Hey Ubuntu fans – ever wanted a domain controller with an LDAP back end for a server but couldn’t bring yourself to run Windows? Well, the guys over at HowtoForge assembled a great how-to guide for setting up a Samba Domain Controller with an OpenLDAP directory that authenticates like a Windows Server 2003 Domain Controller. The Samba LDAP configuration doesn’t make for a fully comparable Windows domain controller, but it does give your Ubuntu server LDAP authentication (so you have that going for you, which is nice). And the author also points out that this setup can be expanded to spread out authentication over multiple networks to include slave servers and Microsoft XP boxes.

If that interests you, check out the sample chapter on OpenLDAP and the guide to Samba and Active Directory on SearchEnterpriseLinux.com.

(Does the Caddyshack reference make up for the shameless plug?)

Working with vendors is tough. You need their help, they want your money. Hopefully, whatever it is they help you install works and the price meets you both somewhere in the middle (as in your side of the middle, right?).

Sometimes this process is a headache, but sometimes a project can really surprise you—things just work and upper management is just peachy keen with how the whole thing looks on the balance sheet.

In that vein, SearchEnterpriseLinux.com wants to help its readers discover the best of the best in Linux products for the enterprise in our prestigious SearchEnterpriseLinux.com 2007 Products of the Year awards. We’ve been asking readers and vendors over at SearchEnterpriseLinux.com to nominate a favorite product they’ve used or to nominate their own new product, and now we’ve opened it up to the Intertubes here at the Enterprise Linux Log. Regardless of where you fall — vendor, user or general Linux guru –the deadline is drawing near!

Our editorial team and a select panel of industry experts and analysts are currently accepting submissions online until 5 p.m. PST on Nov. 9, 2007 in a range of categories, including: Server Linux platform product (either a distribution release or a new, integrated server Linux offering); Security applications/tools for Linux on the server; Virtualization product for Linux on the server; and Linux administration tools. You can access the 2007 POY submission page in the link above.

To qualify, new or significantly upgraded products must have been shipped after October 31, 2006, and before November 1, 2007. Submit your entry today and let us know what you think are the top data center products on the market!

I had the interesting opportunity to be a third party to a battle of analysts today, and I thought I would share some of the things I learned from that conversation.

First, a little background information:

On Monday, SearchEnterpriseLinux.com posted a story on Active Directory and Linux authentication. The story gave a general overview, attempting to lay out some of the more mainstream ways IT pros are using AD to manage identity, authentication and security on their Linux servers. These include LDAP and Kerberos protocols, Samba 3, and proprietary third party cross platform management applications. While there was room to expand on the points made and some areas that could have been articulated better, the article was not intended to be in-depth from a technical point of view. But, as the reporter who filed that story, I can appreciate when an expert in the field takes the time to email me and explain, politely, that there were a few things that needed clarification. Read more »