[dundee] Active Directory and Linux

[James Le Cuirot]

On Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:55:34 +0000
Andrew Clayton <andrew at digital-domain.net> wrote:

> On Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:12:36 +0000, Kris Davidson wrote:
> 
> > I find myself in the odd position of defending Microsoft, this
> > solution seems to make it easier but there already are ways to get
> > Linux to authenticated.
> > 
> > It use to be Exchange but now the major problem in my opinion is the
> > lack of something like Group Policy that allows among others things,
> > granular control of the desktop and script roll out / software
> > install. Now if Linux gets something like this it can be as
> > difficult and technical as possible however the other stumbling
> > block is Active Directory like OUs, delegation and the MMC, we need
> > something that would allow organisation, based on more than groups
> > and that would allow the authority to say reset passwords to be
> > delegated to junior admins and help desk personnel. There also
> > needs to be a shiny remote GUI to make this easy to use.  
> 
> This all clearly a different language to what I speak.
> 
> But why do the UNIX/Linuc machines need to be so tightly integrated
> with the Windows stuff?.
> 
> Ease of administration? Maybe. But I reckon your in a loosing battle
> if your trying to mange them as one entity.
> 
> Have Windows guys manage the windows stuff and Unix guys manage the
> Unix stuff. These are two completely different worlds and trying to
> merge them will only result in pain and probably a big mess.
>  
> IME you don't want windows folks touching your Unix stuff and vice
> versa.

At LinuxWorld 2005 in London, I remember seeing these guys.

http://www.centrify.com

I'm not involved in this area of things so I don't know what they're
like but it looks promising.

James