Hi, I have a Win2003 server and 8 WinXP workstation. The Win2003 runs our legacy accounting system. The server crashes a lot, so I bought a new one and loaded Suse Linux Enterprise. I also want to run our new accounting system on it. I bought the Suse support a week ago from CDW, but we don't have it yet. Hence I am here on the forum.

I don't know how i should set up my network. What load can I take off my old server and run it from the Linux one? E.g. LDAP access control would be one. Do I need to add the Linux Server to the Windows domain or can I do vice versa?

Eventually I want to shut down the Windows server, once we fully migrated to the new accounting/ERP system (adempiere), but for now I need it for 5-6months.

How are networks setup where Linux is on the server and the workstations have XP? Is this Putty? Can the Windows domain be a subdomain the Linix domain? With Samba Linux can join Windows, but how does windows join Linux.

My questions are probably contradictory, so just some basic set up pointers would be awesome.

Regards,
Hanse

You need to decide if your 2003 server is going to be operational or not. If you are planning to take it off completely, then it is better you create a domain controller with your Linux box and then join your clients to the domain.
If you already have a running domain infrastructure, you might want to keep it as it is and join the Linux box to the windows domain. In either case, you need a samba configured on Linux.
It will depend on your infrastructure. Windows server as PDC has a lot of options of controlling the windows clients. You might not get all those with the Linux as PDC. But it could create a stronger base for your network infra.