New server roles: 'netbios primary domain controller', 'active directory domain controller'

Jelmer Vernooij jelmer at samba.org
Wed Jun 13 16:19:26 MDT 2012


On Tue, Jun 12, 2012 at 08:13:29AM +1000, Andrew Bartlett wrote:
> On Mon, 2012-06-11 at 14:44 -0400, simo wrote:
> > On Mon, 2012-06-11 at 11:28 +1000, Andrew Bartlett wrote: 
> > > I've prepared a branch with new server role values, in a attempt to
> > > allow an smb.conf to distinguish between our major operating modes.
> > > This will in turn make it easier for us to stop folks running smbd when
> > > they mean samba, and vice versa.  (This has already been a common
> > > mistake with Samba4 alpha users so far). 

> > > https://git.samba.org/?p=abartlet/samba.git/.git;a=shortlog;h=refs/heads/s3fs-improvements

> > > I chose 'netbios primary/backup domain controller' over 'nt4 domain
> > > controller' or 'samba3 domain controller', as it doesn't reference a
> > > long-gone and unsupported version of Microsoft's windows or a previous
> > > version of our Samba.  The Samba 4.0 AD mode is described as 'active
> > > directory domain controller'.  For compatibility with previous Samba4
> > > alphas, the term 'domain controller' is an alias of 'active directory
> > > domain controller'.

> > > The 'server role' parameter remains optional, but I think it is a
> > > clearer way to describing the intent of what the administrator is trying
> > > to build, rather than the way they are trying to build it.  

> > > I do realise this puts FreeIPA in an odd spot (it would use the 'netbios
> > > backup domain controller'), but I'm happy for an alias to be added for
> > > that if required, and possibly for an extra role to be added for
> > > Novell's eDirectory. 

> > 'classic primary/backup domain controller' sounds better, and avoid
> > 'netbios' which is not accurate in any case.

> What I'm searching for is a term that lasts over the next decade and
> still has meaning.  That is why I tried to pick a term that mentioned a
> specific technology. In a few years time, what would the term 'classic'
> mean to our users?  (As a counter-example, think of how meaningless it
> feels when Samba-TNG calls us 'samba classic'). 

NetBIOS might be one of the technologies that is different between AD
and NT4-style domains, but it isn't actually the bit that matters.
Also, even in AD DC mode, we (can) still support NetBIOS without problems.

How does Microsoft refer to pre-AD domains? I generally talk
about "nt4-style domains" when talking about them, and most people
seem to know what I mean.

Cheers,

Jelmer


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