Lab Setup...
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Posted by Beta Ker knoledgesponge
On 2008-07-22 13:38:36
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How can I use Ubuntu to function as a domain server on an XP/2000 mix lab and send a batch file upon login?
I assume it would also be pretty simple to have different network accounts which allow them to access different shared folders on a particular partition of the hdd?
Also, what free filtering software would you recommend to use?
One last thing, the power here is really unpredictable. Is there some way to hook the server to a smart UPS which tells the server when the power is down, which in turn issues a shutdown command to the rest of the lab?
Please, show some pity on teh n00b! I realize I may not be asking the correct questions, but we should have the server within a couple weeks and I am trying to avoid loading XP on it and am hoping to learn a couple things in the process.
Thanks,
-sp0nge
-sp0nge
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RE: Lab Setup...
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Posted by Gamma Cpt Icydemon
On 2008-07-23 00:27:03
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>One last thing, the power here is really unpredictable. Is there some way to hook the server to a smart UPS which tells the server when the power is down, which in turn issues a shutdown command to the rest of the lab?
There are machines like that, UPS that, in cases of Power Failure, shutdown the machinery, we had some of those at work mainly for the servers and the "small" Cisco Catalyst 4800!
Basically, when we had a power failure, they cut the power normally to the machinery so to avoid any problems (burn mothafucka burn!)
But then again you've got to search for that stuff and they are pretty expensive i think.
Now on the rest of the stuff I think goat has covered em all :)
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RE: Lab Setup...
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Posted by Gamma Cpt Goatrider
On 2008-07-23 00:20:30
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Ubuntu does come in a "Server" flavor that is basically a system fine-tuned to act as a server, and thus has no GUI by default. I love it. I use Ubuntu Server on my web, database, routing, and VOIP servers. It's incredibly versitile and extensible.
The one thing you'll want to do right out of the gate is install Webmin. It is INVALUABLE in administering in a lab setting. You can even make a webmin cluster for easy administration.
>How can I use Ubuntu to function as a domain server on an XP/2000 mix lab and send a batch file upon login?
Simple. Two daemons: Samba (acting as a Windows domain controller) and OpenLDAP. You can find a PLETHORA of setup tutes and walk-throughs on google for setting up ubuntu as a windows domain controller.
>I assume it would also be pretty simple to have different network accounts which allow them to access different shared folders on a particular partition of the hdd?
Again, Samba will set you free. You don't even have to have the server act as a domain controller, you can set up windows-compatible shares and users right out of the box with Samba.
>Also, what free filtering software would you recommend to use?
I assume you mean like parental filtration/proxy type things. I'd have to go with dansguardian on that one. I've never set it up before, as I've never had a use for it, but I hear it's very well known and well documented.
>One last thing, the power here is really unpredictable. Is there some way to hook the server to a smart UPS which tells the server when the power is down, which in turn issues a shutdown command to the rest of the lab?
Got me swingin on this one...I'm not aware of any kind of smart UPS that would do something like that. You may be able to get a managed power module and hook it to the UPS, but I haven't the faintest idea how it would work.
>Please, show some pity on teh n00b! I realize I may not be asking the correct questions, but we should have the server within a couple weeks and I am trying to avoid loading XP on it and am hoping to learn a couple things in the process.
Bah, we're all n00bs. Shit changes so fast that it's impossible not to be these days. As for loading XP...if you're more experienced with that, why not give a crack at virtualization? Go ahead and install XP (Pro I hope, home wont work well) and then install VMWare Server on that. Run multiple linux distros or appliance servers right inside windows, as if they were actually real boxes. I use virtualization in most of my datacenters. It may be an easier transition.
Good luck.
--goat
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Virtualization?
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Posted by Beta Ker knoledgesponge
On 2008-07-23 05:58:31
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The server we get will not have more than 4 gigs of RAM, and will be handling 30-40 computers. Do you think that is viable? I have used several VPS's, but they never had too great of specs.
Thanks for your help guys :)
-sp0nge
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VPS vs. Virtualization
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Posted by Gamma Cpt Goatrider
On 2008-07-23 12:20:34
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VPS's are a completely different animal than real virtualization...
With virtualization, you're actually building a quasi-physical box inside your existing computer. It gets its own allocation of ram, CPU, Hard drive space, and network interfaces.
With a normal VPS, the system seems like a real box, but it's actually just a jailed OS running inside a master OS. There's no pseudo-hardware-abstraction layer, and ALL the hosts share ALL the RAM.
4GB of ram is MORE than enough to run a few virtual machines...I have no more than a gig in each of my virtual machine hosts, and that gives windows 512 MB to play with, and 512MB is left to be divided amongst the machines I put on there. Thankfully, with linux that doesnt run a GUI, you'd be surprised how little ram some of the "boxes" you'll make are going to need.
For example, I made a virtual machine as a router for my house, and it's running ubuntu server, and only using 64MB of ram. It takes forever to boot, but once it's on, it runs as fast (or faster) than any other router I use.
Also, keep in mind, that if you want to compartmentalize your daemons, you could even devote an entire minimal virtual machine for say, a web server, one for samba, one for DB, and one for mail. Since the system is dedicated to only one daemon, it doesn't need as much ram as a normal system that does more than serve one purpose.
It's worth a venture, and like I said...4GB should be enough to have a BUNCH of virtual machines. Hell, if I were running a samba server (if kept by itself, with just that and openldap), I'd only throw a MAX of 512MB of ram at it. Even that would be overkill, even with 30-40 machines accessing it.
--goat
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The distribution is flexible
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Posted by Beta Ker knoledgesponge
On 2008-07-22 13:42:58
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I just figured from using Ubuntu as a desktop machine that it might also be easy to use as a server. I am definitely not the most knowledgeable person, and the 'lab techs/administrators' have never really even touched linux before.
However, especially in the boonies of India they cannot go wrong learning about it now and hopefully this year I will get it dual booting with m$ on many if not all of the computers. Of course that will bring on a whole new set of configuration issues, but I will deal with those later...
-sp0nge
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