> I know this is bit of a newbie question, but...
Not really, there are some complicated issues here..
> I'm obviously considering an RH 5 based server backbone for their Win95
> and Macs
>
> I would like to set things up so anyone with a username and ID will be
> able to sit down at any computer and have access to all their services,
> like home directory, etc.
Assuming you'll only have one Linux server, adding and deleting accounts
from this one machine will be all you have to do.
> Netatalk and Samba with tweaking can do this, but there will be
> different servers at different buildings. So...
Ah, I see. Connected via leased line?
> Can RH5 give the appearance of a unified machine with a combo of
> NIS/NFS?
Yes, and samba can be used to map their home directories to the proper
places..
> If so, can samba and netatalk work within this framework?
>
> Does anyone have experience with this?
Yes, I've done it in conjunction with a Linux Novell server, and samba as
well.
> Also, a competitor is conning them into an NT based solution with the
> promise of these capabilities, also MS proxy server to filter ala
> cybernanny to keep the kids away from _bad_ stuff, central
> administration (with them of course), unified file and print, www
> server(s), mail, and the kitchen sink with extra rust.
This might be a little tough. There are a few things you might use to
combat this situation:
- rip apart the cybernanny guarantee, and find out exactly what it
can and can't do, and how much it would cost. I don't think the solutions
out there today, for any platform, are very good.
> Also he is promising the user and group capabilities of NT and Win95,
> i.e. restricted access for users to screw up the network, but not Macs.
Well, certainly you can have as much user control under Linux as you would
have under NT.
> I've tried to tell them that the setup isn't going to work, being NT,
> but I can't convince them the glory of Linux without offering them
> everything they've been spoon fed and more, for less.
How do you know their solution isn't going to work? There are hundreds of
advocacy papers on Linux vs NT. Contact me if you want a list...
> So what i'm concerned about is central administration, user
> transparency WRT the network, restricting access to improper material,
> and network security (to keep out student BOFHs and stupid teachers, we
> all know how it goes).
Well, you might have some difficulty with adding and deleting users from a
windows machine. The samba people are working on that, but you might want
to consider a X-emulator for 95, which would use Linux programs to add and
delete users, or setup a program that users would telnet to the Linux
machine, enter an admin passwd, then prompt them for the user ID to
modify.
> Can anyone suggest a few good network setups?
Try the [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED] if you
don't find what your looking for here, or mail me directly and I'll help
you work thru it..
Dave
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