Systems Management Server Equivalent for Linux?

em_tasol asks: "While tearing my hair out trying to manage an expanding network and keep the 'Standard' in 'Standard Operating Environment', someone suggested we use Microsoft's Systems Management Server for many tasks that we currently run around doing manually. We are using a Linux-based Samba PDC at the moment, and installing SMS would require a total infrastructure rethink, because it appears to require a Windows PDC to install itself and SQL Server. Does anyone know how I might put something together in the Linux environment that will be compatible with a Samba NT4 domain environment that will perform the same sort of functions as SMS?"

Comments

Re:SMS? Login script?

[forsetti]

I think you'll find software distribution involves more than patches and updates. Installation of any piece of software (say, Office, or a custom app) across thousands of desktops by hand is a nightmare. There are three options:
1 - Package deployment software
2 - Remote app access (X or Terminal Services/Citrix)
3 - Lotsa IT monkeys running around with CDs.

1 is usually expensive and difficult.
2 is expensive (for Windows Apps) but easy to maintain
3 is pretty cool to watch, but ineffecient (hence, more expensive)

How would you handle software distribution? Log-in scripts? Central App store doesn't usually work -- have you tried concurrent access to the same app? Don't forget users with Roaming profiles -- does an app get installed once per machine or once per user?