CentOS Directory server - Can Windows machine be added into directory server
 

Hi Folks,

I am planning to set up CentOS directory instead of Active Directory and would like experts opinion whether same can be possible and If CentOS Directory server can be used as a fully blown Directory server as a replacement of Microsoft AD?

Just like AD and if windows machine can login on to the domain and then enforce the domain policies and all those stuff?

There is no "expert opinion" here. CDS is an LDAP server. AD is NOT an LDAP server. It provides an LDAP style interface to it, but that is just one of the many things AD does. The two things are in no way interchangeable.

AD style domain membership would be handled by a Samba server, which in turn can interact with CDS for user data.

Agreed - that means better not to choose Linux Directory server if any body is looking or expecting AD kindaa services from Linux? So in what circumstances Linux CDS can be looked at?

CDS is an LDAP server, so you look to use it when you want an LDAP server. This is in no way a shortcoming of CDS, it is not meant to be an AD alternative in itself in the same way that Apache or a chocolate cake is not intended to be.

the thing about AD is that it is not one single thing. Active Directory covers lots of largely unrelated things that tend to come in handy when grouped together. Group Policy and Password management are unrelated for example... M$ just lumped these things under a single product to make it easier to brand and sell.