38.6. Samba Server in the Network with Active Directory

If you run Linux servers and Windows servers together, you can build two independent authentication systems and networks or connect servers to one network with one central authentication system. Because Samba can cooperate with an active directory domain, you can join your SUSE Linux Enterprise Server to Active Directory (AD).

Join an existing AD domain during installation or by later activating SMB user authentication with YaST in the installed system. Domain join during installation is covered in Section 3.10.7.5, “Configuring the Host as a Windows Domain Member”.

To join an AD domain in a running system, proceed as follows:

  1. Log in as root and start YaST.

  2. Start Network Services+Windows Domain Membership.

  3. Enter the domain to join at Domain or Workgroup in the Windows Domain Membership screen. Alternately, use Browse to get a list of all available domains and select one.

    Figure 38.1. Determining Windows Domain Membership

    Determining Windows Domain Membership
  4. Check Also Use SMB Information for Linux Authentication to use the SMB source for Linux authentication on your SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.

  5. Click Finish and confirm the domain join when prompted for it.

  6. Provide the password for the Windows Administrator on the AD server and click OK.

    Figure 38.2. Providing Administrator Credentials

    Providing Administrator Credentials

    Your server is now set up to pull in all authentication data from the Active Directory domain controller.