Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Samba Success in the Enterprise?

Posted by Cliff on from the asking-for-your-experiences dept.

gunnk asks: "We've deployed a Samba server here to replace some aging Novell Netware boxes. It works great: fast, secure, stable. However, we have one VIP that feels that Samba is 'amateur' software and that we should be buying Windows servers. I've been searching with little success for large Samba deployments in Enterprise environments. Anyone out there care to share stories of places that are happily running large Samba installations for their file servers? Or not so happy, for that matter — better to be informed!"

9 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. Has your VIP ever heard of a little company... by thewiz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    called Google?

    Probably not.

    --
    If "disco" means "I learn" in Latin, does "discothèque" mean "I learn technology"?
  2. It might help by Sciros · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can imagine samba making the workplace feel a little more-upbeat, what with the 1..a-2..3..a-4 rhythm that makes you want to shake that booty. It can definitely keep folks awake at their workstations, which would boost productivity. Plus it would give everything a more Brazilian feel, which will help people forget that in fact outside it's all icy and cold. So, yes, I could definitely see samba being successful in enterprise.

    Paso Doble not so much. Spanish Gypsy can get quite annoying after a while.

    --
    I like basketball!!1!
  3. We serve about 1000 computers with it by caseih · · Score: 5, Informative

    I have several samba servers that serve 3000 users and almost 1000 computers, from Windows 98 to XP. It works well and only ever gives us problems when LDAP (OpenLDAP is tempermental) has a problem. We've used Samba since the 2.2 days in production. We're looking forward to Samba 4 to get ActiveDirectory-style domains. NT domains work fine, but are clunky. Only our lab machines are on a domain. The rest of the machines either just have local accounts with network drives mapped, or have pGina logins that map the drives for the user.

    For many enterprises, Samba isn't enough. They require the management aspects of ActiveDirectory. Fortunately Samba 4 will do all that. Plus I have yet to integrate Vista into our system. Promises to be a nightmare I think.

    This stigma your VP has is quite common, and no amount of evidence or arguing will change his mind, likely. Stubborn ignorance. The world is slowly changing, but I think it's as the truly ignorant people die off.

  4. Just ask Novell...... by Lxy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We've deployed a Samba server here to replace some aging Novell Netware boxes

    So at some point, this VIP probably trusted Novell. Since Novell is putting all it's effort into OES linux (which ships with Samba, not to mention employed Jeremy Allison for awhile), I bet they'd have an opinion on the subject.

    --

    There is no reasonable defense against an idiot with an agenda
    :wq
  5. It just works. by CDarklock · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Samba is every bit as good as anything else for running a file server, and if you're setting your file servers up correctly, nobody will know or care what they're running. They either work or they don't.

    I would still recommend that you use Windows, because I'm at Microsoft. We like people to use Windows. You should use Windows more often. You should install it on everything. I'd be happy to explain how you could do the same things you already do with more Windows licenses. But it's sort of your job to think about what's best for your company, not ours.

    --
    Microsoft cheerleader, blue flag waving, you got a problem with that?
  6. We use it too...On the Enterprise by nebaz · · Score: 5, Funny

    I hear they use it on the Excelsior as well. It's a great little secret weapon, let's hope the Klingons don't get it.

    --
    Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds.There upon the rainbow is the answer to a neverending story
  7. Enterprise scale deployment by SWood · · Score: 5, Informative

    We have a project inside IBM called the Global Storage Architecture that provides enterprise file system service. There are currently over 95K users on GSA with over 143TB of used space, spread across 39 installations on 5 continents.

    There are several different ways to connect to GSA File depending on the platform and application, but Samba is used for connecting the Windows clients, of which there are tens of thousands. In addition to general office productivity, many of these clients are doing hardware design and software development.

    You can read an account of GSA File in appendix B of the Implementing NFSv4 in the Enterprise: Planning and Migration Strategies Redbook. The appendix is oriented toward the NFS aspects of the service, but you can still get a good idea of what is going on.

    http://publib-b.boulder.ibm.com/abstracts/sg246657 .html

  8. Re:Sure, we use it by fhage · · Score: 5, Funny
    Don't listen to Linux zealots. Samba will bankrupt your company. Best to purchase lots of new MS servers.

    -with love,

    your competitors.

  9. Re:Even better by mrsbrisby · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Just say:

    ``That's why IBM and Google are big and profitable. Because they aren't run by you.''

    It'll either get you fired or promoted. I wouldn't want to work for that asshole either- no halfway decent manager is ever going to make you waste time and money challenging heresay.