Re: [tlug] Changing a file server from XP to Ubuntu

[Marco Toldo <marcoxtoldo@example.com>]

Hi,

I think the simplest way to solve your problem is to run the file
server on the Linux machine with samba.

I don't have much confidence with windows shared drives but I think
there shouldn't be any interoperability issue, as windows machines
should keep seeing the file server as a windows-based one.

Regards

Marco


2010/3/19, Dave M G <dave@example.com>:
> TLUG,
>
> I've got a situation where there's a small business that has an Windows
> XP machine as a file server. It's just a file server, nothing else.
>
> I go in every month and check to make sure that their files are backed
> up. I also help them out when they get a virus or have a problem with
> their email or whatever.
>
> The thing is, every time I go to check on the filer server, when I log
> in, XP wants to do all sorts of updating and annoying things. Plus, I'm
> not confident the automated scheduled back up is doing it's job.
>
> What I wanted to do is change the file server to a Linux machine. I know
> that it's not a big deal in principle. It's just a file server on a
> local network, and it should be more stable and secure, and have no
> problem making files available to a bunch of Windows machines.
>
> All the important files are backed up on an external hard drive, so I
> can easily wipe the XP machine and install Ubuntu.
>
> The trick is whether or not I can make the file server available on the
> network in such a way that I don't have to make any changes on the rest
> of the office machines.
>
> I think that's the thing that will make a difference on whether or not
> they will allow me to make the change. If I say I'm going to have to
> tinker with every machine, they'll get nervous. If I can say I'm just
> going to improve the file server and leave everything else as is,
> they'll have no problem with it.
>
> If I understand correctly, each Windows machine in the office sees the
> file server as a Windows Share drive. I'm a little hazy in my memory
> about Windows Shared drives, but I think they need a password to access it.
>
> Do you think I can get Linux to take over the position of the file
> server and set up a shared drive that all the Windows machines will see
> without knowing that it isn't the same shared drive it's always been?
>
> If anyone has any tips on how I could do this, I'd really appreciate it.
>
> --
> Dave M G
>
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