I'm interested in Linux apps that may approximate the functionality of administrative tools used in Windows to manage our microsoft active directory domain and the windows machines on that domain:

AD Sites and Services dssite.msc
AD Users and Computers dsa.msc
ADSI Edit adsiedit.msc
Computer Management compmgmt.msc
DHCP Management dhcpmgmt.msc
DNS Management dnsmgmt.msc
Event Viewer eventvwr.msc
Local Group Policy Editor gpedit.msc
Group Policy Management Console GPMC
dsquery/dsmod/dsacls
psexec
wmic
powershell



running the apps on a linux desktop joined to to the MS AD domain against the Windows machines on the MS AD domain is the goal. I realize just running these MS tools from a windows VM is the simplest approach but I want to see what's possible from linux in 2015. Below are some untested notes, feedback on other apps to look into is appreciated:


luma = AD console
adtool = command line account management
ldaputils
phpLDAPadmin
LDAP Account Manager

psexec:
smbexec
winexe
Metasploit PSExec / meterpreter

dns:
samba-tool dns

wmic:
openvas wmic

powershell:
OpenWSMAN (maybe)
WinRSPsh
see - ws-management powershell remoting, MS-PSRP

Personally, I strongly prefer to use Microsoft's tools to manage an Active Directory (LDAP ...) configuration, if there are any Microsoft systems in it. Because ... uhh ... I think they're really, really good tools.

Same here. Microsoft does Microsoft "best" in such an environment.