Linux server as Windows' Domain Controller for Active Directory services.

Good morning,

I am being to implement a new project but we haven't yet the specs for the server room for that I have not a server where to setup all the necessary for the DC and AD.

I see on the Web several tutorial to setup a Linux distro via Samba4 as Windows' Domain Controller with Active Directory services. Does it is possible to have an explanation how to implement it?

The idea is... after the required time to have it on, to transfer directly to the final Windows Server 2012 R2 all the current DC and set that one a BDC.

Thanks!

I'm not into servers but have heard a lot of praise about Zentyal (I think it has some migration scripts) and ClearOs to implement that kind of setup.

Other GNU/Linux distribuitions focused on AD/DC are TurnKey Domain Controller, Uninvention Corporate Server and SME Server, but most GNU/Linux Server distros, with more or less work, should serve as well (CentOS, Ubuntu Server, etc.)

Some examples/tutorials on how to set it up:

Tecmint - Zentyal implementation | Zentyal Wiki | Videos

Jim Shaver - Setting up an Active Directory Domain Controller using Samba 4 on Ubuntu 14.04

Arch Linu Wiki - Samba 4 Active Directory domain controller

Hope it helps in some way.

I saw the tip for Univention Corporate Server (UCS). I actually work for UCS and know from experience that this software includes very good Active Directory services to work as a Windows Domain Controller. It includes the latest Samba 4 update and also authentication via OpenLDAP and Kerberosand. You can use UCS for free and can download it at:

https://www.univention.com/downloads/

Comprehensive documentation is available at: https://www.univention.com/products/documentation/ and if you've got questions, refer to our forum at: http://forum.univention.de/ We always love to hear your feedback!

Hi,

Just to let everyone interested in UCS know. We published UCS 4.1-1 on Feb 16, 2016. It includes many improvements in terms of usability, performance and security as well as some enhancements and, of course, bug fixes. We updated, for example, the Linux kernel and the Samba software which now brings even better compatibility with Active Directory and improved, among others, the DRS replication. More details on all the changes in the Univention blog.

Hi,

Just to let everyone interested in UCS know. We published UCS 4.1-1 on Feb 16, 2016. It includes many improvements in terms of usability, performance and security as well as some enhancements and, of course, bug fixes. We updated, for example, the Linux kernel and the Samba software which now brings even better compatibility with Active Directory and improved, among others, the DRS replication. More details on all the changes in the Univention blog.

Maba:

Always nice to see the vendor jumping in here.  Thanks.

 

Hi,

Just to let everyone interested in UCS know. We published UCS 4.1-1 on Feb 16, 2016. It includes many improvements in terms of usability, performance and security as well as some enhancements and, of course, bug fixes. We updated, for example, the Linux kernel and the Samba software which now brings even better compatibility with Active Directory and improved, among others, the DRS replication. More details on all the changes in the Univention blog.

Maba:

Always nice to see the vendor jumping in here.  Thanks.

 

Thank you all for the good feedback! Since we experienced growing interest among your readers, check, if you like, our blog where our Head of Development provides insights into UCS' development for 2016. Focus on usability, Debian 8 (Jessie), management of hybrid, heterogeneous environments, app management, growth of Docker-based apps incl. proprietary ones such as Office 365 and Google Apps for Work.

More at: UCS Roadmap 2016

Some good news on UCS regarding its Active Directory interoperability. We released UCS 4.1-2 yesterday and it includes improvements of the Active Directory Connector which now now uses the standard Active Directory interfaces for the synchronization of password hashes. Thanks to this, there’s no need any more for the administrator to install and maintain the password synchronization service on the Windows side. By the way, we've got also new connectors to Office 365 and Google Apps for Work. More on this in the Univention blog.
 

On August 9 UCS 4.1-3 was released. In addition to security/errata updates and usability improvements, we improved a lot as to the Univention App Center such as integration of Docker-based apps etc. More on this release in the Univention blog.

Just to let people know that UCS' 4.2 first milestone with pre-release version of the upcoming Samba 4.6 came out yesterday. It also includes pre-release version of the latest Linux kernel 4.9 for higher performance and among others a change from Debian basis Wheezy to latest Jessie. More in our blog. Thanks!

Hi,

Everyone who likes to read a detailed, honest review of Univention Corporate Server, which is now available in version 4.2, I recommend to go to www.itsfoss.com

They've recently published it. It's worth reading!

Hi,

Everyone who likes to read a detailed, honest review of Univention Corporate Server, which is now available in version 4.2, I recommend to go to www.itsfoss.com

They've recently published it. It's worth reading!

There's a second interesting article on It's FOSS. A tutorial if you like to use UCS as a home server https://itsfoss.com/univention-corporate-server-home-server/