I need to set up a linux network: central authentication server and laptops (maybe desktops). Laptops must cache credentials. What is the current best way to do that? Can kerberos be coerced into doing that? Should I install Samba WAD equivalent and use likewise?
Linux server and clients? LDAP + kerberos would be the canonical answer. Take a look at pam_ccreds or Fedora's SSSD for caching authentication.