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You can do this with an Ubuntu Samba server. ssh to the box and setup the share by editing the smb.conf file. If Samba is setup as a domain controller the default location for login scrips is /home/samba/netlogon.

For a small work groups we just use Samba in workgroup mode (security = user) and have the Windows clients run a “Start>Programs>Startup script” which maps the drives. The script is read from the Samba server. Also with Samba you don’t have to set up a domain to have Windows clients automatically download printer drivers.

I don’t think Ubuntu will come up with a small business server soon. However there is a project called ebox that does allow you to configure various parts of the small business server. Check it out at

http://ebox-platform.com/

It works on Ubuntu.

However, if you’re not tied to Ubuntu I would suggest a project that looks better calld SME server which is based on CentOS.

http://wiki.contribs.org/Main_Page

I’d love to have something like this for Ubuntu.

I haven’t tried either project so you will have to see which one works better for you. Personally I think SME Server is the better option at the moment.

A solution is needed for a small business server. The current Ubuntu Server Edition is not enough, it is good for running websites/etc, but not for business needs.

Ubuntu “Enterprise Edition”?
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/13859/

I am not a Windows fan but I must say it’s cool to be able to remote into a server, share a folder or drive, set a users or groups script and then the user maps that share the next time they log in. I know, I know, I could do that with NFS and NIS but both are slow, insecure and a pain in the a** to set up on a current linux server.

Setting up AD, adding PC’s to the domain, setting group policies, making scripts and sharing and mapping drives in Windows is what the whole world is used to. If you could do that with something like Ubuntu and it was as easy.. A lot of people would dump Windows in favor of Ubuntu. (If the price was low)

Xandros has this in Bridgeways, but at 400 per server that is still too pricey. And adding to that the fact that most people can just bum a copy of Windows server and use it means no one is going to pay 400 per server. Maybe 200. (Maybe)

The thing here is that Apple server can do with Apple machines what Windows server can do with Windows machines. Apple is using all Open Source software at the core. (Open Ldap, Samba etc) All they did was work out the bugs and added great user interfaces to it. Once you have your Apple server up you have directory services, group policies, software management, patch management etc. You can add Windows XP machines to an Apple server domain no problem. (Not sure about Vista) You don’t get group policies on the Windows machines but you can map drives etc. Apple hardware is what kills the Apple server though. Can’t use it without Apple hardware.

Ubuntu should look at the Apple server, Xandros and also Windows server and make something similar that is scalable from small to large businesses.