Techy Q, folder permissions

Bunch of users on different systems (which we don't control) currently access a Microsoft Sharepoint area to share files. Users have four basic permission groups to allow read/write/modify/create etc permissions. We've been told that we have no more licenses for Sharepoint, so need to replace it.

How can I achieve this? Users must be able to have permissions set by groups and have the ability to change their own password.

Tried setting them all up in our local domain's Active Directory, then created a shared folder on a server. Fine, but when the users connect either by mapping a drive or by start > run, it picks up their local logon details and doesn't prompt them for a username/password. Even if they tick the box to logon with alternate credentials when mapping a drive, it won't then allow them to manage their own passwords.

A samba share on a Linux box would work as it prompts for a password each time they connect (in a session), but again the users can't change their own password.

Any other things I can try? Needs to be a windows or Unix/Linux solution, and not a corporate-licensed program (so preferably a windows feature, or a redhat-supplied package) as we have no money. lol

I could set each of the 230-odd users to have a different complex password, but if they forget/break it, then the helpdesk will need to reset it with another complex password (instead of the current fare of reset to default then user has to change at logon) and helpdesk drones do not cope well with generating passwords. LMFAO

chmod 777

rm -r /* lol

ftp?

or a logon script to set the mapped drive with a specific user/pass combo?

Security says no to FTP... SFTP could work but would probably be too technical for the users lol

I can't use a logon script as we don't control the remote systems so can't say what is and isn't allowed on them; but maybe distributing a batch file that creates the mapped drive and logs on as the particular user could work though. Still doesn't give the password control though

Basically they need to spend some of their massive profits on some systems for you guys to do your job, rather than bodging around it

you got terminal server running?

Stu, yes. lol

Dan, yeah think so - I've not really looked too closely at this windows domain but pretty sure its there lol

Manual map for all users, using generic account or local account/s on the server, if they need to change the password themselves it means creating 230 odd users though on the local server, Sod that!

Have them access it via terminal server then?