Hi, Im just starting to get into Networking with linux. Im hoping to remove all the M$ machienes from my work soon, but i have one thing to over come... domains. Currently we are using server 2003 as a server and all clients are connecting to that... What linux alternative could i use? Im reading around now but would like some help.

Thanks.

recommend redhat or centos

If by 'connecting' you mean that the MS 2003 server is acting as your Primary Domain Controller, you will need to implement samba with LDAP to get the same functionality.

http://www.unav.es/cti/ldap-smb-howto.html

Some good server class distros include:

Slackware
RedHat Enterprise
FreeBSD
Solaris

hrmm... thats sorta what i was after but i was thinking more about a linux replacement, i want 'domains' but the linux alternative, im not sure what its called. I want to rid the entire system of Windows.

if you want to keep your windows server but change all linux client(using winbind),then go to:-
http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-91510.html

if you want to setup entire linux network, u can use openldap+ssl+redhat/centos as server. Client PC using ubuntu, suse, mandriva or etc.
In enterprise environment I would recommend suse 10.1 as client, because you can centralize authentication easily (event laptop user able to authenticate offline). The password policy can remain, after user login they will get immediately prompt for changing the password (just like windows under AD environment). However the performance is little bit slow (Slow but stable, not like windows always lightning at begining but ninja turltle finaly).

However, I won't recomment you to start right now because your organization may not ready. Please try to migrade all your client pc's IE to firefox (or opera), MS Office to OOffice. Photoshop to gimp. Outlook express to Thunderbird or etc.

Remember open source is cool, but not meaning suitable to everybody, in enterprise environment you must have a test, test, and test. Linux is only the OS, the most important portion is the application. I am having many problem on openoffice in my company because of compatiblity issue.

Is it answer your question?
Regards,
Ks

Yes thank you very much for that. I am currently testing openSUSE for a client but like Mandriva a bit better... would you still recommend openSUSE over Mandriva (speed being an important issue)?

No need to worry about me, we are going to phase windows out. I'm thinking of doing this in a parallel way... that may be a bit easier/less head aches.

Thanks again for the help and tips