I need some ideas to get me going on a small (30-40 clients tops) network setup... so here are a couple of questions.

What would be the desired authentications setup for windows/linux clients (they are currntly running NT4 servers which they want upgraded), Since all options are viable options?? can anyone recommend the best one to look into? OpenLDAP, ADS?? NOVELL?

File Server, with windows clients I think I am stuck with using samba or windows? any other options?

What kind of hardware VPN server is available that will allow windows and linux clients connect?


I just needs some small ideas to get me in the correct direction.. but I am mainly interested in the VPN setup.

openLDAP + Samba + MySQL + GRE tunneling for VPN ?

Opensource powerhouse.

ditto on hostprotect's reply! Or an easy vpn integration would be using pptpd (poptop)

If you've a dozen or more Windows clients then you'll probably need to consider how you are going lockdown and manage them. IME, if they aren't fully secured they will quickly become a mess.

Unfortunately, there isn't an Open Source solution for centralised management and update of Windows systems - the systems that I know of are the bundled Active Directory stuff on Windows, and Novell ZenWorks (which will also be part of the SUSE Linux based Netware 7).

I haven't done much with VPN. You may find that the site router/firewall actually icludes VPN (Cisco Pix does). OpenVPN may be another possibility.