Hello all:

I have a small home network with five Windows workstations, one Linux workstation, and as of this weekend have set up one additional Linux computer--a server--that is configured as a DHCP server, a dynamic DNS server, and a Web server for my personal, non-commercial website.

In any event, I'd appreciate some advice. In particular, is there anything to be gained by additionally using Samba to configure the Linux server as a domain controller and joining all of the workstations (Windows and Linux) to the domain? Personally, I can't see any advantage in undertaking the effort to do this. DHCP and DNS are already working, and it's just me and my spouse here, so there are no security issues that I need to deal with on the local LAN.

So basically, I'm tentativey inclined NOT to configure the Linux server as a domain controller. However, I'm wondering if there's anything I'm missing. Would there, in fact, be some advantage in doing this?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

You didn't state what linux version you are using and the windows os version.

For your home network, I don't think that you are going to need samba unless you want to share files on the linux machine.

Sorry:

I'm running Linux Mint Maya on both the server and the one Linux workstation. The Windows computers are four 7 boxes and one XP box. I can share files on the Linux machine, if I need to, through the GUI tool that's built into Mint, and I've already mounted my main Windows shares on the two Linux boxes, so sharing either way is no trouble.

Sounds like you are to go!

Thanks for your feedback. That's what I was thinking but wanted a second opinion.

No problem, I thought after I posted that you didn't say whether you were using home or pro on the win machines. But if you are using at home, I would guess home versions and would not log in to a win server without upgrading to pro or some patchwork.

Ypu are better off with stand alone machines.

Just my

Actually the Win 7 boxes are all Ultimate and the XP box is Pro, but in any case, I think I'm good to go.

And by the way, one follow-up: I'm going to give some Kudos to Mint. For someone who's more familiar with the Windows environment than the Linux environment, I must say that Mint's interface, including nautilus and the many other built-in tools, is very solid and has helped me hit the ground running and get this server built.

Linux can not completely replicate the use of an active directory domain. Only part of the useful features can be used.

See 2X.com for some more ways to implement a AD like system.

Thanks, Jefro. That was the main thing I was trying to figure out. I have very little use for Active Directory, anyway. As things stand, I have not tried to join any of the computers to an domain. I'm just staying with the Mint box as my DHCP, DNS, and Web server and leaving it at that.

If this linux box is for supplying data and not an authentication and application control then it would be fine.

Linux is good for DHCP, DNS, and there are many web servers available from simple to pretty complex.