Is there a server distro I can download or book giving step by step instructions to create a WORKING linux dns dhcp & ad that will work with windows 7 64 bit machines?

I know how to configure it in windows server but I can't get things to come together in linux. This is almost certainly due to my ignorance, but I cant find a quick win to the problem & I need a working server up and running yesterday.

I have dns & dhcp working, but cant get samba to work, the workstation can see the DC but has trust issues

I've lost about 2 weeks on it so far, but I don't want to use windows server 2008! That's why I figured a working configured distro that I just need to tweak to my requirements could be the answer.

To add a little more spice to the mix!!! the server is actually a render node, it should be more that enough to do the job, but its an AMD opteron & the bios doesn't seem to have the switch to allow me to use virtual machines with it!

My first choice was to run it as a linux server, running a linux virtual machine to do the network management & a linux virtual machine for printer management. (I already have another server with windows server 2008 for sql & file serving.)

the reason for still trying to get linux to work is we are a small start up and I could do without the expense of buying multiple windows server licenses.

Any help would be gratefully received.

PS
sorry for the brain dump style post, I don't normally do that!

Divided your issue in pieces. Install a linux distro, its ok? install all services you need, ok ?? and after you post your question about one this issue here.

Easy ... try

What I've done so far (ignoring the VMware dead end)

installed Opensuse and via yast I added...
dns server
dhcp server
Kerberos server
samba server

But I wasn’t sure what else to add.

I configured all of them & gave it a try. But it didn’t work (My laptop couldn’t see a dc)

I did some research that lead me to believe that adding ldap could help, so I installed & configured that, but that gave me a common server certificate error (I didn’t have one).
Next I created a certificate & loaded it into the CA management.

After much blind fiddling, I think I have ldap turned off because as I understand it Kerberos is replacing ldap.
I can add my laptop to the domain, that par now works fine. But when I try to log in on the laptop I get told there is a trust issue & I cant log in (I cant remember the exact message but I will capture it if required.
I have tried turning ldap back on but that seems to make no difference.

That’s why I wondered if there was a distro that is pre configured as a network/domain manager otb.

I am happy to keep plugging away with this one if you think we can straighten it out. My lack of linux knowledge is doing me no favours atm.

Edit

My laptop by the way is running windows 7 pro 64 bit and has had the reg tweaked with...

and