[ILUG] Need some Advice re-Linux Server(s)\Services

[Frank Murphy]

I want to make Win XP clients log onto a Samba Box probably FC4, unless 
someone has a better Distro for this purpose?
There may be 20-25 client machines.
Due to lack of finance with this local neighborhood thing.
I have a budget of Zero, including myself.

Aside from Samba what services do I need to make sure a client logging 
on is authenticated as legitimate, and not Joe Hacker?

Files may be kept on the server (which has only 1HD),
Does every client box need to have their own "Home" setup?,

It will also have to be a email server for client to client internal 
email (possible Internet mail, they don't know as yet?)
Thinking Postfix because I have "The Definitive Guide, O'Reilly"

The tech support person they have through the scheme, has an IT Degree, 
but he is not up on  Networking, email servers etc..
He does know Frontage "The Bees Knees...." nuff said.

I have done the Samba Server at home myself using 2 Win client to FC3, 
but all the official logging on stuff wasn't required in that case.

I have Googled and come across expressions such as ldap, acl, but apart 
from that, have no real tuts.

I may be able to get a donation of a hardware firewall\router for this 
setup, which everything will go through, or piece together an old Linux 
Firewall\Nat Box running X from my scraps.

Frank
-- 
Frank's 3D
http://www.frankly3d.com