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Evil Weazel
n00b
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2004
- Messages
- 37
I just recently started using Linux and I am currently using SuSE 9.2 at home and I liked it felt it was a nice and very complete alternative to Windows. I since then installed it on one of the computers at work (I work for our small towns Community Computer Center) so people who come into the center to see what an alternative OS is like. Now comes my big question:
We have 25 computers at our center, a T1 connection and a wireless router for people who come in with laptops who just want access to the internet. All of this is run on a peer to peer network, I have been wanting to go to a Windows Domain Server but we can't afford the $500.00 for the Windows Server 2003 and then purchase 20 - 25 more seats on top of that. And after trying a linux desktop distro I was wondering if we could do a Linux Server. Here is what I was hoping to do and hopefully someone out there can tell me if I'm reaching or if it is all or partially possible:
Linux server as Domain server and which distro is best for this? (I was looking at Suse Open Enterprise Server any other suggestions would be gladly accepted, needs to be free or close to it we can't afford a $1000 for a Linux distro either. We are entirely Grant and donation funded)
DHCP server.
Windows Client logon authentication for individual user accounts on the domain and user file storage. We have about 200 -300 users of which roughly 50 of those are active daily but we still need accounts for users we may see once a month or less frequently.
Group policies or Linux's version of such.
The server will be on 24/7 and I would like it to have the server wake up the workstaions in the morning so they are up and running when we open in morning.
We don't need print serving we have 3 HP laserjet printers 1 B and W and 2 color that run on TCP/IP and all computers will print directly just like they do now.
I would have absolutely no problem setting this up on Windows Server 2000 or 2003 but it's not in our budget. I had no problems with setting up our new Linux worksation it has internet connectivity and access to our network printers, it was alittle different than Windows way of doing it but once I found the right interfaces it was easy.
My proposed server would probably be an AMD 64 3400+ or Pentium 4 in same price range. Tyan Server Motherboard with onboard graphics, 1-2 Gigs of DDR or DDR2 (depending on platform) 2 x 160 Gig SATA HDD mirrored, Dual layer DVD for Backups (I'm not a big fan of tape drives, too slow, too expensive and I can get a DVD burner that holds 8.5 gig for $65 compared to tape that hold 10 gig for $199)
Any help would be appreciated, I realize my experience and training is Microsoft but I think with good documentation and some time I can do it if it's possible. Networking is networking the concepts are all the same just different way of implimenting it.
Thanks!
We have 25 computers at our center, a T1 connection and a wireless router for people who come in with laptops who just want access to the internet. All of this is run on a peer to peer network, I have been wanting to go to a Windows Domain Server but we can't afford the $500.00 for the Windows Server 2003 and then purchase 20 - 25 more seats on top of that. And after trying a linux desktop distro I was wondering if we could do a Linux Server. Here is what I was hoping to do and hopefully someone out there can tell me if I'm reaching or if it is all or partially possible:
Linux server as Domain server and which distro is best for this? (I was looking at Suse Open Enterprise Server any other suggestions would be gladly accepted, needs to be free or close to it we can't afford a $1000 for a Linux distro either. We are entirely Grant and donation funded)
DHCP server.
Windows Client logon authentication for individual user accounts on the domain and user file storage. We have about 200 -300 users of which roughly 50 of those are active daily but we still need accounts for users we may see once a month or less frequently.
Group policies or Linux's version of such.
The server will be on 24/7 and I would like it to have the server wake up the workstaions in the morning so they are up and running when we open in morning.
We don't need print serving we have 3 HP laserjet printers 1 B and W and 2 color that run on TCP/IP and all computers will print directly just like they do now.
I would have absolutely no problem setting this up on Windows Server 2000 or 2003 but it's not in our budget. I had no problems with setting up our new Linux worksation it has internet connectivity and access to our network printers, it was alittle different than Windows way of doing it but once I found the right interfaces it was easy.
My proposed server would probably be an AMD 64 3400+ or Pentium 4 in same price range. Tyan Server Motherboard with onboard graphics, 1-2 Gigs of DDR or DDR2 (depending on platform) 2 x 160 Gig SATA HDD mirrored, Dual layer DVD for Backups (I'm not a big fan of tape drives, too slow, too expensive and I can get a DVD burner that holds 8.5 gig for $65 compared to tape that hold 10 gig for $199)
Any help would be appreciated, I realize my experience and training is Microsoft but I think with good documentation and some time I can do it if it's possible. Networking is networking the concepts are all the same just different way of implimenting it.
Thanks!
