For better or worse, here are my thoughts on your question: I would say a competant administrator of either OS/Software could make them run efficiently, plus it depends on what you are using them for. There are 4 things that come to my mind in reference to pure File Servers. Stability, File Access, Permissions and Price.
In the following when I reference Linux I mean the Linux/Samba combo. WRT Stability: The M$ OS can't handle long periods of uptime without eventually puking on itself. The Linux OS is of course much more stable and requires less reboots (if any). So in this case Linux appears to have the advantage, however a competant M$ admin would/should schedule atleast a bi-weekly reboot of the server in off-hours. WRT File Access: I think this is a toss-up. Since both are able to use a M$ Client or Samba client there is nothing REALLY to compare here, besides speed. I won't get into speed issues here. WRT Permissions: This is where I personally have had problems with using Linux as a replacement for M$. Even with the ACL/EA addition, I still ran issues. For example, only the owner of a file and root can change the ACL of a file, even if you give rwx to another user as well. WRT Price: Duh, (haha) Do more with less machine Linux is the obvious winner here. So I guess what I'm saying is it depends on how often you need to change your file ACL's and how complex they are to begin with and how good your system admin is. In a simple environment the manpower is comperable (IMHO). I know I might get some flack about all the security patches required on M$, but there are tools out there for installing them automatically and during off-hours (again something a compentant administrator should be aware of). Josh Konkol, CNE MCSE Technical Research Specialist .~. GuideOne Insurance /V\ /( )\ ^^-^^ -----Original Message----- From: Lionel Dyck [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, June 13, 2003 11:00 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Samba admin vs. Windows admin Has anyone quantified the manpower required to administer a samba file server compared to a windows server? More manpower? Less? Comparable? -------------------------------------------------------------------- Lionel B. Dyck, Systems Software Lead Kaiser Permanente Information Technology 25 N. Via Monte Ave Walnut Creek, Ca 94598 Phone: (925) 926-5332 (tie line 8/473-5332) E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sametime: (use Lotus Notes address) AIM: lbdyck
