[clug-talk] Linux Proxy server in Novell Network

[Kevin Anderson]

On Wednesday 29 December 2004 10:09, Giovanni Cuzzola wrote:
> Hello everyone,
>
> I was wondering if it is possible to have a Linux Proxy server in a Novell
> network where there is already a Novell BorderManager.
>
> thanks,
>
> Giovanni

Probably, but why?  Bordermanager kicks butt.  

Squid won't be any faster, you'll give up NDS integration, and add a (more or 
less) useless point of failure and/or latency.  And need an extra box, with 
disk for cache.  Personally, adding RAM, Disk, and Processor (in that order) 
to your BorderManager box will give you far more bang, for far less buck.  
That would be my advice, unless you plan to dump the Novell box in the REALLY 
near future.  

Open Source just isn't at the point yet where it can compete with NDS.  It's 
not even really at a point where it can compete with Active Directory, but it 
certainly can't hold a candle to NDS.  I don't mean that the products aren't 
there, but the administrative ease over several offices, with hundreds of 
users is utterly killed by something like ZENworks.  Open Source is probably 
another 5 to 10 years from something like that.  Active Directory still has 
probably another 5 years before it's there either.  Open LDAP is OK, it sort 
of works, but not nearly as well as it's "competitors".  And more 
importantly, there is nothing to integrate it with other applications like 
Novell already offers with theirs. 

My 2 cents.

Kev.