How to make a CentOS linux server for Active Directory

Question

I have a linux server at my home with CentOS and I would like to make it a Domain Controller for Active Directory.

Is there a way to make it?

I don't wanna use Windows Server 2008 R2 'cause it's Windows and I need some linux-only tools. Or I can make a virtual machine in linux to run WS2K8. If I understand how in VMware vSphere!

Solution

You can achieve what you want installing samba on your server and configuring it to acting as a Domain Controller, but keep in mind that though a domain controller configuration can be achieved with a simple configuration using the new tdbsam password backend, this type of configuration is good for small offices, but has limited scalability (cannot be replicated), and performance can be expected to fall as the size and complexity of the domain increases.

Take a look at this tutorial that explains well how to proceed to setup samba as Domain Controller on CentOS.

Comments

[Sven]

Why do you need to use Linux only software with an AD DC? Also, since this is clearly about your home environment, this question is OT here, please see our FAQ.

[Frederick Marcoux]

It's for my home, but my office is at my home, there's why. But I need Linux only tools for other thing like VMs but I really need AD DC for my 7 computers, and the 8 others of my office and home, merged.

[notWhoIam]

So build an AD server, and join the CentOS box as a member server. If you need AD, you need AD, not a beta-re-implementation on an unsupported OS>

[Frederick Marcoux]

@jscott LOL, but CentOS support member-server level ofr AD ? I didn't know but thanks! (Post it as an answer.)

[uSlackr]

I run Windows 2008 r2 inside wirtualbox on my home network. Works like a champ.