File access through windows server

[GrandNebSmada]

I am trying to setup a Windows Server (2012 not r2) so that I can access the files of a ubuntu server through the windows server from another computer.

 

So basically I want to have a client machine that logs into the windows server. The windows server then accesses the ubuntu machine where all of the files are stored and serves it to the client.

 

To be clear I am not looking to do an FTP or remote connection.

 

Here is a diagram to make more sense of what I am trying to accomplish....

 

I want to do it this way because I want to be able to use a windows type login all throughout the system so the user never has to look at the ubuntu login or interface.

 

Any help is much appreciated!

[Electronics Wizardy]

You can make a cifs/samba share on the ubuntu server, so that you can access the files. You will never have to see ubuntu interface. You can set up samba with AD if thats what you want.

 

If you really want to do that, set up a nfs shars, add the nfs client on 2012, then make a fire share of that folder.

[NinjaJc01]

10 minutes ago, 5Beans6 said:

I am trying to setup a Windows Server (2012 not r2) so that I can access the files of a ubuntu server through the windows server from another computer.

 

So basically I want to have a client machine that logs into the windows server. The windows server then accesses the ubuntu machine where all of the files are stored and serves it to the client.

 

To be clear I am not looking to do an FTP or remote connection.

 

Here is a diagram to make more sense of what I am trying to accomplish....

 

I want to do it this way because I want to be able to use a windows type login all throughout the system so the user never has to look at the ubuntu login or interface.

 

Any help is much appreciated!

Why use Ubuntu? Surely you can just host the files on the windows server machine?

[samiscool51]

it would be more effenient to access the linux server directely, unless you have the windows server as a firewall

if so i'm not sure if windows server can do that at all (don't quote me on that, i don't do file sharing setup offen), maybe see if the windows server can see the share and make a share linking to the linux share, that might work

[Blake]

iscsi connection to the windows server then share the drive. While i know what to do on windows, my linux basically tops out at figuring out how to close Vi while writing the file / SDN. so no help from me.

[leadeater]

You can setup SMB shares on a linux server and if you have an Active Directory domain you can also join a linux server to it so you can use your domain username/password. There is not need to put a Windows server in between.

[Jarsky]

13 hours ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

You can make a cifs/samba share on the ubuntu server, so that you can access the files. You will never have to see ubuntu interface. You can set up samba with AD if thats what you want.

 

If you really want to do that, set up a nfs shars, add the nfs client on 2012, then make a fire share of that folder.

 

 

45 minutes ago, leadeater said:

You can setup SMB shares on a linux server and if you have an Active Directory domain you can also join a linux server to it so you can use your domain username/password. There is not need to put a Windows server in between.

 

Im not sure what the other replies are going on about, but this is the correct answer posted by @Electronics Wizardy and @leadeater

 

[Mikensan]

https://help.ubuntu.com/lts/serverguide/samba-fileserver.html

 

There might be a GUI way to do it - I'm not much of a Ubuntu guru however. 

 

Do you already have a windows domain, is that why you want windows inbetween? Ubuntu/Linux can happily us LDAP / AD to authenticate users as well, fire up google. Users won't even know that there's a Linux server in the background.

[GrandNebSmada]

9 hours ago, Jarsky said:

 

 

 

Im not sure what the other replies are going on about, but this is the correct answer posted by @Electronics Wizardy and @leadeater

 

 

10 hours ago, leadeater said:

You can setup SMB shares on a linux server and if you have an Active Directory domain you can also join a linux server to it so you can use your domain username/password. There is not need to put a Windows server in between.

I am fully aware that putting a windows server in between is somewhat of an unnecessary step to go through. Im using it partially because I want it as a layer of protection and because I do not want to store the files in the same physical location as the access server.  I also do not want the user directly accessing file server for security reasons.

[leadeater]

16 hours ago, 5Beans6 said:

 

I am fully aware that putting a windows server in between is somewhat of an unnecessary step to go through. Im using it partially because I want it as a layer of protection and because I do not want to store the files in the same physical location as the access server.  I also do not want the user directly accessing file server for security reasons.

Well there is no actual security improvement doing it this way, likely less secure as your introducing more systems in the chain with different kernels so now you have to worry about interoperability and any bugs/issues that may come with that.

 

As long as you get the share and file permissions correct, enable the OS firewall and follow least privileges principle that is all the protection you need. If you are worried about the general lack of experience most people have at administering Linux systems and therefore the ease of managing it install webmin, nice easy to drive web administration page for Linux.

[AshleyAshes]

That windows server in the middle just seems entirely useless.