I have to prepare for migration of our network(currentky Windows 2000,only Microsoft -AD, VS.net, MS SQL, Exchange,ISA,Sharepoint etc.)to a new Windows 2003 Server domian. After the migration,another network (consisting of mixed Unix,Linux,and Microsoft clients,must be integrated into my new 2003 network.
My first problem is that I have very limited information at this time about which technologies will be more common.
My second problem is that I don?t have much experience in the *nix environment.
I need a place to start, any recommendations, and some questions answered.
More information (the bits I have at the moment):
– At the moment I plan for 5 sites with 40 users in total.
– The 40 users might grow to 300 before the end of the year.
– Microsoft SQL server HAVE TO run at all sites.
– I will be doing the administration from a single point (Desktop, Firewall, VPN, eMail, Antivirus etc).
– A redundant VPN solution using Microsoft Internet and Acceleration Server to join all sites is already in place.
– Initially we will be going with Active Directory.(Almost all of the the initial 40 users are already WinXP, Win2K Clients)
– Let?s assume that at the end of the year there will be 50% *nix clients, and 50% MS clients.
Some Questions to start with:
– What will be my biggest concern in a situation like this? (Apart from the fact that the deadline is in less than a month)
– Should or shouldn?t I go with Active Directory from the start?
– What are the alternatives to AD as a directory in such an environment, and do I loose or win if I go with another directory?
– Which is better in a 50/50 situation: getting the *nix clients to work nicely on a MS environment, or getting the MS clients to work nicely on a *nix environment?
PS: Please recommend the best solutions / practices, or share some experiences. Please don?t criticize either Microsoft or *nix products because of your own preferences.
Thank you
Werner Doubell
