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The major benefits of Samba are stability, scalability, reliability, freedom from licensing fees; and a shorter time between problem identification and resolution.
With use of Samba as a Domain Controller the administrator can chose what
authentication back-end he wants to use. That back-end can be:
The Unix/Linux system password database (not viable option);
An SMB password database (can be replicated using rsync);
A binary TDB SAM (new to Samba 3.0.0 and due out soon);
An LDAP back-end;
Winbind (which can use ANY CIFS server running domain control as the authentication database); and,
An SQL based database (using MySQL and new to Samba 3.0.0).
This greater choice of authentication back-end means that even sites that have very poor wide area connectivity can still enjoy the benefits of centrally-managed authentication and control.
Not directly related to the question are some other features that make Samba 3.0.0 a VERY attractive facility:
Network Share based Recycle Bin (through a VFS module);
Extensive Auditing (through a VFS module); and
Virus Scanning (VFS module)
Samba today is largely a Windows NT 4-style domain controller that has the ability to grow with your needs. The use of LDAP as the authentication back-end lends to Samba a high degree of flexibility and manageability.
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