Linux Server?

[Longy]

I use Windows 2003 server mostly and I fancy playing with linux as a server, whats the best FREE version I could use (equvilient to windows 2003)?

Ideally running on VMware or virtual PC.

Does it have a exchange server equvilient?

Can it run as a DC?

Remote Desktop?

Is it mostly done through command line inputs? (be nice to have a GUI like windows 2003 until I get the hang of it).

yes I'm a windows monkey and only used linux desktop versions here and there.

 

[BenWall]

I would like to know this too

 

[Daz]

I use Windows 2003 server mostly and I fancy playing with linux as a server, whats the best FREE version I could use (equvilient to windows 2003)?

Ideally running on VMware or virtual PC.

Does it have a exchange server equvilient?

Kinda, there are a few - OpenExchange, Zimbra etc..
Hula was the closest with the best interface etc.. but that stopped development

Can it run as a DC?
Yea, Samba can do that - www.samba.org

Remote Desktop?
Remote X I guess, or SSH is all you need

Is it mostly done through command line inputs? (be nice to have a GUI like windows 2003 until I get the hang of it).

Erm, people who say it's not command line aren't being sensible. If you don't get on with command line, I'd say you'd be pretty stuffed on a lot of tasks.

yes I'm a windows monkey and only used linux desktop versions here and there.

If you're happy with 2k3, I'd say stick with it.
Altho Samba can do DC duties, it doesn't beat a 2k3 server - think group policies for one thing.. it's very nice in AD.

 

[Longy]

I use Windows 2003 server mostly and I fancy playing with linux as a server, whats the best FREE version I could use (equvilient to windows 2003)?

Ideally running on VMware or virtual PC.

Does it have a exchange server equvilient?

Kinda, there are a few - OpenExchange, Zimbra etc..
Hula was the closest with the best interface etc.. but that stopped development

Can it run as a DC?
Yea, Samba can do that - www.samba.org

Remote Desktop?
Remote X I guess, or SSH is all you need

Is it mostly done through command line inputs? (be nice to have a GUI like windows 2003 until I get the hang of it).

Erm, people who say it's not command line aren't being sensible. If you don't get on with command line, I'd say you'd be pretty stuffed on a lot of tasks.

yes I'm a windows monkey and only used linux desktop versions here and there.

If you're happy with 2k3, I'd say stick with it.
Altho Samba can do DC duties, it doesn't beat a 2k3 server - think group policies for one thing.. it's very nice in AD.

Thats the other thing i was gonna ask about AD and GPO's. So easy to do in 2K3 just couldn't imagine doing it all via command line in liunx equvilient?

 

[Daz]

If you're happy with 2k3, I'd say stick with it.
Altho Samba can do DC duties, it doesn't beat a 2k3 server - think group policies for one thing.. it's very nice in AD.

Thats the other thing i was gonna ask about AD and GPO's. So easy to do in 2K3 just couldn't imagine doing it all via command line in liunx equvilient?

I'd always use 2003 Server in a Windows domain scenario..

 

[BenWall]

what are linux servers used for mainly?

 

[Daz]

what are linux servers used for mainly?

Anything I guess?

I use them mainly for web servers, mail servers, dns servers, etc..

(Like, the ClioSport server for example )

 

[BenWall]

lol, but are they better MS NOSs for those purposes? Do most hosting companies use linux?

Sorry, im just getting into this, im doing this at college at the mo, but we dont get to work with linux servers, so might do it at home.

 

[Daz]

http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2007/02/02/february_2007_web_server_survey.html

Linux, BSD, etc.. all big contributors.

Windows isn't really a competitor in this role at the moment.. at all..

 

[Longy]

Daz have you used Netware much? if so, what u think of it?

 

[KDF]

You can use Samba to mimic a Domain controller, redirect users directories to network storage, roaming profiles etc.

and yes you can install a GUI if your not comfortable with the CLI. There are packages like webmin that offer an web based admin interface to configure just about all the services you can think of.