We are using Linux as our database server and Microsoft Sever 2008 as our file server. Both are on independent servers. We would like to be able to mirror each server on the other for disaster recovery purposes. I am completely new to Linux. Can this be done? If so, how?

thanks!

Since you don't provide details, the answer is "maybe".

You say "database server" and "file server". WHAT database? If it runs on Windows as well as Linux, then the answer is yes. Same with the file server piece. How to clients attach/authenticate? What is the real use of that server (i.e., do you depend heavily on MS only features?)? Samba can easily be used to provide file and print sharing to both Linux and Windows systems.

In my opinion, I'd get rid of MS 2008 and load Linux on the box...because in a DR situation, you want your DR environment to match (as closely as possible), your production environment. Since you've got Linux being used for DB, adding file/print is fairly trivial. And you'll then save $$$ on the MS licensing/support that you're paying.

Sorry about that...first time posting.

We are using Linux and mySQL for our database. We will be using a Microsoft Access application to access our data. Basically a customer service type system. We also rely heavily on other Microsoft office products. We were hoping to use the DB server for storing the database etc and using the file server for the MS applications etc. Then we were planning on using a virtual machine on the MS box to have a duplicate of the database. We would like to be able to do the opposite on the DB server for the MS Access application. This sounds logical in my head but who knows.....

and advise is appreciated.

No worries...

The MySQL database backend is transparent as to the parent-OS, when it comes access time. The connections come across over the net, and it doesn't care (or know), if it's installed on MS, Mac or Linux. If all of your clients are MS based, Access with an ODBC connection will work fine. Also, what part does the file server play in the MS Applications deployment?? Samba provides a network 'drive', which looks identical to an MS server. So if you're clients are attaching now, and running Word from the F: drive, they can still do that if that is on a Linux server. Samba will make the F: drive function/look the same as it does now...copy your applications over, and you're done.

You can do it using both Linux and MS servers, but to me, it's more cost effective and simpler to go Linux-only on the back end. And (depending on your eventual goal), migrating your clients to Linux desktops using Ubuntu might be good too. Linux offers you the same functionality (more actually), than Windows does. Unless you have a very specific application that's Windows-only, it might be worth looking in to. If all you're talking about is MS Office apps (Word, Powerpoint, etc.), OpenOffice/LibreOffice already has it covered. Bringing up one desktop to play and experiment with might be a good thing, but that's up to you.

As far as the MySQL DB access...Access forms won't work on Linux, but if you want to put in a little work, moving the app to a web-based app with PHP/Apache would GREATLY simplify things later. Now, you NEED Microsoft and Access...if you migrate to a web-based app, YOUR COMPANY owns the code, and you can then use ANY web browser (Mac? iPad? Linux? Doesn't matter), to get the job done. In business-doubletalk...it's 'future-proof'.

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