User Authentication
 

In my networking class we are setting up a client server network. Nothing difficult but my teacher is stuck on Microsoft Server 2003. He wants the server to be a DHCP, DNS, File server, and he wants users to authenticate from it. The entire class(besides myself) uses Windows machines ranging from 98 to XP. I am trying to convince him to let me set up a linux server instead but the only think i don't know how to do is have windows(and my one linux machine) machines authenticate to it. Any help would be great.

Linux uses the Samba suite of tools and services for Windows interoperability. The Website has pretty extensive documentation, including the text of several published books:

http://www.samba.org/

Several distributions include their own graphical tools to help you configure Samba.

Filling in the "Distribution" field on your profile helps responders to give more specific answers: *nudge*, *nudge*.

Hint taken. I will check out that website.

Does anyone have an example smb.conf file that does user authentication?

I have been sitting here for hours spinning my wheels. What I want to do is when the user sits down and turns on the computer they will be required to log in. From there I want them to be authenicated from my linux server and have shared drive space mapped. I have been reading for hours and to the point of giving up and setting up windows server 2003.....HELP i dont want ot use windows server 2003

You must configure the Samba server, and join the Windows clients to it's domain. You must write login scripts to run on the Windows clients to map drives and printers. The Web site I linked to provides comprehensive documentation, but if you have specific questions feel free to reply with them.

Note that Windows XP Home cannot join a domain for automatic network sign-on (by design - Microsoft want to force upgrades to XP Pro).

so if I follow the instructions on that webpage, how do I add the windows machine to the domain...I went to properties under My Computer and it said it couldnt find the domain.

Try these articles:
http://www.enterprisenetworkingplane...le.php/1144701
http://www.enterprisenetworkingplane...le.php/1151091

They are a little old, but may help you out.

Thanks for the links. I followed the directions and it works now.