[KLUG Members] starter questions from someone new to the list

[Adam Tauno Williams]

> First a quick hello. I am from the Flint area, so not quite a local. I 
> am currently looking for a bit of info and I am hoping that some on the 
> list here can point me in the right direction.

Howdy.

> I work for a small non-profit branch of the MSU Medical Education 
> program. We currently employ a MS Exchange server/AD Domain controller 
> and a MS Terminal Server. I have brought in a Debian based Linux server 
> for web serving and created several custom PHP applications that we now 
> use.

Excellent, thats how Linux gets started in most shops.
 
> I really want to get rid of the exchange server and instead run a 
> combination of Exim, Bind, ldap, etc on the Debian server. I have 
> managed to get Bind working as an internal DNS server at the moment and 
> Exim set up to just forward all mail to the exchange server for the time 
> being.

For replacing Exchange I'd really recommend you look at a combination of Cyrus
IMAPd and OpenGroupware.  While a little intimidating at first these two can
replace 99.44% of Exchange's groupware/mail functionality AND do some things
Exchange just can't.  And then there is the whole free thing. :)

"Bind, LDAP, etc" are really replacing AD/Domains more than they are Exchange.

> What I am looking for is people to talk with about some of this. I have 
> been trying to find any area options for training courses in things like 
> DNS management, ldap setup and configuring, and such..practical stuff I 

I've got a document that might be helpful at -
ftp://ftp.kalamazoolinux.org/pub/pdf/ldapv3.pdf

But I'm not aware of any training programs - at least here in West Michigan, 
I'd imagine your side has more.

> am also wondering if you all know of any decent IRC channels on various 
> servers that I might want to get to know better. I can find many basic 
> Linux Q&A areas on the net, but sites or places to get info and talk 
> with those that are a level above seem to be hard to locate.

Yep.  But you've found such a forum.  If you want I'm willing to ICQ after
hours.  I don't know if PADL or OpenLDAP operate an IRC channel.

> Thanks a ton for any information you all might have that can help me 
> out. I am reading my eyes out right now, but sometimes you just need to 
> talk to someone that knows more than you.

Yep,  I know that feeling well.  Fortunately for you and me there are some
superior minds on this list.