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Question

New to Linux and having issues

Nov 10, 2011 12:56AM PST

First of all, let me be clear ~ although I am the IT person for my agency, I am in no way a network administrator or specialist. I take care of what I can and we contract out the rest. So, when our old Windows server died a few weeks ago, we called in the experts. They talked me into getting a Linux box to replace it. It's a decision I'm beginning to regret. We've had nothing but issues ever since (permissions issues, Outlook corrupting attachments, etc. ~ I'll spare you the details) and I'm looking for some advice on getting whatever is going on resolved once and for all. So, I'm hoping some of you here can help guide me a bit. The latest issue is that in the month that we've had the server, I've had 3 users whose profiles have become corrupted. One day they can log in no problem, the next day, Windows just hangs at 'Loading personal settings' and will not log them in. Other users can log in just fine on those machines.

At first, I was excited to get to know Linux and was looking forward to learning something new. But I'm beginning to wish I had our Windows server back.

Any help is appreciated.

Samba is being used on the server and clients are all XP Pro SP3.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Experts
Nov 10, 2011 3:56AM PST

" we called in the experts"

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Experts
Nov 10, 2011 4:16AM PST

Ahh...yes. The experts. They're not doing too much, other than being able to help determine what's not causing it. At first they were looking into problems with the network switch, etc. refusing to admit that it could be the server. Now they are reluctantly admitting that it might be the cause, but at this point, it's going to be 3 more days before they can get back out here to look at things again. I'm tired of waiting. We could call in someone else, but we are a small non-profit and our funds are already being stretched to the limit. Any new expenditure, even just a few hundred dollars, is going to hurt.

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What OS are you using?
Nov 17, 2011 3:44AM PST

Most Linux OSs has Servers Application and Services others does not.

For example, Mandriva offers a Server Edition (Mandriva Enterprise 5.2)
http://store.mandriva.com/product_info.php?products_id=433&currency=EUR

However is a paid version and they provide Tech Support. Personally, I have not dealt with the Server side of the Distro but I read on most cases that is really good.

In the world of Linux in a nutshell.

Is Free like License Free, however, you can download the distro and fiddle with it. But like any business in the world; the Linux community survive by providing a Service like any Repairman would do. Some people are good some are bad. Or just pay the fee and let the developers of the distro help you.

If you look on the website, they sell the updates per year than Seat Lic / Node Lic.

Depending on what kind of server you want to have you can get by by using a desktop distro. I had an FTP server based on a Desktop and used Webmin to remote manage the server.

The Problem with MS is the server lic is way too expensive and comes bundle with few Per Seat / Per Node and you have to buy additional and we all know that cost more $$$

I have not used Office and a Linux Mail Server so I have no comment on that matter. All I can say is about Thunderbird with Webmail.

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Answer
Died?
Nov 12, 2011 8:00AM PST

<span id="INSERTION_MARKER">What hardware or software? And I don't understand why someone has told you to move to Linux when you're accustomed to Windows...