Ideas for using Ubuntu server with Windows XP Pro workstations

C

cismajor97

Weaksauce
Joined
Mar 23, 2006
Messages
88
Hello,

I'm looking for some ideas on using a Ubuntu server with Windows XP Pro workstations. I work for a small school with about 25 Windows workstations. I'm looking for ideas on how to interact a Ubuntu Server with XP. I think this would be a good opportunity to learn this new technology when I have downtime so any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

cismajor97
 
What all do you want to make them do together? File sharing, email, intranet...
 
Yes, it depends on what you're trying to do. I generally don't think Ubuntu is mature enough for a server and still recommend Debian for servers however it appears like this is not mission critical.

You should be fine with running:

- Apache
- NFS
- Samba
- vsFTPd
- Bugzilla
- CVS
- Mail (Sendmail, Qmail, Postfix, etc etc etc)

Good luck.
 
What I would like to do is have an Acitve Directory type system in which the students will have their own directory to store their work eliminating the issue of students who don't get along deleting other work. (I work with a school that deals with at risk youth). I would also like a file server so that the school can have a central area to store work related files.

I would also like to back up Windows XP pcs on the server (don't know if that is asking too much or not.)

There is already a Exchange email service and networking provided by the County of Los Angeles.

I'm pretty new to Linux so I'm not sure of it's full potentional. But I'm open to suggestions.
 
AD in linux *can* be done, its a bit manual though, search this section, there are a couple of links for it
 
I suggest using LDAP but really looking outside the box...you always want to use the right tool for the right job. If all your work stations are XP, then just use AD.

If I were in your situation or what I do at work is deploy Ubuntu 7.04 workstations and then have them all connect to an LDAP server via Linux.
 
cismajor97 said:
I would also like to back up Windows XP pcs on the server (don't know if that is asking too much or not.)
Click to expand...
Just the other day someone on this forum mentioned Bacula:

http://www.bacula.org/

May be a bit of a challenge to learn it, but it could pay off well in the end.

edit:

Using Linux as authentication server:
http://www.freeos.com/articles/3842/
Currently, Samba can go beyond merely emulating Windows shares to actually acting as the Primary Domain Controller for your Windows network
Click to expand...

http://www.howtoforge.com/samba_setup_ubuntu_5.10
This is a detailed description about the steps to set up a Ubuntu based server (Ubuntu 5.10 - Breezy Badger) to act as file- and print server for Windows (tm) workstations in small workgroups. This howto uses the tdb backend for SAMBA to store passwords and account information. This is suitable for workgroups for up to 250 users and is easier to setup than an LDAP backend.
Click to expand...

that ought to get you started :)
 
Yes, Bacula is a great tool. I use it at work now and it backs up everything.
 
Sounds good. I have a question, what's the major difference between using Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu Server? I'm more of GUI guy, but if using Ubuntu Server means I have to learn the console then I'll take the time to understand it.

Second if I were to make a Fileserver using the Linux would I be able to read Windows files from Linux box?
 
LDAP has a bit of a learning curve but is well worth it.

As far as learning the command line... YES..... You will have to learn it. Linux just isnt very functional in an administrative capacity without it. But with it, it is second to none. I suggest learning the key commands initially cd mkdir ls useradd userdel usermod passwd, and so on. Once you get familiar with the basic toolset, then you can move on.
 
cismajor97 said:
Sounds good. I have a question, what's the major difference between using Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu Server? I'm more of GUI guy, but if using Ubuntu Server means I have to learn the console then I'll take the time to understand it.

Second if I were to make a Fileserver using the Linux would I be able to read Windows files from Linux box?
Click to expand...

first. The only main difference between Server and home is longer support (iirc).
it does come with the main server-apps on the CD, but said apps can be installed on the standard edition via apt-get (or whatever the GUI).

you can use a gui on the server edition and while having a GUI is great for unformiliar tasks trust me when I say you will be moving to the command line ;) next thing you will know is you will be running a headless server and ssh into it to admin it ;)

as to accessing windows stuff from the linux box.. yup via samba to mount a SMB network share. If you mean local files in a dual-boot system. Yes you can, the ubuntu kernel should come with the kernel NTFS (read-only) pre-configured. A quick search with apt-cache (or the gui) will throw up ntfs-3g which has safe reading and writing to ntfs
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top