[Gllug] Some network queries

[Dylan]

Hi

I'm just about to re-install the machines on my network for what I hope will 
be the last time (at least, the last time en-masse!!) I have a server, one 
'primary' (i.e. higest spec) workstation, and three secondary workstations. 
There are six users (plus root for each machine, of course) and two user 
groups which I will be syncronising across the machines (leaving root local 
on each, of course.) I'm using SuSE 7.1 (7.2 after re-install, I expect.)

Questions:

A) Should a non-root local user be maintained on each machine? I can't see 
any use for such a user since system admin etc would have to be done as root 
and one of the six users mentioned is a 'guest' account to allow 
non-registered users minor access (web browsing, document printing, etc.)

B) The server exports two directories: /home and /shared. Only two users will 
have any access permissions on /shared. Can anyone suggest ways to mount that 
nfs directory on a per-user basis (in a login script?) and unmount it at 
logout?

C) I intend to install the server with no X-Windows (to save space, and deter 
user logins.) I assume, however, that X packages can be installed on it to 
run over the network (I'm thinking primarily of StarOffice, here.)

D) When I set up the users and groups, I assume I should first set them up on 
the server, then on each workstation. Since X will not be running on the 
server, will there be a problem when I setup users on or first log in from a 
workstation?

E) Staroffice currently takes an age to load and initialize over the network. 
Does anyone know if it could be installed an run locally, bearing in mind 
that it does a 'secondary' install into the user's home directory if not run 
across the network?

F) (Last one, for now) I would like to have the system shut itself down when 
not in use. It's a home network, so for example if no-one was logged in for 1 
hour after , say, 11pm the network may assume it's not wanted until the next 
day. How would I go about having the server identify such a situation, shut 
down any running (but unused) workstations, and then shut itself down?

Hope that all makes sense, I will be most grateful for any and all advice / 
guidance / opinions...
Cheers
Dylan

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