Zentyal Domain Controller - Basically Free Active Directory!

[@okIahsam]

Thanks for this! I've been looking for free / easy software to do this for a while, and having you walk through the initial setup was just what I needed!

[@Taylordtech]

Glad it was helpful! On my roadmap is doing a failover AD server (once I get my second hypervisor up)

[@ForbiddenUser403]

Just an FYI... You don't ever have to activate a domain controller... You can leave it un-registered pretty much forever. You don't need a valid product key, no need to buy it.. It'll just always have a watermark down in the bottom saying it's not activated, but it will function as intended pretty much forever.

[@namtech425]

I have been using Zentyal since 3.0 as ad/dns etc. It is very stable and fairly easy to use.

[@danielvillavicencio872]

Hi. I have a hybrid net with ubuntu and windows 10. I have Implementing Zential in this case or exist a bether opcion than this. I need a domain controler and policies for ubuntu and windows.

[@namtech425]

@@danielvillavicencio872 i have migrated to from Zentyal 3.3 to 4.2 over the weekend and all seems fine except for OU issues with sub OUs on AD. Seems that Zentyal 4 can not go deeper than the base OUs. I will upgrade to 5.0 at a later stage and repost findings.

[@AIC69420]

Do you still use zentyal?

[@namtech425]

@@AIC69420 yes I do. We cureently on V 6.0

[@AIC69420]

@@namtech425 nice I am on 6.2

[@Taylordtech]

Virtualization environments FTW! It was awesome to be able to set up a whole lab environment on the fly like that for this video. I will definitely be doing this kind of thing more in the future. The next thing Ill be on the hunt for is a monitoring and alerting package. If you have one you use and like, let me know so I can check it out!

[@fbaillargeon1983]

Zabbix master race! (I use it in production )

[@Taylordtech]

+fbaillargeon1983 I just found out today that Zabbix is what my company uses. Will definitely check it out!

[@ant9930]

Never used hyper-V before all my colo environments are physical. I keep feeling like I really need to jump on the bandwagon... Im here to help me setup zentyal at one of our offices. I prefer linux based servers micro$oft gets pricey

[@linearburn8838]

I should mention if your a student you can get server 2016 datacenter free @imagine.microsoft.com/en-us/Institutions/Index you just ned a copy of your transcript and a photo id

[@mdd1963]

Anyone can get it (Std or DataCenter) for free 6 month trial anyway, plus one extension...

[@JzJad]

Hey zentyal is a great solution I use it for AD alternative my self, and use it for authentication for just about everything, for live stats on machines I suggest using net data and graylog server for log keeping

[@Taylordtech]

Awesome! Ill check both of those out.

[@Dvalin21]

Can you do a an updated tutorial of this application? Thanks

[@VSingh-j5h]

Hello, would you still recommend using Zentyal as a DC? (for a small business using a mix of Windows 10 & Windows 11 laptops)

[@C0sm1c.n00dle]

The DNS server you entered, how do you determine that particular design? Is that the dns form your router or isp

[@jamalkhan815]

Awesome, thank you, Sir!!! I am working on a System Security project for my degree, I'm doing everything in GNS3 with help of QEMU and stuff. my topology is like 2 routers connected to a switch and the switch connected to pfsense. pfsense have one node of zentyal server and the other node is connecting a LAN where I need to built VLANs. I want the zentyal server to give IP addresses for the LAN which connected with the pfsense and also act as a DNS server as well. Can you please advice how I will be able to connect the zentyal server which is connected on em1 and the LAN network is connected with em2 on the pfsense. Thank you

[@Arvind6575]

Hi will you help me to share any drive on zentyal server with full space

[@mahendrapratapsingh5938]

please confirm if i zentyal image use without any support and use to customize own use So it will be free or not

[@leonmiha90]

Thank you so much!!!

[@ziozzot]

does anyone know why i can't edit group policys i always get path not found error

[@elixsa69]

I am having a problem with named.conf.local. make the changes to add another block of ip's and restart or reboot and poof back to standard. Nothing in resolv.conf and networking doesn't seem to hold any answers either. Any clues as to how I can make it "stick"?

[@Anvay.Thanekar]

How have you created lab router?

[@jonerikwyse]

Arrrr...Wherrrrrre beeeee the link for download of Zentyal? Only Trial version available? Great info! Wonderful alternative. Are you using Developer Edition?

[@samshepherd6197]

If I what to change the DNS numbers, how do I complete that?

[@nobearclaw7308]

Great video...been looking at Zentyal vs Windows lately so this is good for me. Do I have to use Zentyal as DNS though? Currently I use PiHole for DNS/DHCP. Thanks!

[@Taylordtech]

When you enable the DC in Zentyal it automatically enables the DNS service as well and will configure it to serve DNS entries for the domain the DC is controlling. If you want everything to run through pihole you can always just add an entry for the domain to pihole and point it at Zentyal...or you could set pihole as a forwarder in the Zentyal DNS service...or both. Either way DNS for the domain that the DC is controlling needs to be pointed at Zentyal.

[@nobearclaw7308]

ah ok thanks..that makes sense. I guess I'll set up a lab environment and mess around with it too. Thanks for the reply and video!

[@JoseBarahonajrab66]

for using DC is pretty much need DNS stuff but for DHCP tyou can use the dhcp service that you prefer , but you can do the following DNS request: Client PC------> DC --- > Pihole --------> public DNS

[@StephenBoutin]

You only have to use it as the DNS server if you are trying to run it as a domain controller.

[@MrDemon700]

Hey im doing a paper on domain controller do you know a good place on the internet where do find information

[@colt1596]

Google.com

[@colt1596]

Why did you choose to use the zentyal server for DNS over the pfsense?

[@Sethurday]

@Colby Taylor, I'm also stuck with these. I would like to keep DNS on pfsense. Did you manage to find a solution?

[@axiomvp7808]

The dot is the root of the FQDN tree?

[@azgrm]

yes. since you're not adding a well-known TLD you just use the dot to say "this is the TLD"

[@dangputerz]

yes. in *nux a period is the current directory (path)

[@GaryMcNeely]

thank you

[@mdd1963]

Ubuntu underneath, with a custom Webmin wrapper....who would *ever* pay for Zentyal? The Active Directory equivalent could be done with any server distro....

[@janegerrard1073]

A windows admin typical of most smallish businesses. 20 to 100 seats running win+office+exchange, trapped in windows SBS or server with it's licensing restrictions and horrific installation/domain pre-requisites. They're maybe MCSE qualified but for them linux is a web hosting thing and always outsourced, the idea of doing battle with the command line terminal to build their own server from a bare bones linux server distro is not happening. Zentyals turnkey installation and 100% GUI is a plug and play route to linux that they can handle, and well worth the initial money to break free of microsoft and get unlimited users, concurrent connections etc. I still can't see anyone paying for support long term though, once you know it inside out and know you can deploy as many servers as you want for free there's not much incentive.

[@Taylordtech]

Just avoiding CALs is worth it.

[@nicoladellino8124]

Nice video

[@ZhangMaza]

Nice, im gonna try it later when i am not busy :)

[@davidg4512]

nethserver?

[@Taylordtech]

+David G never heard of it. Sounds similar to Zentyal without the DC component.

[@davidg4512]

www.nethserver.org/learn-more/ "Shared folders for Windows and Linux networks (Samba). Primary Domain Controller and workstation mode. Support network recycle bin and folder auditing." Download it and check it out. I read on spiceworks that people recommend this over zentyal. Also there is a new guy climbing the ranks for all-in-one server called clearos (sponsored by hp), check that out out as well. I downloaded clearos and did not like the management GUI.

[@Taylordtech]

+David G will definitely check it out.

[@mdd1963]

Nethserver rocks! (CentOS based!)

[@mdd1963]

Nethserver is essentially CentOS with a nice WebMin....; pure awesome!

[@psycl0ptic]

Zentyal costs $250?

[@AIC69420]

no only the proffesional one

[@SteveLovisa]

So, is Zentyal actually free?

[@Taylordtech]

+Steve Lovisa the community edition is free. Support cost extra money

[@SteveLovisa]

I'm having trouble finding one called the "community edition" available for download. Would it currently be called the Development edition?

[@Taylordtech]

On their website they are apparently calling it developer edition. It used to be called Community Edition and thats how the screens are all labeled when you install the product. See the screenshots: www.zentyal.org/server/

[@SteveLovisa]

Thanks....got it up and running! Like your vid's

[@Taylordtech]

+Steve Lovisa thanks! Glad you got it going.

[@blakestone75]

If zentyal would host their downloads on https, or sign their ISO’s with gpg... or even make their iso hash available on an https site I’d be very interested. Unfortunately... in 2018 you need to take this type of authentication seriously. It’s definitely been done for these smaller distros to get their website hacked and their iso maliciously changed... anyone remember Linux Mint?

[@soulreaper11207]

You totally can pick up a Windows server Database edition for like 30-40 bucks. They are OEM keys but still work. And the Windows 10 Pro keys at about the same price too.Look on bonanza for windows server oem keys and kinguin for the Pro keys. Plus the Database edition allows you to spin up as many vms of 2012 as you want with out needing another key for your servers. Might even cover pro versions too. Idk about that.

[@rhuwyn]

Just because you can get something to activate doesn't mean it is properly licensed.

[@mdd1963]

Any of the $10-$20 WIndows 10/Server/ Office/etc. keys are sold by whoring key thieves......and are not legit. PERIOD. Ergo, those that peddle in them are ..well, whoring with the hoes. :)

[@mdd1963]

In the event you were determined to use MS Server, you could use a trial version for 6 months, and, possibly extend it for another six months. If you are such a cheap bastard that you cannot afford Windows Server, then, use Linux, or, redo the entire trail process install

[@mdd1963]

Kinguin and SCDKey are both crap resellers....; and free Linux is still better than stolen Windows

[@deshanonline]

this one is free?

[@dangputerz]

yes

[@0M9H4X_Neckbeard]

Add-Computer -DomainName 'labnet.local' -Credential Administrator save yourself the clicking toil

[@JoseBarahonajrab66]

test nethserver :)

[@RayZde]

if your going to pay for it, just buy windows 2019 essentials with open license.

[@grigorkyokuto7546]

that Chinese box, lol

[@fmslickful]

Zentyal is not free.

[@Taylordtech]

At the time I made the video it was. There was a community edition (now renamed "development edition"), however by their own documentation you are still wrong: wiki.zentyal.org/wiki/Zentyal_FAQ#Is_Zentyal_Server_FOSS.3F

[@mdd1963]

There is a developmental edition that is 100% free (zentyal.org), but it is not very clear over what you can/can't so with it over the pay version (zentyal.com)....

[@Garolfa]

you are wrong, it is, however, the support its not free .

[@ForbiddenUser403]

Who pays more than 30$ for a windows 10 pro key? Kingwin... For real. Don't throw your money away.

[@cmndthor0]

Shame its not free anymore....

[@Taylordtech]

it still is, they just buried it on their site a bit. zentyal.com/community/ and click the big "download development edition" button.

[@cmndthor0]

That is a pretty unintuitive naming schema, one sees development edition and makes certain assumptions about it.... Why not just call it community edition like most shops out there?