Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server Unleashed, Rough Cuts

Description

This is a working draft of a pre-release book. It is available before the published date as part of the Rough Cuts service.

Administering & Managing Mac OS X Leopard Server provides a comprehensive introduction to supporting and managing Mac OS X and Windows (XP and Vista) clients in a network environment.  The book focuses primarily on the use of Mac OS X Leopard Server as a platform for providing file and print services, network-based collaborative tools, system deployment option, client and user management, network services such as DNS and DHCP, and directory services.  The book is designed to address real-world situations as well as provide theoretical understanding of systems and server processes involved in serving a Mac or cross-platform network.

Although this book focuses on performing systems and server administration tasks using Mac OS X Leopard Server, it also includes comprehensive information about how to design and manage an environment that includes Windows Server machines.  Windows Server will be looked at in two contexts: as the sole server platform in a network that must be used to manage Mac clients and in environments where Windows Server and Mac OS X Server are both present.  In my experience, there is a great desire on the part of Windows systems administrators for such comprehensive coverage.

Unlike other books on the market that just discuss Mac OS X Server, this book focuses on Mac OS X Server as a component in the larger scheme of system administration tasks.  As a result, it focuses on how setup and manage a server as well as how to work with client technologies.  It also covers Mac OS X Server's ability to integrate with other technologies, such as Windows Server and Microsoft's Active Directory to achieve the best possible client support and management experience.

Note: The author is presently revising this book to cover Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server, and we will publish revised material in Rough Cuts as soon as Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server is publicly released. For customers who have already purchased the Rough Cuts edition of this book, please note that the material currently available in Rough Cuts does not cover the Snow Leopard release (v 10.6), and only covers Mac OS X Leopard Server (v 10.5), which is the current publicly available release. If you have already purchased the Rough Cuts edition for Mac OS X Leopard Server, your purchase will be carried forward, and you will have access to the Snow Leopard edition as soon as we are able to release that to the public.

Sample Content

Table of Contents

Preface
This is the preface of the book.  It introduces the reader to the server and systems administration concepts included in the book and to how those concepts can be used in real-world network environments.  It also details the level of experience that is assumed of the reader.

- Introduction
- Audience for this book
  - Who this book is for
  - Who this book isn't For
- How this book is organized
  - List of the chapters in the book with a brief description of each one
- Conventions used in this book
- Acknowledgments

Part I: Installation and Setup
Part I introduces the system requirements for Mac OS X Leopard Server and guides the reader through the various setup processes.  It also introduces the reader to the various administration tools

Chapter 1: Requirements and Basic Installation
This chapter discusses the system requirements for Mac OS X Leopard Server as well as the graphical interface used to install Mac OS X Server from the installation DVD.  In discussing system requirements, both the minimum requirements and Apple's suggested system requirements are discussed as are suggested requirements for servers being used for specific tasks.  Some limited discussion of infrastructure planning is also included.

- System requirements
  - Minimum requirements
  - Suggested requirements for various server roles
- Introduction to infrastructure planning
- Basic installation using GUI installed on Mac OS X Server DVD

Chapter 2: Command Line and Automated Installation
This chapter talks about the various advanced methods for installing Mac OS X Server.  Specific topics include installation via the command line, NetBoot/NetInstall installations, and using Apple's Server Assistant to create automated installation files.  It also provides information about headless installation on Apple's Xserve hardware and using Server Assistant to configure remote servers once installation has been completed

- Overview of advanced install options
- Command line installation
- Server Assistant
  - Using Server Assistant for remote install
  - Automating installs with configuration files
- NetBooting and NetInstalling Mac OS X Server

Chapter 3: Simplified Setup and Server Preferences
Chapter three is the first chapter to discuss server configuration after installation is complete.  It focuses on the new simplified setup process introduced in Leopard Server. The chapter includes information about what is needed for a successful simplified setup and how to troubleshoot the simplified setup process.  It also introduces the reader the simplified Server Preferences application and explains how to administer and monitor Mac OS X Server using Server Preferences.

- Selecting simplified setup
- Requirements for simplified setup
- Setup Roles
  - Standard
  - Workgroup
- Troubleshooting simplified setup
- Server Preferences
  - Preferences panes
  - Monitoring tools
  - Behind the scenes
  - Troubleshooting from Server Preferences
- Switching to advanced configuration

Chapter 4: Advanced Setup and Admin Tools
In contrast to chapter three, this chapter discusses the more advanced setup process that allows an administrator to choose most server configuration options.  Some comparison to the simplified setup process is included.  In addition to walking the reader through the setup process, this chapter introduces the primary Mac OS X Server administration tools, explains their uses, and provides a basic overview of their interfaces.

- Advanced configuration in Server Assistant
  - Creating the first administrator account
  - Specifying network information  and Open Directory role
  - Fi

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