Likewise Software: Ubuntu Meets Microsoft Active Directory
Likewise Software is well-known for integrating Linux, Unix and Mac OS X with Microsoft Active Directory networks. But now Likewise Software is taking steps to specifically embrace Ubuntu users and Canonical customers. Here’s the scoop.
As of January 2009, roughly 20,000 organizations used Likewise’s software to integrate Linux, Unix and Apple Macintoshes with Microsoft’s Active Directory. But in September 2009, Likewise will take steps to educate the Ubuntu crowd by hosting a webinar specifically designed for Ubuntu users and administrators.
UPDATED AUGUST 27, 12:49 p.m. eastern: Please note that the webinar link above has been updated. Likewise revised the link to ensure Linux/open source users could be accommodated on the webcast.
I don’t typically blog about vendor-hosted webcasts. But in this case, I think Likewise is making news by specifically reaching out to the Ubuntu community — and to Windows administrators who may need to manage Ubuntu systems.
Supporting the Big Three
Admittedly, Likewise isn’t playing favorites in the Linux market. Likewise’s software ships as part of Novell’s SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11. Plus, Likewise was among the initial members of the Open Source Channel Alliance — which Red Hat and Synnex launched to train roughly 15,000 Synnex partners on open source solutions.
Still, Ubuntu seems to have popped up on Likewise’s radar. The forthcoming September 2009 webinar proves it.
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Quote from Likewise webinar site:
“System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer
Note: It appears that this computer does not meet the system requirements. At the time of the Webinar, please use a computer that does.”
How ironic!
Ain’t really going to impress Ubuntu users if the webinar only supports Windows and Mac users.
Time to rethink Likewise.
Infwonder, Matt: Ouch. Seems like you caught Likewise in a goof. I should have checked the webinar system support as well.
I am not understanding why this is not something that is built into Ubuntu by default. This is a very important piece of the puzzle that is run by a third party company that may support it into the future or not (Not sure how they would make money off it)
Is it open source?
Ty:
An open client is in Universe already.
http://www.likewise.com/products/likewise_open/comparing_enterprise_and_open.php
No it is NOT opensource! We do not need more of this kind of sort of open source support for enterprise in our linux environments. If we continue to adopt these lesser than standards we will never have the feature set we need to compete with proper Enterprise software packages. Likewise open will only /kind/ of make your linux cooperate with active directory. I use Samba+LDAP for my Domain Controllers, and I use PAM modules to connect to the domain just fine. I suggest you all do the same. When Samba 4 comes out we’ll have much less need of crap like Likewise Quote-Open-Endquote.
I think the point is that the functionality to join and function in an enterprise environment should be a standard part of the desktop, with a full GUI for configuring it. This should go for Active Directory, NIS, NIS+ and LDAP. I should have the ability at or after install, to setup and configure some sort of centralized authentication mechanism.
(Side note: Additionally, when are we going to see Nautilus support NFS shares? It supports CIFS out of the box….)
The functionality has been built in to Linux for a long time already – it’s called winbind. All Likewise is doing is putting a pretty front-end on configuring winbind! Guarantee the only people paying for this are admins that don’t know what a shell is!
@ Boris: note I said that this should be a standard part of the *desktop*, more advanced users know that it can be done with packages available in the disto, but many people don’t know about samba/winbind/nis/ldap, etc. I’ve got my own systems hooked up to an ldap backed samba domain which both Linux (ldap) and Windows (samba/winbind) authenticate to. However, the GUI tools need to be there in order to expose and simplify this functionality to the admins coming from the windows world. That said, it appears that Likewise enterprise provides more than the standard open source tools provide, (such as the windows MMC snapins.)
Lovely, these Likewise idiots have cancelled the webinar; I click on the link and it says it is over. Way to tick off the Ubuntu community – kill the webinar before it even happens.
Hi folks: Stay tuned. Likewise is doing a NEW webinar that will support people who want to log in from Ubuntu/Firefox. So the original log in is canceled, but a new log-in is coming. Stay tuned.
UPDATE: Likewise updated the webinar link. If you’d like to register/attend you need to use the following registration link: USE THIS ONE.
Joe Panettieri
Editorial Director
WorksWithU
hey folks, Luke here from Likewise. We definitely goofed with the first webinar invite–and switched to a service that should allow anyone and everyone to participate. Here is a new link, we hope you can make it!
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