Customer Reviews

Windows and LinuxIntegration: Hands-on Solutions for a Mixed Environment

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I seldom come across books that are not only very comprehensive but are very cutting edge up to date as well. What I like about the style is that they assume that you are knowledgeable and resourceful, and thus not padded with the concept theory of [insert technology here]. Yet, there's enough strategically placed summaries of technologies where needed, for example, PAM and NSS overview before delving into configuration of them. I found this approach very refreshing.

For interoperability for authentication and single-sign-on solutions specifically, this book covers both NIS and LDAP/Kerberos (Active Directory) solutions. It has information and solutions for both directions, i.e. windows to linux and linux to windows. A lot of coverage on windbind magic, but also some stuff about other solutions like MS SFU, PADL's NSS and PAM modules and some notes on Vintela and Centrify. These sections are really good, but I still had some questions (that I wish were spelled out or expanded upon), such as: Does winbind need PDC or can it directly hook into Active Directory w/o being in mixed mode?

Other topics include file/print sharing, e-mail integration (postfix and exchange), application compatibility, network interoperability (like VPN), and web interoperabiity including stuff on .Net and Mono project. All of those chapters are really well developed, with possible exception of Chapter 9: Windows and Linux Network Interoperability. For this particular chapter, I wish there could have been coverage of (1) OpenVPN, which has nice GUI application on Windows, (2) IPSec transport mode using KAME/racoon and/or OpenSWAN with MS IPSec security policies, and (3) IPSec tunnel mode with L2TP.

Another quick thing to mention is that they have a quick chapter to ease you into Linux using Fedora Core and Webmin, and use webmin throughout the book. I thought this was a great approach, as it'll allow you to delve deeper into the technologies when you have the opportunity, but yet keep it simple so that you can get stuff going immediately. (( Slightly off topic, one freeware tool came out just after this book came out is Likewise open agent, which might also help ease into Linux administration as well )).

In conclusion, this is a treasure trove of information. If you have any need to use both Linux and Windows environments, I wouldn't pass up this book.

I've been through a lot of books on using Linux and using Windows, but they come up empty when it comes to integrating the two environments.

I've also read books on the individual components used in this book, but when I get to the sections on integration I run into theory and not practice.

This book covers practice with just the right amount of theory so you know what you are doing. It has step by step instructions that lead you through to a working solution. If you want to be able to deploy both Windows and Linux in a business environment, this is the first book you should buy. Top notch.

So far, this book has been very informative and helpful. The authors do a good job of telling you just what you need to know -- nothing more, nothing less.

However, I have run into a problem. I want to use Windows 2003 R2 as my Windows platform (besides, if you're going to download demo software from Microsoft, this is the version they'll give you!), and I want my Linux clients to authenticate to Active Directory, without using WinBind. This book runs through the process for accomplishing this using SFU 3.x and pre-R2 Windows 2003 Server. This seems fine, because the book states "not to worry" and says that there is a web appendix online at the book's website which takes you through the steps if you are using R2 and Identity Management Services for Unix.

Unfortunately, on the website, there's simply a "Coming Soon!" statement when you click the web appendix link. This feels like a bait and switch, really, because Microsoft has made schema changes in the move from SFU 3.x to ID Services for Unix, and you can't modify your ldap.conf file appropriately without knowing what schema names to map to. That this book was published in 2005, but the web appendix has yet to appear doesn't seem promising.

So, essentially, this book is already obsolete (at least with respect to Linux client authentication to AD). And I have yet to find online documentation anywhere that tells me plainly what schema objects have changed names (and to what!) in moving to R2. So you'll find yourself in a dead end if you buy this book hoping to accomplish this goal.

Given that this book explicitly states that it will provide information on authenticating Linux clients to Windows 2003 R2 servers running Identity Management Services for Unix, yet it fails to do so, is enough of a reason to rate this book only 2 stars.

This is a good supplement to those who own 'Linux for Windows Administrators'. My only complaint is that it tends to rely on GUIs or webmin for some configuration (leaving out what they are configuring). If you're using RHEL or Fedora, you're in good shape but if you're using another Linux OS, you're left in the dark. Other than that, it is a wonderful reference and was invaulable.

I have been looking for a book on this topic for years. If you need to integrate Active Director and Linux...this is "the book". At this time, it is a little dated (Linux moves quick), but it is invaluable, still.

This book is awesome. Most books waste too much print giving you all the theories, wherefores, why, and very little step-by-step how-to. This book gives you all the how-to and enough theory to go with it to make it understandable and usable. I just used it to do an integration with a Windows 2003 R2 network with IBM ClearCase 7 servers running on RH Linux 4 and other RH clients. I couldn't have done it without this book and I have several others on the subject but from a Windows point-of-view. Be sure to visit the author's web page for the 2003 R2 updated info and other minor corrections and even downloadable scripts that are in some of the exercises. It saves typing.

This is an amazing book. It takes you though all the various permutations of Windows and Linux interoprerability. It pulls no punches on the good and bad points of each system.

The fact that Samba/Linux and/or Windows can operate in many different contexts in a network is assumed, and each scenario is covered in great detail. The many and varied authentication techniques are the focus of the book (as they're by far the most complex pieces, and the lynchpin for any integration), but file and print sharing gets covered, as does IIS vs. Apache, ASPs, and so on.

This is a book written by people who've had to learn their lessons the hard way. They do what IT professionals need to do (integration to make "things" work) and they mention the things professionals need to know (the corner cases and exceptions to the rules). Brilliant.

Its simply gr8! I am still reading the book, its very helpful for those who want to implement windows+linux environment.

This book should be retired. First published in 2005, the book is now almost 4 years old.

The chapters on webmin, a web-based Linux management tool, were a bit absurd. As if any enterprise would use webmin to manage their enterprise servers.

Book is missing some key concepts regarding Active Directory and integration with Kerberos realms.

Am very disappointed with the book.