For years now we have heard about Linux on the desktop and its need to make a concerted effort to illustrate its value to the end user and whatnot. The point of it all being is that if we expect Linux to become a household name, we must find away to get it into the minds of the typical user, like we have seen with Windows. 
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Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2006-03-22
Problem Solved...
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LikewiseOpen
Member since:2005-08-11
Member since:2008-06-11
Good one there, you make it sound easy...like it should already have been done. My understanding is that Microsoft will not release information to do the heavy lifting in some of these areas in any manner that allows that information to become open.
Remember that it took billions of dollars of fines and continued harrasment by the EU to get Microsoft to finally capitulate and put out a concise whitepaper a few months ago so that the SAMBA team could finally get a good look at how Microsoft implements various network APIs.
As you point out this kind of thing is one reason GNU/Linux is not yet as ubiquitous as Windows. Of course that reason has a great deal to do with Window's fighting tooth and nail against the 'cancer' of FOSS.
Member since:2005-08-11
The comment just previous to yours is poignant:
http://osnews.com/thread?319085
Getting Linux to authenticate against AD isn't terribly difficult- if you're a Linux admin. Show the process to even a highly competent Windows admin and they'll ask why you can't just right click on My Computer, click Computer Name, tell it the name of the domain and a domain admin's credentials, reboot and enjoy.
I've never used LikewiseOpen, though, which sounds zounds easier than the long way. Thanks for the link, ZephyrXero!
Member since:2007-09-06
It seems the issues supporting a Linux based OS as a client under Windows AD is within the Windows LDAP side. Put most any other AD server in there and everything including Windows clients seem to work fine.
I'm eager to see if Suse's Bill Blessed AD support makes a difference though. As for Samba, Linux/BSD based OS do Windows shares better than Windows; I love that little irony.
Member since:2005-08-11
Member since:2005-07-06
Authentication and ACLs are the big hurdle there. Group Policy would be handy, but loads of people don't need it- not near so much as they need it tied to their existing AD.
Much simpler Windows domain integration would be an enormous marketing tool. But hey, that's just one facet.
Having been in large organisations, I can assure you that most never use the avanced features of AD; even Microsoft admitted this when Windows 2003 was released. What did they do? they tried to market those features, but most administrators were quite happy with the status quo. With that being said, there are other 'desktop management solutions' besides Microsoft.
I wish so-called 'IT Administrators' spent a little time googling, because off the top of my head I can think of maybe a couple which could be drop in replacements.
Member since:2005-08-11
Member since:
2005-08-11
As one of the "Linux Guys" at a Microsoft support shop, I can attest that a lot more Windows admins would push Linux if they could figure out how to connect it to a Windows domain. From the "Linux-must-be-the-only-OS" perspective, this would be a reversal of the Embrace-Extend thing.
Authentication and ACLs are the big hurdle there. Group Policy would be handy, but loads of people don't need it- not near so much as they need it tied to their existing AD.
Much simpler Windows domain integration would be an enormous marketing tool. But hey, that's just one facet.