[clug] desktop administration tools on linux [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

[Robert Edwards]

The main traditional way to do this was using Sun Network File System
(NFS) and Sun Network Information System (NIS, also known as Yellow
pages). Over time, NIS has been replaced by NIS+ and now LDAP. NFS is
still the "unixy" way to share home directories around a network of
machines and we (DCS, ANU) use it and LDAP for our staff and student
systems, and it is also extensively used for cluster computers.

For a "mixed environment", you need to look at Samba instead of NFS
and Samba PDC/BDC etc. (or even the Samba 4 ADS) instead of LDAP
(although you can integrate Sambas DC stuff with an LDAP backend).

As for tools, there are plenty around. We use our own web-based tools
to administer our LDAP servers here at DCS, ANU. A search on Freshmeat
will turn up lots of stuff that others have developed and released.
One of the main Samba web-based tools is "SWAT" (Samba Web
Administration Tool). It may do most of what you are looking for.

Cheers,

Bob Edwards.

Rousak, Boris wrote:
> Greets to all,
> 
>  
> 
> A question was posed to me earlier today by a windows admin to which no
> immediate answer sprang to mind, and as the question was rather
> interesting I though I'd pose it to the CLUG collective consciousness :)
> 
>  
> 
> What, tools are there, that would allow for the administration of a
> large group of users and computers (in hopefully mixed environment).
> Something like OpenLDAP or FC directory server spring to mind, but do
> they allow one to store user settings like backgrounds, skins and much
> more importantly rights to various workstations as part of the profile.
> And is it possible to make global manipulations to these rules, eg
> anyone in a group called "users" does not have permissions to install
> software on the local PC. 
> 
>  
> 
> I believe Novell ZENWorks and Xandros Desktop Management do something
> similar on linux, but they are not really open source and I am not sure
> if they work cross platform. 
> 
>  
> 
> So has anyone heard of such a beast and would care to share the
> experience :)
> 
>  
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Boris
> 
> 
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