Migrate from w2003 to linux

On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 14:00:32 +0100, Geir Holmavatn

Internet Proxy (and firewall) can be switched directly to GNU-Linux control. Learn about squid and iptables.

Similarly, printing has been around before Windows and can be moved to linux control. Learn about cups.

The file server is a more tricky issue, with the account migration issues that are likely to crop up. It could be difficult to meet the implied hope of a totally painless transition. There very well may be some pain in the process.

The language throughout your post indicates you are very much "in" the windows camp. Your last sentence gives a hint (hope) that you want "out." If you are serious, then I think you'll be able to do it because there are significant resources available for help. The best advice I can give you is to start learning about linux now. I'd never tackle this job with the administrator at the novice level. Realize that your experience as a Windows administrator is only be partly applicable now. It is applicable in the sense that the "problem space" is the same in the two environments. The goal is the same, to provide services to end users. The services are internet access, file and print services, email(?), remote access from any computer worldwide to the student's resources at school(?). If you stick with the platform that you know, then you will have to ask how far that paradigm will take you? How much will it cost you along the way? And whether that platform can stand up to the security challenges prevalent on today's internet.

You are on the right track investigating what GNU-Linux can do for you. Look at other schools beyond high schools for an example. It would be difficult to find a university which is not using the unix model to offer IT services to students. Model your network on a university or an ISP, not a "windows only" shop.

My first thought when I read your post was to recommend the SAMBA project, and the excellent work they have done to provide equivalent Windows services, and the excellent documentation buttociated with their project. But, if you start thinking past today's short term goals (i.e. make this is as easy for the admin as possible, as cheap as possible, etc.), then you can see the bigger picture. I think you might be ahead in the long run to cut the cord entirely and investigate another method for offering "home" directory storage. NFS is a file system which is used at a lot of universities to give the students a consistent view of their files from any school computer.

However, you should still take a look at SAMBA:

-- Douglas Mayne