NethServer as replacement for my AD/Domain services?

[elementalwindx (Joe Smith)]

I’m looking for a MS replacement for my AD/Domain services + Exchange services.

It appears to me that nethserver is completely free with the choice to pay for support. However the one thing I’m not sure of, is that when I install nethserver completely free, will I be able to keep it up to date to the latest version without a complete wipe and reinstall?

Thanks!

[alefattorini (Alessio Fattorini)]

Hi Joe, welcome here!
Take a look at those links and let me know your doubts

Stability of Nethserver as Active Directory

Hello nethserver community, I am in process of deploying an active directory like infrastructure for single sign on and/or centralized management of user credentials. This is for a Windows/Linux mix environment where users will need mapped drives, some level of ACLs much like windows group policy etc. I tried my hands on nethserver as active directory provider but had lot of issues to even setup a test environment. Now I am planning to give another go. Do you as community have any experience …

NethServer as an alternative to the Windows Small Business Server

Ehi folks, I just read this discussion on spicework and I’d like to gather your thoughts on that. My plan is writing a blog post wrapping up your feedback What are we missing? Where are we competitive? Is is a real alternative for windows administrators? Tagging here some experts @planet_jeroen @mansoor.tariq @iglqut @fausp @Kyle_Hayes @chrisg @Hunv @GG_jr @flatspin

Using NethServer only as Active Directory DC for 250 users

Hi guys I was testing Neth server approximately 1 year ago and found it very simple regarding the initial config. Win machines seamlessly join the AD domain. Worked with RSAT tools. Now I am at the crossroads. I have an organization with 250 users and we only need a domain controller for the authorization, simple network drive mapping for users, access to shares on the NAS and similar. Nothing else. I’m interested in the peoples opinion on using neth server for this role. Do you have some simil…

[davidep (Davide Principi)]

when I install nethserver completely free, will I be able to keep it up to date to the latest version without a complete wipe and reinstall?

Yes, you get fresh rpms from upstream repositories (CentOS, EPEL) and NS ones. No reinstall required.

Please see also

Nethserver versions - LTS or regular support patching

Hello, I’m looking through the forums/wiki docs on the types of support/versions netserver has. I know the latest version 6.8 is stable and the new version 7 is still in beta. What I’d like to understand is does nethserver have an LTS version (supported for 3-5 years maybe) and a regular version (supported for less than 3 years)? What are the rules around patch support for each version of nextcloud. I’m just getting into nextcloud to understand it and I’ve downloaded the 6.8 .iso to install …

And the linked #faq

What do you mean with "rolling release"?

Hello, Can you define better what do you mean with “rolling release”? Before yesterday with the hangout, I was totally ignoring this side of Nethserver. I know the concept with Archlinux and Gentoo, but I’m affraid of this on a server… It’s mean that a new version of a package (ie shorewall ), the package come in the repository as soon as possible? At the same time, there’s the version number 6.5, 6.6, 6.7 and the future 7.1. So I`m a little confuse…

[saitobenkei]

will I be able to keep it up to date to the latest version without a complete wipe and reinstall?

AFAIK, You will have to reinstall only when change the major version:

Examples:
If you update form Nethserver NG 6.7 to Nethserver NG 6.8 then Nethserver NG 6.9 you haven’t to reinstall
If you update from Nethserver NG 6.9 to Nethserver NG 7.4 you have to reinstall