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Samba Team Releases Samba 4.0 - 1st Free Software Active Directory Compatible Server ~pj Update |
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Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 03:25 PM EST
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Samba has just released the first Free Software Active Directory compatible server: The Samba Team is proud to announce the release of Samba 4.0, a major new release of the award-winning Free Software file, print and authentication server suite for Microsoft Windows® clients. This represents ten years' work:
As the culmination of ten years' work, the Samba Team has created the
first compatible Free Software implementation of Microsoft’s Active
Directory protocols. Familiar to all network administrators, the
Active Directory protocols are the heart of modern directory service
implementations.
Samba 4.0 comprises an LDAP directory server, Heimdal Kerberos
authentication server, a secure Dynamic DNS server, and
implementations of all necessary remote procedure calls for Active
Directory. Samba 4.0 provides everything needed to serve as an Active
Directory Compatible Domain Controller for all versions of Microsoft
Windows clients currently supported by Microsoft, including the
recently released Windows 8.
The Samba 4.0 Active Directory Compatible Server provides support for
features such as Group Policy, Roaming Profiles, Windows
Administration tools and integrates with Microsoft Exchange and Free
Software compatible services such as OpenChange.
The Samba 4.0 Active Directory Compatible Server can also be joined to
an existing Microsoft Active Directory domain, and Microsoft Active
Directory Domain Controllers can be joined to a Samba 4.0 Active
Directory Compatible Server, showing true peer-to-peer
interoperability of the Microsoft and Samba implementations of the
Active Directory protocols. Do you remember when the Samba team won against Microsoft before the EU Commission, and they won the right to buy the documentation and use it like this? This result is part of that story, as the work was created using the official protocol documentation published by Microsoft. But times have changed, and Microsoft helped make this happen. That means it's legal. So go ahead and use it. They even got a nice quotation from Microsoft for the press release. Samba is one of 11 open source projects that leading
software integrity vendor Coverity has certified as "secure" and has
reached Coverity "Integrity Rung 2" certification.
What I like the best about the Samba team is that it's proven to be a no-sellout zone. "If you want to become a member of the team then the first thing you should do is join the
samba-technical mailing list and start contributing to the development of Samba," it says on the site. This is FOSS history, so it belongs right here in our archives. I lived that whole Samba-Microsoft saga, and it feels so right to see it bear such fruit. It's what courts are for, and it's why I am very grateful to the EU Commission, the Samba guys for not wimping out when everyone else did, and to the lawyers, especially Carlo Piana and Eben Moglen, for making it happen.
Update: Simon Phipps has an article now, Samba 4 threatens Microsoft's enterprise lock-in, that gives some context: These enterprise-strength features pose a significant competitive threat to Microsoft in multiple market segments. Samba is fast and scalable enough for new enterprise deployments, flexible enough to join existing installations, small and low-powered enough for use in embedded applications, and modular enough to offer a source of protocol implementations for new projects needing Microsoft compatibility. As a licensed implementation of Microsoft's protocols, legal risks for users of Samba 4 are likely to be low.
Together, this means a realistic open source exit route from infrastructure lock-in exists for the first time, and OEM integrators needing Microsoft interoperability have an alternative to expensive licensing deals. Could this become the first antitrust settlement in technology to actually result in an effective market remedy?
Here's the complete press release:
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Samba Team Releases Samba 4.0
December 11th 2012.
The Samba Team is proud to announce the release of Samba 4.0, a major
new release of the award-winning Free Software file, print and
authentication server suite for Microsoft Windows clients.
The First Free Software Active Directory Compatible Server
As the culmination of ten years' work, the Samba Team has created the
first compatible Free Software implementation of Microsoft’s Active
Directory protocols. Familiar to all network administrators, the
Active Directory protocols are the heart of modern directory service
implementations.
Samba 4.0 comprises an LDAP directory server, Heimdal Kerberos
authentication server, a secure Dynamic DNS server, and
implementations of all necessary remote procedure calls for Active
Directory. Samba 4.0 provides everything needed to serve as an Active
Directory Compatible Domain Controller for all versions of Microsoft
Windows clients currently supported by Microsoft, including the
recently released Windows 8.
The Samba 4.0 Active Directory Compatible Server provides support for
features such as Group Policy, Roaming Profiles, Windows
Administration tools and integrates with Microsoft Exchange and Free
Software compatible services such as OpenChange.
The Samba 4.0 Active Directory Compatible Server can also be joined to
an existing Microsoft Active Directory domain, and Microsoft Active
Directory Domain Controllers can be joined to a Samba 4.0 Active
Directory Compatible Server, showing true peer-to-peer
interoperability of the Microsoft and Samba implementations of the
Active Directory protocols.
Acknowledging the value of the interoperability of the Samba 4.0
Active Directory Compatible Server, Steve van Maanen, the co-founder
of Starsphere LLC, an IT services company in Tokyo, said:
"Thanks to Samba4, I have two fully replicating Active Directory
Domain controllers that boot in under 10 seconds ! It is nice to have
alternatives, and Samba4 is a great one."
Upgrade scripts are also provided for organizations using the previous
Microsoft Windows NT Domain Controller functionality in Samba 3.x, to
allow them to migrate smoothly to Samba 4.0.
Suitable for low-power and embedded applications, yet scaling to large
clusters, Samba 4.0 is efficient and flexible. Its Python programming
interface and administration toolkit help in enterprise deployments.
Created Using Microsoft Documentation
The Samba 4.0 Active Directory Compatible Server was created with help
from the official protocol documentation published by Microsoft
Corporation and the Samba Team would like acknowledge the
documentation help and interoperability testing by Microsoft engineers
that made our implementation interoperable.
"Active Directory is a mainstay of enterprise IT environments, and
Microsoft is committed to support for interoperability across
platforms," said Thomas Pfenning, director of development, Windows
Server. "We are pleased that the documentation and interoperability
labs that Microsoft has provided have been key in the development of
the Samba 4.0 Active Directory functionality."
Introducing SMB2.1 File Serving Support
Samba 4.0 includes the first Free Software implementation of
Microsoft's SMB2.1 file serving protocol. Building on the success of
the SMB2.0 server in Samba 3.6, the Samba 4.0 file server component is
an evolution of the trusted Samba file serving code that is used
worldwide by vendors of file servers, such as IBM's clustered Scale
Out Network Attached Storage (SONAS), and many other commercial
products.
In addition, the Samba 4.0 file server contains an initial
implementation of SMB3, which will be further developed in later Samba
4 releases into a fully-featured SMB3 clustered file server
implementation.
Future developments of our SMB3 server and client suite, in
combination with our expanding number of SMB3 tests, will keep driving
the performance improvements and improved compatibility with Microsoft
Windows that Samba users have come to expect from our software.
Integrated Clustered File Server Support
Building on our success as the first commercial implementation of a
clustered SMB/CIFS server, Samba 4.0 provides industry-leading
scalability and performance as a clustered SMB2/SMB/CIFS file server,
using our "clustered tdb" (ctdb) technology - also available as Free
Software.
Clustered Samba provides a "Single Server" view of clustered file
storage, allowing clients to connect to the least loaded server and
still providing a completely coherent view of the underlying clustered
file system.
Written and tested to be compatible with most clustered file systems,
both Free Software and proprietary, Samba 4.0 with ctdb provides a
scalable clustered file server solution with full Windows file sharing
semantics.
Samba and ctdb have been shipping in production file serving products
for many years, to some of the most demanding customers in the world.
Easy Integration into Existing Directory Services
Samba 4.0 ships with an improved winbind, which allows Samba 4.0 file
servers to easily integrate into existing Active Directory services as
member servers. Both Microsoft Active Directory and Samba 4.0 Active
Directory Compatible servers are supported.
Stability, Security and Performance
Samba 4.0 has been tested using our widely accepted smbtorture test
suite, created by the Samba Team to test Samba itself and now used by
most of the companies writing SMB3/SMB2/SMB/CIFS file server software
to test their own products. We also regularly test interoperability
with other major vendors at plug-fest events to make sure Samba 4.0
deployments work correctly with existing customer equipment.
In addition, Samba is one of eleven open source projects that leading
software integrity vendor Coverity has certified as "secure" and has
reached Coverity "Integrity Rung 2" certification.
The Samba Team provides immediate responses to any security
vulnerabilities, and provides fixes to all vendors using the Samba
code in coordination with industry standard security reporting
agencies.
A Modular Toolbox for OEM Vendor Needs
As Free Software, Samba 4.0 is the ideal choice for Original Equipment
Manufacturers (OEMs) to use for their file, print and authentication
products. It is easily integrated into a whole host of different
tasks, and can be customized at will by the vendor to satisfy their
needs.
In addition, Samba 4.0 includes a modular "Virtual File System" (VFS)
interface that vendors can use to quickly and efficiently customize
Samba to take advantage of any specific features of their underlying
technology without having to modify any of the core Samba code. From
advanced file systems to network traffic analysis, the Samba VFS layer
allows external code to be easily integrated with Samba. Example
modules are provided as source code for vendors to customize as they
wish.
Samba is the leading choice for Microsoft Windows connectivity
Samba is the leading technology choice for Windows file serving on
Linux and UNIX platforms and in embedded Network Attached Storage
(NAS) solutions. Samba is used by vendors selling NAS solutions
ranging from high end clustered business-critical systems, to low end
consumer devices, and everything in between. Samba is fully IPv6
enabled and meets all mandates for modern network interoperability.
Commercial support is available for Samba from many different vendors.
Getting Samba 4.0
Samba 4.0 source code is available now from the Samba Web site.
About Active Directory
Microsoft Windows and Active Directory are trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.
About the Samba Team
The Samba Team is a worldwide group of computer professionals working
together via the Internet to produce the highest quality Free Software
Windows (SMB3/SMB2/SMB/CIFS) server and client software. We are the
undisputed experts in providing interoperability with computers
running Microsoft Windows. Members of the Samba Team work for many of
the largest companies in the software Industry and even helped
Microsoft produce the protocol documentation that fully specifies the
SMB/CIFS protocol.
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Authored by: IMANAL_TOO on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 03:40 PM EST |
""If you want to become a member of the team then the first thing you
should do is join the samba-technical mailing list and start contributing to the
development of Samba"
Nice!
An idea for GPL4 based on their idea, "If you want to resell this software
you must first have contributed a piece of GPL4 code officially accepted and
published by FSF"
Would that be too restrictive or counterproductive? I imagine it may not really
be possible to have code accepted at all times, e.g. if the code base is really
small etc. Still, I like their original idea.
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IMANAL
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Authored by: BJ on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 03:53 PM EST |
"All you
monopolies -- come and get it!".
bjd
[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Imaginos1892 on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 04:15 PM EST |
Post yer off topics here. Even if they've only gone
a little off.
Good thing I checked - almost posted this as Anonymouse.
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Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!![ Reply to This | # ]
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- Off Topic - Authored by: JamesK on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 04:27 PM EST
- Going boldly: Behind the scenes at NASA's hallowed Mission Control Center - Authored by: JamesK on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 04:30 PM EST
- Apollo 13, We Have a Solution - Authored by: JamesK on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 04:32 PM EST
- UnXis (ex-SCO) now with Belgium COO - Authored by: stats_for_all on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 05:41 PM EST
- The looks of the iPhone, exact dimensions, etc, were considered in January 2007 to be a copy of - Authored by: SilverWave on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 06:38 PM EST
- Linux 3.7 is now out - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 08:05 PM EST
- Maybe Apple had a point - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 08:28 PM EST
- NHS bowel cancer test delayed by IT glitch - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, December 12 2012 @ 01:15 AM EST
- Qualcomm attacks Apple, calls FRAND negotiations 'sham' - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, December 12 2012 @ 07:13 AM EST
- Frack this - UT retracts fracking study, author resigns - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, December 12 2012 @ 11:39 AM EST
- On software developers taking notes... - Authored by: Gringo_ on Wednesday, December 12 2012 @ 12:56 PM EST
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Authored by: SpaceLifeForm on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 04:16 PM EST |
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You are being MICROattacked, from various angles, in a SOFT manner.[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Imaginos1892 on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 04:16 PM EST |
Guess I'll start the Official On Topic Thread too.
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Mrs. Tweedy! The chickens are revolting![ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: SpaceLifeForm on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 04:18 PM EST |
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You are being MICROattacked, from various angles, in a SOFT manner.[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: SpaceLifeForm on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 04:22 PM EST |
Please include a link to the article you are referencing as they
will roll off
of the main page.
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You are being MICROattacked, from various angles, in a SOFT manner. [ Reply to This | # ]
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- Sega sueing Level-5 - Authored by: DieterWasDriving on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 05:01 PM EST
- EU votes for unified patent system - Authored by: kg on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 10:32 PM EST
- Journalists Jailed - Authored by: kawabago on Wednesday, December 12 2012 @ 01:42 AM EST
- Saudi Arabia - Authored by: Winter on Wednesday, December 12 2012 @ 03:22 AM EST
- Saudi Arabia - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, December 25 2012 @ 01:16 PM EST
- Journalists Jailed - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, December 12 2012 @ 04:51 AM EST
- Saudi Arabia - Authored by: Imaginos1892 on Wednesday, December 12 2012 @ 11:59 AM EST
- Someday... - Authored by: artp on Wednesday, December 12 2012 @ 12:00 PM EST
- Someday... - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, December 12 2012 @ 01:36 PM EST
- Journalists Jailed - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, December 25 2012 @ 02:19 PM EST
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Authored by: SpaceLifeForm on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 04:33 PM EST |
A good feature is that you can use the functionality
with GNU/Linux client desktops.
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You are being MICROattacked, from various angles, in a SOFT manner.[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: calris74 on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 04:35 PM EST |
http://www.abajournal.com/blawg100 (Legal
Technology)
Groklaw's lead has dropped to 69 votes (down from 75)
with
52 votes votes between 2nd and 8th (down from 58)
No changes to the
order of the top 8, however Abnormal
Use (Torts) has jumped two
places.
Voting has slowed - Last update saw 130 votes added to
the
tally (only of the sites I'm counting). This update saw
only 87 votes
added.
286 (283) Groklaw (Legal Technology)
217 (208) Legal As She
Is Spoke (News/Analysis)
207 (205) IPWatchdog (IP Law)
199 (198) Wills,
Trusts & Estates Prof Blog (Niche)
187 (187) Taxgirl (Niche)
185
(178) SCOTUSblog (Courts)
168 (162) Lowering the Bar (For Fun)
165 (150)
Above the Law (News/Analysis)
137 (114) The Velvet Hammer (Trial
Practice)
97 (94) Lawyerist (Business of Law)
94 (90) Koehler Law
(Criminal Justice)
91 (83) Abnormal Use (Torts)
86 (84) Legal Writing
Prof Blog (Legal Research/Writing)
86 (85) Screw You Guys, I'm Going Home
(Labor & Employment)
59 (57) Inside the Law School Scam (Careers/Law
Schools)
45 (44) California Corporate & Securities Law (Corporate)
[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: KayZee on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 04:48 PM EST |
Congratulations to the Samba team. Samba has been a staple
in our company since 2003. The release of Samba 4 should open
it up to more companies.[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Tolerance on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 04:57 PM EST |
I personally have been waiting for this since I first saw an
exposition at LinuxConf 2006. Is it really the legal fuss
which made it take so long?
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Grumpy old man[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: leopardi on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 05:01 PM EST |
Congratulations to the Samba team, to Jeremy Allison and Andrew Tridgell in
particular.
[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, December 11 2012 @ 05:34 PM EST |
:) [ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: jesse on Wednesday, December 12 2012 @ 05:05 AM EST |
And now, ARM based systems can be a AD member OR server...
Unlike the MS ARM systems...[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, December 12 2012 @ 09:32 AM EST |
SMB services are Windows-centric. The permission system and the file naming
(allowed characters and directory separators) and clashing conventions
("case-invariant") are Windows-specific.
The whole purpose is interfacing to a Windows world and providing infrastructure
for it and absurdly enough, GNU/Linux boxes can often manage this job more
versatilely and resource-efficient than native Windows servers.
And, of course, from a machine administered in a UNIXy fashion. If I had to do
service to Windows boxes, my choice would certainly be Samba, but I am glad that
I don't have to do this.[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: TemporalBeing on Wednesday, December 12 2012 @ 11:07 AM EST |
Samba has been one of the greatest FOSS projects, having originally found many
"features" in Microsoft's version - even things that will reboot
Windows remotely by design.
Now after having won an Anti-trust case against Microsoft, raising the money
($14k) to buy the documentation, and having implemented it, Samba has for the
first time (AFAIK) a version that supports Microsoft's latest release of Windows
within the same time frame of release of that version of Windows.
That is, historically, Samba would be at least one version of Windows behind in
their support for SMB/CIFS features that Windows had, and now within 6 months of
Microsoft releasing Windows 8 they have released a fully compatible version.
Congratulations all around to those that made it happen - both technical and
legal.[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: albert on Wednesday, December 12 2012 @ 11:18 AM EST |
Kudos to the Samba Team! MS has ~48% of the server market(wikip). Many MS
installations use Samba. Wouldn't it be cool if LibreOffice were interoperable
with MS server services?[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, December 12 2012 @ 05:32 PM EST |
"Samba is one of 11 open source projects ..."
[ Reply to This | # ]
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Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, December 13 2012 @ 08:32 PM EST |
Thanks for the faint praise "not commercially important right now" :-)
but
we're actually pretty commercially important, just a little less visible than we
used to be :-) . We've become part of the infrastructure - as I like to point
out,
go into Frys, or your local geek electronics store - and look at the NAS
servers.
They're all Samba. Every one.
Plus we live inside some big iron too, IBM SONAS is one who is public,
Symantec storage too - but also many others (some newly created 'cloud
gateways' I'm not free to name). So don't write us off just yet :-)
Jeremy Wilson,
Samba Team.[ Reply to This | # ]
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