MS active directory replacement?

wesley · 12 Mar 2009 at 20:26

hi guys

a friend of mine own a business that has 11 XP machines and will have 3 more coming sometime next week.

At the moment, they all connected as workgroup, she asked me to setup a file server so all employees places their documents on the file server.

i had a good play with MDS (Mandriva Directory Server), works pretty well but no group policy. i'd like to see if there is anything better out there and free.

the cost of MS server 2003 with 15 CALs simply cost too much just for small business.

cheers

zetec452 · 12 Mar 2009 at 21:14

Why not go with SBS 2003? Its cheaper than Windows 2003 Std.

Is group policy and central management a requirement?

wesley · 12 Mar 2009 at 21:49

server 2003 SMS still cost too much money just for very small business. there is nothing from microsoft in middle between workgroup and large sized network.

exchange server and ISA is not needed. just file server and control users logon

zetec452 · 12 Mar 2009 at 22:02

SBS is the middle between workgroup and enterprise. I'd have to question the viability of a company that can't afford £500 odd pounds on software for their business.

Either way, a Linux box with samba would do the trick. Something like freenas for a bit of simple web management if desired. Who would manage the network? Would it be self managed?

wesley · 12 Mar 2009 at 22:53

£500 for server 2003 SBS with 15 CALs? cheapest i could find was just over £1k