviously, I've done some Googling on this. But my unfamiliarity with the technical terms is what is tripping me up, I think. So far, I reckon what I don't need is http/ftp/mail servers ('coz the machines won't be on-line at any time). But is it the "DHCP" server functionality which will identify/authorise the Windows logins of my users?
TBH, I'm not even sure that what I want to do is possible!

[reed9]

I don't think you can manage windows user accounts via linux, or are you planning to install linux on the 3 PCs?

You would need to network the machines together to do this. If you were to have linux on all machines, then your main server could host various filesystems, such as the /home directory, and share across the LAN via NFS (network filesystem).

Network File System (NFS)

[elija]

I think SAMBA might be able to do what you want, however the machines would need to be networked

[zombykillah]

What you are looking for is a Primary Domain Controller.
I have installed one myself using Samba and OpenLADP.
I've got it running, that all user can log-in with one passwort.
My problem still is that I can't turn of the synchronization from the user-settings.

I am not sure atm if openldap is necessarily needed.

Best search word would be "samba pdc howto"