"Speaking at this year's linux.conf.au Linux and open source
conference in Hobart, Bartlett said Samba 4 is aiming to be a
replacement for AD by providing a free software implementation of
Microsoft's custom protocols.
"Because AD is "far more than LDAP and Kerberos", Bartlett said,
Samba 4 is not only about developing with Microsoft's customisation
of those protocols, it is also about moving the project beyond just
providing an NT 4 compatible domain manager.
""I've been working on Samba 4 for four years to try and provide
a way to not run Microsoft servers at the centre of the network,
which then leads to the clients," he said. "But I am a realist and
we have implemented the logon server for Samba 4.""