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SSSD vs Samba: catalog facts
SSSD	Samba
Free Free and open source.	Free Free and open source under the GNU GPL.
Linux	Linux, Self-hosted
Joins Linux machines to Active Directory, FreeIPA or LDAP Uses remote identities and domain policies for login	Serves files and printers to Windows, macOS and Linux clients Can run as an Active Directory domain controller
Linux only Requires an existing directory or identity domain to connect to	Configuration can be complex, especially for AD roles Runs on Linux and Unix-like systems only
Downloadable app	Downloadable app, Self-hosted
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License: GPL-3.0
Not stated if an account is needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.