Want to set up Linux Server to work with Windows Workstations

[Codin]

I have a client who does not want to spend the money for windows server 2008 or any of the windows server software. I need to network his computers and all of his computers are running Windows XP. My question is could I use Fedora to network his computers together and make them secure. I do not know if you can have a Linux server and interact with Windows workstations. I studied Fedora in college and have a book on it so I feel most comfortable with Fedora, but if you can suggest a better Linux system to use please let me know. Thank you Codin

[soosurfer]

Hi Codin,

There is a project called "LTSP" that will do exactly what you want. It stands for Linux Terminal Server Project. All windows based computers can boot through a process called "PXE" which sends a boot prompt to the terminal when it is started. Edubuntu was an educational port for Ubuntu and had LTSP all pre-installed with it. I know you can do the same with Fedora. If you can get your hands on Linux Toys II it has a whole chapter dedicated to setting up a LTSP project.

The new Ubuntu Server book for 10.04 also has a chapter dedicated to setting up a terminal server project.

If you have not done this before it can be daunting as there are a number of pre-requisite packages that need to be pre-configured before each terminal is live, but the price is right!

Dean.

[jpro6363]

I'm not sure why you feel like you need a server to network their computers. Are you looking for a file server, our are you wanting something like Active Directory to setup group policies? If all you want is to network a few machines a server is not the answer.

[Mudgen]

I'm not sure why you feel like you need a server to network their computers. Are you looking for a file server, our are you wanting something like Active Directory to setup group policies? If all you want is to network a few machines a server is not the answer.

Yes, we need to know more about the requirements, but Samba on Fedora will meet both file/print sharing and directory services (if you can live with NT4 style domain controller functionality, e.g. no group policy objects). For production purposes, the Fedora obsolescence cycle is rather fast-paced, so I'd recommend CentOS or Scientific Linux for stability.

LTSP would be more a solution for converting the PCs from XP workstations to Linux thin clients.

[Codin]

Hi Codin,

There is a project called "LTSP" that will do exactly what you want. It stands for Linux Terminal Server Project. All windows based computers can boot through a process called "PXE" which sends a boot prompt to the terminal when it is started. Edubuntu was an educational port for Ubuntu and had LTSP all pre-installed with it. I know you can do the same with Fedora. If you can get your hands on Linux Toys II it has a whole chapter dedicated to setting up a LTSP project.

The new Ubuntu Server book for 10.04 also has a chapter dedicated to setting up a terminal server project.

If you have not done this before it can be daunting as there are a number of pre-requisite packages that need to be pre-configured before each terminal is live, but the price is right!

Dean.

[QUOTE]Thank you your answer is very informative and I appreciate it. You have definitely pointed me in the right direction. [/QUOTE

[Codin]

I need to be able to control permissions and security. I want to do more like Active Directory and setup group policies.

[Codin]

I appreciate all the information this is a small business and I remembered when I was in college and studied Windows Server 2008 one workstation could log on to another machine and do what they wanted and then log off. I also wanted to control permissions and users. The one machine will need to communicate with the other for billing purposes but I want to control what they can do. I guess I am looking at Active Directory but I should think you can do the same with Linux as Windows. Thanks again for all the help Codin

[Rubberman]

For AD type of services you can use OpenLDAP in a network such as you are proposing.

[Mudgen]

For AD type of services you can use OpenLDAP in a network such as you are proposing.

It makes a great backend for a Samba domain controller, but I didn't realize it could provide DC services directly to Windows clients. Always learning something new.

[Rubberman]

It makes a great backend for a Samba domain controller, but I didn't realize it could provide DC services directly to Windows clients. Always learning something new.

Well, as far as I know, AD is based upon LDAP, with a few of the usual Microsoft twists to make it proprietary, even though it is based upon open standards. So, you should be able to use an OpenLDAP server to authenticate Windows clients. I haven't done it myself, but that's what I gather from reading the literature. In any case, you will want to research it a bit more. Here is a link to the openldap web site which may have the information you need to accomplish what you want: OpenLDAP, Main Page