Hello everyone...I Need help.

I've just got a job as a Jr. Network Administrator (I just got my AS and this is an entry level job). Thier network is a pure Microsoft network. Since I've been working there they have found out that I use linux in school (still working on my BS) and at home. So since thier budget is being cut they want to start setting up some Linux servers....and guess who is the only one who knows about linux...the new guy...ME!

Here's my problem. My skills are still in the beginer/intermediate level. I know my way around Linux...and know how to add users, packages, compile from source...all the usual stuff. I have even used samba for a peer to peer network. But I have never set it up to where the Windows is the client and Linux is the server. So I have a couple of questions.

1) How do you add a Windows computer to a Linux "Domain" (sorry if I use the wrong termenology)

2) How do I Authenticate users?

3) How do I make Sever 2003 (with Active Directory) work with Linux

Any other sugestions would be helpful...Thanks...oh another Thing. I plan to use Fedora 5 (or 6...but most likley 5). I know I asked a mouthful, so any help would be greatly apreceated. Thanks

-Christian

The Samba.org Web site provides copies of several published books on Samba, including "By Example", which talks you through standard configurations - that should cover 1 and 2. If you get stuck trying to implement 3 after reading the docs then you can post specific questions here, or on the Samba mailing lists.

I'd recommend that you don't use Fedora for production servers that store data - it's a very good distribution but it's explicitly got a short support life and rapidly changing software. If you need something now at no cost then I'd recommend either Ubuntu LTS or CentOS (which is RHEL without the branding or support contracts). Debian 3.1 is old, and Debian 4.0 won't be released for a while yet.

Thank you! I'll take a look at those!

-Christian

EDIT: I just started reading what you told me...and it has alread answerd a bunch of my questions! Thanks Again!

You may have the same books available locally. On my SuSE system the samba-doc package installs 3 pdf books in /usr/share/doc/packages/samba/. I think that a Fedora package installs the same books in postscript form.

The Samba3-ByExample book does have worked out examples dealing with the very questions you asked about.