[COLUG] Linux network users

[Mark Erbaugh]

I've read several introductory Linux text about setting up users, but
the all seem to be talking about setting up multiple users on the same
workstation. I'm looking for information on setting up users on a
network.

For example, on my small network I have three machines (two desktops and
a laptop). Currently, I have no "server", though that is a project for
the near future. I installed Ubuntu Dapper on all three machines from
the installation CD. When asked for a user I set up the user 'Mark' on
each machine. As I understand things, these could be completely separate
users once the machines start talking to each other. In fact I think I
have seen that when I created a share to transfer files. I opened a file
and it said the owner was 'Mark' but I was not the owner, even though I
logged on as 'Mark. I'm guessing this is because the Mark user on each
machine has a different user id.

My question is how do you synchronize those users on a network. In
Windows this is done with a domain controller.  I've considered sharing
the passwd file (and shadow), but that could create a problem for when
the laptop is not connected to the network.  I've considered manually
copying one passwd file around to each workstation but that seems
awkward.

Also, when I do get the network set up, will it be possible to have each
machine's sudo (Ubuntu discourages having a root user) only give the
user root access on the workstation, not on all machines on the network?
Or do I need to remove the local user from that admin group so they
can't use sudo. If I do that, it seems like I then have to go back and
give them sudo access to the things that the users need to do.

I would appreciate any comments or links to documentation on this
general. Reference to a book (either paper or online) would be greatly
appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark