Concept of a domain... does it apply?

[PaleoKing]

Is there a similar concept to a Windows NT/2000 domain that exists in the Linux/Unix world? Is there a way I can replace an NT/2000 domain controler with a Linux box and get basically the same centralization of network security and user/group permissions? All my experience with Unix/Linux in a network has been that of just logging onto each box as a seperate entity - in the sense that each had its own set of users, groups, security, etc as opposed to the these objects being resident in one place, and the user being able to participate with the same identity from any client on the network. I guess another way to put it, is right now, networking > 1 Linux machine seems to fit the same model as a Windows workgroup, as opposed to a domain. Sorry for all the references to Windows terminology, I'm not sure how else to describe the concepts I'm referring to. Hopefully I'm making sense here...

Thanks in advance for your help.

[twofoolish2b]

Try reading up on or doing a search on Samba. It will allow you to share resources with Windows and I think you can make it a domain controler in a Windows domain.

[PaleoKing]

I knew SAMBA allowed the creation of SMB-like shares for windows clients, but I didn't know it included domain implementation capabilities. I'll check it out; thanks!

[hndpaul]

Newer versions of SAMBA most definitely do allow you to run Linux as a PDC. They are currently testing some other fuctions etc., and downloading the latest and greatest release will help you if you want to make Linux the PDC in a domain.

BTW: there is an excellent utility called "createusers" for linux that centralises the making of groups etc in a Linux/Windows domain that I know of. Do a search for it and if you come short I have the developer's e-mail address so that you can get in touch with him. Very handy tool indeed!! (E-mail me)

Paul, UK

[neffu]

NIS is a service offered in linux that allows centralized management of resources. This service allows you to authenticate users and passwords to one central host as well as control file permissions.