samba - Nov 2006 - Newbie looking to move from Netware to Linux/Samba

I'm looking to move my companies server from an old Netware 5.0 file
server to a Linux/Samba server on new hardware.

Since my companies' systems are not mission critical (I can afford to be
down for a few hours at a time after a switch-over) I feel I have the
tolerance for some problems in getting it installed.

Is this something I should be able to handle on my own (I installed the
NW 5.0 box on my own) and can I depend on support from the community in
doing so?

Thanks in advance,
Boaz

Boaz Bezborodko wrote:
> I'm looking to move my companies server from an old Netware 5.0 file
> server to a Linux/Samba server on new hardware.
>
> Since my companies' systems are not mission critical (I can afford to
be
> down for a few hours at a time after a switch-over) I feel I have the
> tolerance for some problems in getting it installed.
>
> Is this something I should be able to handle on my own (I installed the
> NW 5.0 box on my own) and can I depend on support from the community in
> doing so?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Boaz
>   
Most distributions install a working Samba by default or as a selectable
option. However, you will have to set up users and shares. You may find
SWAT handy for doing this.

You haven't told us a lot about your setup but is sounds like you don't
have too much going on. It should be a piece of cake.

Gary Dale wrote:
> Boaz Bezborodko wrote:
>> I'm looking to move my companies server from an old Netware 5.0
file
>> server to a Linux/Samba server on new hardware.
>>
>> Since my companies' systems are not mission critical (I can afford
to be
>> down for a few hours at a time after a switch-over) I feel I have the
>> tolerance for some problems in getting it installed.
>>
>> Is this something I should be able to handle on my own (I installed the
>> NW 5.0 box on my own) and can I depend on support from the community in
>> doing so?
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Boaz
>>   
> Most distributions install a working Samba by default or as a
> selectable option. However, you will have to set up users and shares.
> You may find SWAT handy for doing this.
>
> You haven't told us a lot about your setup but is sounds like you
> don't have too much going on. It should be a piece of cake.
>
Current hardware:  PII-350 on an ASUS P2BL motherboard, Compaq Smart
Array 3200 SCSI controller, Compaq Storage array UE, Sony 20GB Tape
backup SDT-10000

OS: Netware 5.0
Backup Software: Backup Exec
Major Application:  FilePro Database

The critical application is the FilePro database which, I understand,
might take some adjustments to the file locking configuration on Samba. 
I'll also need to have a backup solution.

I wanted to stick with an industrial-class SCSI Array and was thinking
of picking up some used HP SCSI hardware on ebay.  The Smart Array 3200
has saved me on a number of occasions and was pretty easy to use so I
like the idea of sticking with it unless others know why not to do so or
have suggestions they think are better.

I only have about 10 users so even moving stuff manually shouldn't be
that difficult.

Boaz

> I'm looking to move my companies server from an old Netware 5.0 file
> server to a Linux/Samba server on new hardware.
>
> Since my companies' systems are not mission critical (I can afford to
be
> down for a few hours at a time after a switch-over) I feel I have the
> tolerance for some problems in getting it installed.
>
> Is this something I should be able to handle on my own (I installed the
> NW 5.0 box on my own) and can I depend on support from the community in
> doing so?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Boaz
>
Hi Boaz:

I moved our file server from NW5.1 to Samba on Linux, we're about the same
size shop
as you.  I build the samba box on some newer hardware, installed rsync on both
machines (there's a netware rsync package, I think I got it on the
developer's
network), and used that to transfer files for the migration.

I had to write a script to change ownership and permissions after the file xfer,
that information didn't come across in a usable way after the file sync. 
Someone
else may know a more elegant way of getting the files over.

After a few gotcha's, it's all been very stable.  I learned not to
restart the samba
process during the middle of the day when everyone's got files open ;-).  I
had some
legacy printing issues (dos app printing to Netware LPT1: port mapping, worked
in
Netware) which I could never get to print just so using Linux CUPS, so I just
have
them print direct.  Gotta love that legacy stuff that never, ever goes away...

Hope your migration goes well!

- Joe

-- 
Joe Mailander
jmailand@lane.k12.or.us