So currently at work, we run Windows servers for Active Directory and file storage (SMB/CIFS). I may have the opportunity to change this, and wanted some input from all you IT gurus on the current Unix technology.
This isn't the most typical business, though it's becoming more typical. The main office has two people plus me, but I usually work from home. Then, we've got any number of people working across the globe- the number tends to change a bit, but is pretty irrevelant. There are two issues to address: file storage, and a login directory for the small office- it must authenticate Windows clients. Unfortunately, we can't dump windows altogether, since the software product these guys write is windows-only. I've been looking at AFS a lot lately- it looks killer. UMD runs it, and I've never had a problem with it. Even from home, I can get on the university file space from my windows install (unfortunately, OpenAFS and Arla seem to be very experimental and unstable for the 2.6 kernel). I'd also be running Kerberos, which I don't (yet) know anything about. So here's my question: has anyone here ever set up a network like this? AFS system, with Windows clients authenticating against a Kerberos system? (I think it can do this.) Although AFS seems to be a great system, I'm unsure as to the support it gets. The fact that 2.6 kernel support sucks seems to be an indication that it's not really used in new setups anymore. Am I wrong? If that's true, then what do Unix guys in enterpise systems use for file storage? Don't tell me it's all NFS- NFS sucks! Samba isn't so hot either. AFS seems to have the right idea, but are enterprises using it? Does it have any good graphical administration interfaces? If AFS is still an up-and-coming technology, that's fine with me, but it seems more stagnant than anything else. <humor style="Jerry Seinfield"> So what's the deal with AFS? </humor> Also, what network backup systems do people use? I'm investigating new ones since Veritas wants another $300 to do network backups. My boss' response was, "F*ck 'em- get me a new system. I'm sick of these greedy mother f*ckers. Backup isn't rocket science." Is Bacula (http://www.bacula.org/) any good? Thanks, John Demme UMLUG President
