Replace Windows XP Server with Ubuntu

[mitanc]

Hey all, I am on a business trip and my office calls me to tell me our windows server is crapping out, internet's not working, and I am losing money on all the downtime. Immediatly Linux has popped into my mind.

Some background, I know linux, I know ubuntu. I run a desktop ubuntu version at home, I got fileserver, video sharing, music streaming all the good stuff.

Anyways, I basically need some guidance on what I can and cannot do. This is a list of what needs to be able to be done:
1. File Serving
a. I have about 10 clients using shared folders, they all need to have proper access to everything. All clients are windows XP machines, I want to know if I can set permissions for each machine?

2. Remote access to file shares
a. Does anyone know where I can begin reading about this. Say I am in a hotel with my laptop, I would like to be able to access my shared folders from there.

3. File searching
a. I would love it people could get on a website hosted by my machine and search for files (pdf, word, excel, etc.) not only filenames but content as well. Worst case is I install a desktop search client on the windows client machines and ask them to index the shares.

4. File sync w/ FTP
a. I need to sync some files on my server with an ftp site as a backup / lookup for other offices to see. Is this possible?

Other than that I think all my other needs are covered with linux. Does anyone else have a linux server running at work and know any tips or ticks?

Appriciate all's help with this. Thanks!

Mitan

[HermanAB]

Yes, you can do all of that is various ways: Samba, OpenVPN and proftpd come to mind. However, if you don't have time to tinker with setting it up manually, then you should consider using a more mature version of Linux, eg Suse or Mandriva, since they have wizards for everything. You can have it all running in an hour using Mandriva using only a few mouse clicks, while it will take a while with Ubuntu if you are not familiar with Linux already.

Cheers,

Herman

[mitanc]

Thanks for the tips.. I like ubuntu because of the repository. File sharing via samba is easy with webmin I think and VPN I can use logmein hamachi, which I heard is great!

Does mandrake use repositories? I just love the apt-get install, by far the most innovative thing I have ever used or seen.

Mitan

[HermanAB]

All the various Linux distributions are the same deep down. Ubuntu use the Debian package management system and Mandriva use the Redhat method - both systems work at the click of a mouse. Mandriva and Suse have wizards for *everything*, while Ubuntu has wizards for most things.

Which ever system you use is a personal choice, but sometimes in the interest of expediency, it is better to use a system with lots of wizards. If you have ever used Windows 2003 or 2008 server and thought the wizards are pretty good - well, Mandriva and Suse are better than that. Give Ubuntu another 3 years and it will be the same.

Cheers,

Herman

[3L33T]

1. File Serving
a. I have about 10 clients using shared folders, they all need to have proper access to everything. All clients are windows XP machines, I want to know if I can set permissions for each machine?


Use SAMBA for file sharing. Lots of examples and documents on google that will enable you to do what you want to do.


2. Remote access to file shares
a. Does anyone know where I can begin reading about this. Say I am in a hotel with my laptop, I would like to be able to access my shared folders from there.



I use apache webserver to do this when I need to serve my files for public access (with password protection). I simply create a symbolic link (ln -s shared_folder_dir_path link_name) of the shared folder in my web root folder. That way, all files in the shared folders are also viewable to public via http. Run a dynamic dns service (like dyndns or tzo) if you do not have a static ip address from ISP.


3. File searching
a. I would love it people could get on a website hosted by my machine and search for files (pdf, word, excel, etc.) not only filenames but content as well. Worst case is I install a desktop search client on the windows client machines and ask them to index the shares.


THAT IS EASY, create a php or shell script with a dialogue box that runs 'find' or 'locate'.


4. File sync w/ FTP
a. I need to sync some files on my server with an ftp site as a backup / lookup for other offices to see. Is this possible?


I'm running something similar to this: I basically created a shell script that creates a tar archive of files I want to synchronize (ftp over) to another server. I used 'cron' to schedule that job to run nightly and ftp's it over to another server. Works like a charm! ;)


Other than that I think all my other needs are covered with linux.


Right, why would you need to use the O.T.H.E.R operating system when linux is highly customizable?


HTH

[freerkkalsbeek]

Consider FreeNX for remote access to your system.
Another approach would be SSL-VPN which only needs an HTTPS connection, so even a PC in an internetcafe can give you secure access to your documents.

In the past I've used SSL-Explorer for that, but they changed their license. The GPL version is now available as Adito (http://sourceforge.net/projects/adito/)

Good luck,
Freerk

[mitanc]

Thanks for the tips and suggestions guys! The one thing I love about Linux is once its running I can basically SSH in and tinker with it to get just about anything working. This means even though I have a business to run, I have the ability to come home at night and setup things which I normally would wait for an IT professional to do or just not do at all. This brings on maximum efficiency!

I think I have all the tools I need to get corporate IT functionality at a fraction of the cost and bringing my business to the next level.

After everything I read it seems I can do much more than I have been doing, the only drawback which I have always had with linux has been the enabling of print server with my linux box. I currently have a color laser epon printer (I don't know the model number off hand) but if I can get that to work I am basically set.

I am also thinking about setting up RAID for my new server, any tips on hardware that anyone has experience with. I am running a company in China, and I am not Chinese. This means there's a huge communication problem and the main thing I don't want to happen is get hardware which doesn't work off the bat.

Thanks for your help again!