ActiveDirectory for Linux

We need SAMBA4 now! Why? Because we need to erode Microsoft's stronghold on the desktop.
You might wonder how AD is the key to loosen Microsoft's grip on the desktop. Let me try to explaine.

In my day job I make money by supporting Microsoft environments. From small "one server does it all" shops 'till huge server farms for multinational mega corporations. And let us just face it, Microsoft products are at the core of all these operations. So how ever much one might dislike Microsoft and the proprietary world Microsoft represent, we must realise one thing; You cannot avoid or ignore Microsoft. Where ever you look around Microsoft is the core of the IT systems. To conquer the desktop one must eat in to this already existing Active Directory.

What you cannot do today is to bring your stable virus free Linux laptop and just plug it in to the corporate network. Why? Well... It's a lot of hassle to get to the Microsoft file servers. To become a member of the AD you need to fiddle around a lot. Also the mapping of drives and folders is not an easy task. Things like off line folders does not work, and the GPO settings are ignored. (Remember that 95% of all users do NOT want to fiddle around in their OS). In other words, we need to adapt to the environment already in place. We need to embrace and extend the Microsoft Active Directory stronghold.

My dream is an Active Directory drop in replacement. I dream of installing, let's say an Ubuntu server, with an out of the box working Active Directory. Where all the XP, Vista and Microsoft Windows 7 think they are talking to a Microsoft Windows 2008 server. Also this server needs to support our beloved Linux laptops and desktops. It needs to work in such way that both Microsoft enabled and Linux enabled laptops can use "remote folders". It also need to work in such way that the Linux machines get their functionality extended with Active Directory integration, without crippling all the nice *NIX stuff.

I'm a bit puzzled to find that absolutely no Linux distribution is going down this track. The world have the opportunity of a lifetime to get a lot of 100% FLOSS desktops deployed at the expense of existing Microsoft desktops. And no one is even remotely trying. Why is this so?