So i know what i want to accomplish, but i don't know what it is called. So I can't look up how to build it. And hopefully I chose the correct place for this thread. So THIS is what i want to have set up. I have many computers and i would like to be able to go to any of them and type a username, password and have my setup no matter which pc i'm using. What kind of setup is this? Home virtual server?

This: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Networ...mation_Service ?

or

this: https://www.samba.org/ ?

or

this: https://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw74/he...f/frameset.htm ?

Failing the above, you've got me.

thanks for the quick reply. I'll read up on these and see what I can do with them. I did have samba in the back of my head but I haven't used it much. I'll reply back with my findings

Where any of them what you were thinking of?

Sorry to be a little slow on the uptake.

Edit: (I forgot you were thinking of samba - so, except samba)

i think "sync" is the keyword you're looking for, and maybe also "cloud".

essentially, you want the same home directory for all machines, so it would make sense to serve it over the network from one central machine.
if all machines are Linux, try NFS.

What's wrong with an NIS server in that case ?

what's wrong with offering different opinions?
as i told you before, it's not an either-or situation.

Nothing, I didn't say there was. Sorry for misunderstanding, I'm human too.

Not sure "where you told me before" ?

Never said it was an "either-or situation" - you did above.

Just for clarity: While the OP's not particularly clear on weather they just want to share their "home" folder or more than that; I took their question as meaning that they want to not only do that, but also use their "server" as a login server for user authentication as well - that's why I didn't mention NFS myself. And no, I'm not trying to suggest that is your fault anymore than mine - or even really the OP's for that matter.

Hay, let's face it: the point of this question (from my understanding) was because they (the OP) could not remember the "name" (or similar to) of the type of "server" their after - if that makes sense. (not saying it's necessarily the OP's fault either - my memory isn't perfect, never has been)

I wasn't trying to start an argument with you ondoho - once again, I'm not a robot myself.

it's networking, but more closer would be cloning your config files so every desktop mimics the other one. as the sentence, Just requires like things same Window Manager/desktop and same config files for them. as far as your data files. if you have a document in one that your edited and then go to another one open up a copy of that doc it will not have the same changes.

this would require what to be done to achieve that effect?

you might even be able to set up one central computer and have all of the config files for your desktops and everyone of your systems hooked up to that central computer so it will source that computer for the config and they then can be kept the same across the network.

the changes to anything are made within that central computer so it will effect all of the other desktop setups.

this idea falls into what might be called "dynamic linking." change on thing in one place and it takes place everywhere else.

that came from off the top of my head, I have not done this, but the theory sounds solid.

Sounds to me like a server with thin clients.

wow thanks for all the replies. I was thinking earlier what made me think of this and its how my previous companies computers were setup. so yes like BW-userx was saying its networking. I'm not exactly sure how the place had the server set up or any of the networking configuration but i just remember i could go to any of the computers at work and punch in my user : pass and it would come up with pretty close to my exact setup that i had at my departments computer. I am going to make a home server very soon and since i have no experience i'll be watching alot of youtubeage and spending alot of time reading all of the different suggestions here. Thanks again for all the replies. i'll post back with some results soon.

dummy terminals and a main frame.

/home on NFS.

I have some questions regarding simply sharing /home via NFS (which has been suggested at least twice).

If I log in on two different workstations using the same login and then start 'doing stuff'...?

So surely. you would still need to manage account logins centrally?

It's my limited understanding that LDAP can do this?

That's why I suggested what I did in post #2. If your referring to me suggesting NFS, as I said in post #8, that's why I didn't suggest NFS. Apologies, if your not referring to me suggesting NFS.