Fedora for SOHO Server

[lanboy]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to Linux, and am a network admin for a bunch of Microsoft Servers. After looking at Windows all day, I'd like to use a different platform to run my home on. I've downloaded Fedora, and am in the process of installing it on my home server. I've got a few questions. Does Fedora run a directory service similar to AD (microsoft) to authenticate users to? How is this configured / set up? Also, can XP machines log into this Fedora server to gain access to the files stored on the server (shares)?

Thanx in advance!
Matt

[Bana]

I am not sure about the directory service (is LDAP what you are looking for?) but as for the second: yes, through Samba you can do all types of advanced print and file sharing schemes with youl setup being one of the many options.

[ilja]

As I got from here (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/technologies/activedirectory/deploy/projplan/adarch.mspx) it is a DNS-Server + a LDAP-Server. There is no problem to build something like that with Linux. (I didn't read the paper properly)

[kosmosik]

Originally posted by lanboy
Does Fedora run a directory service similar to AD (microsoft) to authenticate users to?
If you need only user auth on server than you're probably looking after LDAP (opeldap) service.
http://ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/linux/9/en/doc/RH-DOCS/rhl-rg-en-9/ch-ldap.html

Also, can XP machines log into this Fedora server to gain access to the files stored on the server (shares)?
You need Samba - this is an UNIX implementation of SMB (Windows Network) protocol.

[ewdi]

yesm you can use LDAP to do something liek active directory and if you want to interact with windows machine, use samba, version 3.0 of samba is so stable and nice