Topic: SME server, Linux workstation

[Wilheim]

Hi all.
I am having issues with logging on to a SME server with a Linux workstation. The scenario I am trying to effect here is to use a bank of Linux workstations with KDE or GNOME for the workers, but have the logons at the workstations authenticated at the server- essentially like a domain logon using Windows.

Can anyone help? There should be some logging involved as the workers are in fact, in gaol, some of them for computer-related offences.

An alternative is to get LTSP, the Linux Terminal Services project to function off an SME server. Any suggestions?

[versa]

Hi
I posted a similar question for using fedora as a workststion and i could not get to the user home share, I did not have much joy, the only versions of linux that I found would do it easy were mepis (using smb4k) and xandros (done it out of the box user logs in and gets straight to shares that they have permisson to through xandros file manager) In xandros it is easy to mount the shares as a network drive it comes up as a folder in the home directory. There was another discussion on getting suse to work but it was above me

[Wilheim]

It's not a question of home directories etc, although those would be useful, it's getting a user, upon sitting down and booting up, to log onto any workstation using a username/password combination, have it authenticated at a server, as much like logging onto a Windows domain as possible. Answers should be as plain English as possible, as they will be forwarded to novices without Internet access...

Thanks in advance...

[d6hq]

Try Xandros for the workstations. Designed to be connected to a Windows domain/network virtually out of the box.

[kmccarn]

I too would try the Xandros solution.

You can get a free copy of the OCE (Open Circulation Edition) from:

http://www.xandros.com/products/home/desktopoc/dsk_oc_download.html

You need bittorrent to get it free - otherwise it's $10

Hope this helps.

[Wilheim]

Tried Xandros, and am very impressed, however it STILL DOESN'T AUTHENTICATE AGAINST A SERVER! It's possible to log in locally and use the Internet! The users are stored locally: I have 100+ students and I'm not going to enter all onto each workstation.

I want to be able to force users to log onto a network BEFORE getting access to the computer, in the same way Win2k/NT on a domain won't let you into a machine if there's no account on the domain controller...

Looks like the infinitely more complex prospect of LTSP is becoming the preferred option... if I can find a beefy enough server...

[Mjohnson]

Here is where it gets a bit complex.  In order to authenticate linux user logins with a server you will need NIS functionality on the SME server and the client.  A really good howto is:  http://sme.swerts-knudsen.dk/index.html?frame=http%3A//sme.swerts-knudsen.dk/howtos/howto_8.htm

After that, the Xandros distro or any other should be well able to handle the Samba file sharing aspect.

[electroman00]

Think you meant this link......

http://sme.swerts-knudsen.dk/howtos/howto_31.htm

[Mjohnson]

Yes, you are correct.  Thanks for the correction.

But then the site is so good, you really do need to peruse the HowTo's from time to time to stay current!!

LOL

[electroman00]

Your welcome

I ran into the same thing you did trying copy/paste the link.

Have a good day

[electroman00]

edit

[ReetP]

I have a Mandrake 9 box at home that does domain logons to SME.

I think that it's winbind that does the work - I chose something during setup and it all got configured, though blowed if I can remember now.

Only had a problem with it when I changed the server domain name and had a bit of head scratching to reconfigure it. Apart from that it seems to work fine.

[Wilheim]

I think you're right: Winbind doing a domain logon to Samba indeed is the best path to follow in this case. It's a bit of a cheat, emulating a Windows logon onto an emulated Windows domain. NIS, I think is the native Linux version... but not part of e-smith (why?)
Ironically, Xandros Business Edition does domain logons out of the box, but it costs the same as WinXP in an educational environment... perhaps it's time to contribute my own how-to...

[mapangojoe]

Look at the k12ltsp.org project.  It is a terminal server for linux.  You can always still use SME for mail or whatever, however the termserver works great.

[Black]

Very interesting discussion. Please keep us posted with your results!