Member Avatar for rudolph23

Hey there everyone! So, I am trying to implement a home network and would like it to run on either a Debian or Ubuntu server possibly virtualized with both on a XenServer.

Anyways, my question is, would there be a way to create a domain like AD without having to use any Microsoft Products? I assume LDAP would be implemented somehow, but from what I've read it doesn't acutally do permissions as much as a way for AD and Unix machines to communicate (please correct me if I'm wrong.)

My home network has my box (Ubuntu) as well as another PC with Windows 7 and an XP machine.

I'm doing this more as a project to put on future resumes and to just say I did it.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

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Short summary and practical options for an "AD-like" home domain on Debian/Ubuntu (VMs on XenServer)

Yes — you can run a Windows-domain-style environment without Microsoft server OSes. and pointed toward Samba, which is the easiest path if you want Windows machines to join a domain exactly like they would an AD domain. Debian/Ubuntu packaging and docs make Samba 4 usable as an Active Directory–compatible domain controller. (wiki.debian.org)

How the choices compare

  • Samba 4 (recommended for Windows clients): implements the AD protocols (LDAP access, Kerberos KDC, DNS records and Group Policy support) so Windows 7/XP Professional and later can join and authenticate against it. For a small home lab this is the quickest way to get a real domain experience; run Samba as a dedicated AD DC VM and put file shares on a separate member server if you need normal file-serving. (learn.microsoft.com)
  • OpenLDAP (what mentioned): is an LDAP directory server. LDAP is the directory/protocol; it does not, by itself, provide Kerberos-based single sign-on, Group Policy objects, DNS/KDC services, or the domain-join workflow — you can assemble those (MIT Kerberos or Heimdal, DNS, management tooling), but it is more work. Use OpenLDAP + Kerberos + SSSD/realmd only if you want to build the pieces yourself. (openldap.net)
  • FreeIPA (Linux-first alternative): integrates LDAP, Kerberos, DNS and host/user management out of the box and is a good choice for a primarily Linux environment; FreeIPA can also create trusts with AD if you later need Windows-centric features. (freeipa.org)

Quick home-lab checklist (minimum viable setup)

  1. Decide: Samba 4 AD DC (best for Windows clients) or FreeIPA (best for Linux-centric). (wiki.debian.org)
  2. VM networking: attach DC VM to bridged network so clients can reach it.
  3. DNS: point client DNS to the DC so SRV lookups resolve domain controllers. (Windows domain joins rely on DNS SRV records.) (learn.microsoft.com)
  4. Time sync: configure NTP/chrony on all hosts (Kerberos fails if clocks differ by more than a few minutes). (web.mit.edu)
  5. Windows clients: make sure the client edition supports domain join (Home editions cannot join a domain). Then join the domain via the usual System Properties / Network ID workflow. (learn.microsoft.com)
  6. Linux clients: use realmd or SSSD to join and get local NSS/PAM integration rather than hand-editing nsswitch. (freedesktop.org)

Troubleshooting pointers

  • DNS is the number-one problem: if clients cannot locate the DC SRV records, domain join fails.
  • Time skew is the second: verify NTP and test with Kerberos tools. (web.mit.edu)
  • If you try Samba AD DC + file shares and see strange UID/GID/ACL problems, move shares to a separate Samba member (simpler and less error-prone). (This is a common caveat in AD/DC deployments.) (jmedin1965.github.io)

If the goal is a resume-friendly project: deploy a small Samba AD DC VM, provision a domain, join your Windows 7/XP (Professional) clients, add a Linux VM as a domain member, demonstrate user logins, and show a simple Group Policy and a domain share on a separate member server. The links above contain step-by-step docs for each component.

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Member Avatar for DoRight

Sounds like you need to install SAMBA.
LDAP permits authentication unto/from a Linux box, I am not sure if one can use it to replace an AD domain.

Edited by DoRight because: Got the link wrong
Member Avatar for rubberman

OpenLDAB for Linux will work well with AD, with some caveates. For the most part, it works. Go to http://www.openldap.org/ for more information.

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