To release Samba 4.0 'as is'

[Andrew Bartlett]

I would like to propose that we proceed to making a pre-release of Samba
4.0 in the next month (ie, before Christmas), and that we propose to
release Samba 4.0 'as is' regarding major features.

To be clear, I propose that the DNS server work continue, and we seek a
resolution of the best approach here over the time between now and a
release, but we do not block a release on this point.  (I am confident
however that those involved will have a good solution, and even the
current flat file is clearly good enough for our many users). 

I also propose that we do not make the major architectural changes
between now and the release to change file server or winbind
implementations for the AD DC.  Instead, we continue to build on the
massive efforts already made here over the next few months, but we will
not change the default behaviour for a 4.0 release.

This will give the vendors (Univention and Resara) and our numerous
users who are building on top of Samba 4.0 alpha releases a stable
release to move to, based on the current architecture, before we make
the change to a common file server for Samba 4.1.  

This will mean we continue to ship smbd, nmbd, winbindd, samba etc as
found in the current alpha releases. 

With this plan, and with the quality brought about by our continuous
integration approach, I think we can make a Samba 4.0 release in a
reasonable time-frame, perhaps with a final release in about three
months time.  

I do wish to be clear that I'm certainly not abandoning the idea of a
single file server, and I know many others on the team have also
invested great amounts of their own time in this effort.  It is
important not only for NAS vendors who wish to add AD to the NAS (an
idea I raise with every NAS vendor I get the chance to speak to), but
also our users who still regularly ask for a combined release with the
AD server, file server and print server all present in the same runtime
installation.  

What do others think?

Andrew Bartlett

-- 
Andrew Bartlett                                http://samba.org/~abartlet/
Authentication Developer, Samba Team           http://samba.org