samba - Mar 2008 - Samba Administration Tool recommendations

Hi All,

I have a project which is to build a customized Linux distribution
with a focus on deploying a Samba as Primary Domain Controller. It's
pretty much like Trixbox but instead of Asterisk and VOIP, will be
focused on Samba.

Right now, I am looking for a solution for an administrator to easily
manage the service. Of particular importance would be to easily add
workstations and set up users for Roaming Profiles.

Any recommendations on this?

I have already looked at SWAT and Webmin (and I will be including them
on the package list). However, I would like a tool that is focused on
just Samba as a PDC.

The base system I have is Ubuntu Server so it would be great if such a
recommendation would be web-based although if a desktop application is
what I need, then changing the base system is an option.

Thanks in advance,
Matt

-- 
Stand before it and there is no beginning.
Follow it and there is no end.
Stay with the ancient Tao,
Move with the present.

Matt Arnilo S. Baluyos (Mailing Lists) wrote:
> Hi All,
> 
> I have a project which is to build a customized Linux distribution
> with a focus on deploying a Samba as Primary Domain Controller. It's
> pretty much like Trixbox but instead of Asterisk and VOIP, will be
> focused on Samba.
> 
> Right now, I am looking for a solution for an administrator to easily
> manage the service. Of particular importance would be to easily add
> workstations and set up users for Roaming Profiles.
Have you had a look at SME Server?  www.contribs.org

This distro is based on Centos (RHEL).  It is a real turnkey distro and 
installs out of the box ready to configure via a web interface.  You 
never need to even look at the commandline.  Setup of Samba as a PDC is 
just a matter of plugging in the workgroup name and checking a box sayin 
you want SME to be a PDC.

Greg

Matt Arnilo S. Baluyos (Mailing Lists) escreveu:
> Hi All,
>
> I have a project which is to build a customized Linux distribution
> with a focus on deploying a Samba as Primary Domain Controller. It's
> pretty much like Trixbox but instead of Asterisk and VOIP, will be
> focused on Samba.
>
> Right now, I am looking for a solution for an administrator to easily
> manage the service. Of particular importance would be to easily add
> workstations and set up users for Roaming Profiles.
>
> Any recommendations on this?
>
> I have already looked at SWAT and Webmin (and I will be including them
> on the package list). However, I would like a tool that is focused on
> just Samba as a PDC.
>
> The base system I have is Ubuntu Server so it would be great if such a
> recommendation would be web-based although if a desktop application is
> what I need, then changing the base system is an option.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Matt
>   
Great idea! As a user, I'd like to suggest you the following features/tools:

- Ease to add/manage users and machines;
- Ease to manage network workstations (software and hardware 
inventory/deployment, group policies, etc);
- Ease to manage workstations configs (proxy config on browsers, mail 
settings, logon scripts, enable/disable/manage windows firewall, vnc 
service and passwords, etc);

Regarding machine inventory, have you seen SpiceWorks? I ask because you 
may have two approaches:

1: a samba focused distro.
2: a network management focused distro. Using samba.

The main difficulty on maintaining a samba server is the 
network/workstations management , which you have to handle with 3rd 
party tools and scripts (like wpkg), which are not well integrated 
(because you had to integrate/tweak it yourself). A distro made to 
address all those issues will be a killer product on the market. Better 
yet if built on top of Ubuntu server.

Sorry if this is not the right place to this. :) Please provide some 
site or mail list to keep an eye on your progress.

Best regards,

-- 
Marcio Merlone