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JJ01
Asked: 2010-05-12 11:05:40 +0800 CST

What are the Best Practices and tools for managing Windows Desktops from a Linux sever?

  • 772

I know this is a loaded question!

What are the best ways to manage Windows (2000, XP, Vista, 7) workstation from a centralized Linux server? I would like to replace the fuctionality of Windows Domain Server with a Linux box. The following issues would need to be addressed.

  • File Sharing
  • Authentication, Authorization, and Access Control
  • Software Installation
  • Centralized Login Script
  • Centralized Backup
windows linux windows-sbs desktop-management

7 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    You might be able to find 'practices' (or ways of doing this), I doubt you'll find 'best practices'. Best practice to managing windows desktops would be to do it in a Windows environment.

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  2. I believe Samba 4 which is still in the Alpha stage is an attempt to replace a lot of the functions of a Domain Controller. However, since it is alpha it isn't ready for production.

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  3. Samba is what you are looking for. It provides the same functionality as a Windows NT4 Domain controller does. File and print serving, authentication, login scripts, etc... If you do some googling you can find some nice "Live" Linux distributions or a virtual appliance that will get you up and running fast. Samba has been around for ages and is just as stable if not more stable then an actual Windows Domain Controller.
    Also checkout BackupPC for backing up your data. It's easy to use.

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  4. You can use a combination of Samba and KiXstart scripts as login scripts to accomplish most of the functions of AD and Group Policies. For centralized installs and software management you can use OCS Inventory. For backup as long you are using network shares on the side of the samba server, any linux/backup service will do it, for instance Bacula

    Regards.

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  5. As I said in a comment above stick to Microsoft's suite of software when managing Windows machines.

    However, if you still are interested take a look at ebox which is a full fledged Linux Small Business Server!

    It will do what you ask. Some things more easily than others. VPN is a breeze!

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  6. Samba lets you set a login script when you make it a PDC.

    For centralized backup, you should also look into BackupPC which is OSS, and included in Debian (and probably ubuntu)

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  7. It all depends on how much time you want to spend getting a system like this to work. One of the largest Windows installations in the world (20,000 computers) is managed entirely by xCAT, which is usually run on Linux.

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