I'm curious if there are any good alternatives to EntraID for Ubuntu systems. Right now, our business uses Windows devices tied to Microsoft 365, which includes a lot of enterprise apps and single sign-on solutions. I've seen plenty of options like LibreOffice for office productivity, various cloud email services as Outlook replacements, and numerous cloud storage options that probably work with Linux for data backup and sharing.
However, I'm particularly interested in a solution similar to EntraID—not just a cloud-hosted directory, but a comprehensive system that integrates user directories, single sign-on, and enterprise applications all in one place. Are there any existing solutions or projects in the works for Linux/Ubuntu that fulfill this need?
5 Answers
You might want to check out the Authd OIDC authentication for Ubuntu Desktop, which could be a good fit for your needs. It's designed to help integrate various authentication methods with Ubuntu. Here's a link for more info: ubuntu.com/blog/authd-oidc-authentication-for-ubuntu-desktop-server.
Check out Unifi Identity Enterprise; it's in beta, but it can work independently or alongside Entra. They’re aiming to create a standalone solution, though. You just need to submit a ticket to increase any limits based on your demands.
We have UDM across our sites, so this is definitely interesting! It seems like you’ll still need Entra alongside it, but I’ll definitely take a closer look.
There really isn't a perfect replacement just yet, and honestly, that might be for the best. I’ve been experimenting with various stacks that include Univention Corporate Server for directory services, Fleetdm for management, and Keycloak for SSO, among others. It’s quite flexible and can be set up on-prem, in the cloud, or as a hybrid. Most applications are web-based today, so that can make things easier too!
Ubuntu should work fine with Entra ID, so you might not need a direct replacement after all. It's fully compatible, which makes things simpler if you plan on keeping your existing setup.
In addition to finding an EntraID alternative, you should look into OnlyOffice for office tasks, Evolution for email compatibility with Outlook, and NAPS2 for scanning and handling PDFs. Also, if you’re looking into distros, Mint Cinnamon LTS is a solid choice based on Ubuntu.
This looks like exactly what I was searching for, thanks!