The main contribution of Samba 4 is to be a free implementation of the Active Directory server protocols under Unix/Linux.
Today, it is already possible to set up a new Active Directory forest with Samba that can be managed with the common Windows Active Directory Administration Tools or the Samba 4 command line tools. It is also possible to join an existing domain and become an additional Domain Controller in an existing forest.
SerNet has developed a Samba4 software appliance with the purpose to make it very easy to test Samba's new Active Directory functionality already now before it is made officially available with the Samba 4.0 release.
SerNet Samba 4 Appliance
This appliance is meant to support the scenario of being a single Domain Controller in an new Active Directory forest. Of course, the adventurous user can experiment with all other finished and unfinished features of Samba 4.
The appliance consists of a slighly customized Debian Squeeze install, equipped with Samba4-Packages and a program ("dcpromo") that guides the user through the setup of the Domain Controller.
Since March, the 19th 2012, the installer for the SerNet Samba4 Appliance can be downloaded from SerNet's FTP Server.
For further information please refer to the Readme file.