Samba Server

[TheeVagabond]

Good evening,

I am looking to create a Linux File Server that acts much like a Windows Small Business Server. Roaming profiles, backup, and maybe the ability to push through various scripts and updates to two windows clients. Is there any reliable, easy-to-read documentation that can get me started that anyone is aware of or someone with experience under their belt to explain what it involves?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Blackjack200]

http://www.bit-tech.net/bits/2007/06/05/build_your_own_server/1

I'm using this as a guide, it may be too basic for you though.

 

[theevilsharpie]

If you're setting up a Samba file server just to share files, I recommend a dedicated NAS distro like OpenFiler.

If you're setting up a Samba file server to learn how to set up a Samba file server, I recommend grabbing CentOS and then following the documentation for the equivalent version on Red Hat's site.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I would use folder redirection instead of roaming profiles though. windows sucks at roaming profiles. You'll get random errors all the time durring logon/logoff, bad syncs etc... I've tried it before. The idea seams cool, but windows just sucks at implimenting it properly.

 

[theevilsharpie]

I'd implement folder redirection in conjunction with roaming profiles.

 

[Nothinman]

As much as it pains me to say, I agree with RedSquirrel. Roaming profiles will only cause you pain. Folder redirection, maybe with offline files for mobile people, will probably be a lot simpler.

Samba itself has a lot of options but in general is fairly simple, there's lots of docs at samba.org and the man pages for things like smb.conf are extremely detailed as well.

 

[TheeVagabond]

I do not know what folder redirection is at the moment. What is the difference from roaming profiles? I want to be able to set up multiple user accounts to one network. Two PCs and a file server. The file server being the "big guy" that backs the files up and handles permissions, etc. etc. Will I be able to do this folder redirection? Currently their are no mobile options yet, but that would be something in the future depending on wealth one day. Sorry if these questions are relatively inexperienced ones.

 

[Nothinman]

Folder redirection is just what it's name implies, you point things like My Documents to the server instead of a local directory.

 

[TheeVagabond]

Thought so, was thinking to hard about it.

 

[BriGy86]

I used CentOS for a while just as a network storage area. (setup using SMB) I wasn't a fan since the GUI didn't really work for the SMB setup. Right now I have Ubuntu server addition. I like it a lot better but it doesn't come with a GUI installed. But that may be a good thing since it forces you to become familiar with the command line.