File Servers

This page provides an overview of the options for adding new users to a Mac OS X Server in a school environment. The notes below are based on a model which is used in local schools, but are by no means comprehensive, nor prescriptive.

 

See also:

Creating an Intranet Index - For school intranets

 

Option 1 - Add Users Manually

You can enter new users into WorkGroup Manager (WGM) manually. Simply click on the New User button, and enter the relevant info.

This process can be streamlined by setting up templates for new users' Home folder, Group, etc. Use the Preset button in the WorkGroup Manager (WGM) window to do this.

This option doesn't update Intranet index pages for student & teacher sites.

Options 2 - 4 (below) are the preferable means to populate your Mac OS X Server directory, keeping your OSX directory synced with the school's OASIS database.

Option 2 - Import from OASIS using xSUIM

xSUIM is a Filemaker database that massages data from OASIS into a format suitable for importing into Mac OS X Server's Open Directory.

xSUIM also creates index pages for students' and teachers' web sites.

This option requires you to:
- sit at an OASIS terminal and export the student list to a thumb drive;
- copy the data exported data file to an OSX computer (with Filemaker installed);
- import the data into xSUIM;
- export user info to your OSX Server;
- import user info into WGM.

Option 3 - Import using SENTRAL & xSUIM

Same as for Option 2, but using a Sentral server to access the OASIS database.

This option requires you to:
- sit at an OSX computer (with Filemaker installed);
- import student data into xSUIM;
- export user info to your OSX Server;
- import user info into WGM.

Option 4 - Import from OASIS - Passenger

Passenger is a tool developed specifically to import users into WGM from other databases.

This option requires you to:
- sit at an OASIS terminal and export the student list to a thumb drive;
- copy the data exported data file to an OSX computer (with Passenger installed);
- import the data into Passenger;
- export user info to your OSX Server;
- import user info into WGM.

These notes discuss adding new users to your Mac OS X Server at the start of a new school year, and include details about creating a new Home folder sharepoint, new Group and Group folder, etc.

If you are adding new users mid year, then simply ignore that part of the notes that describes setting up the new group, sharepoint, etc.


Adding new users - with xSUIM / No Sentral

(1.05Mb - pdf)
Setup a new group in WGM, add a new Home sharepoint, and import new users directly from OASIS.

Adding new users - with xSUIM / Sentral

(1.32Mb - pdf)
Setup a new group in WGM, add a new Home sharepoint, and import new users from OASIS via a Sentral server.

Adding Users - Manually

(984k - pdf)
Setup a new group in WGM, add a new Home sharepoint, enter new users manually in WGM.

 

xSUIM

(OSX Server User Import Manager)

(Needs Filemaker). For schools using the OASIS database system. Imports users from OASIS into Workgroup Manager, as well as keeping your user accounts (and Intranet index pages) synchronised with your school's OASIS admin records.

Passenger

Comprehensive tool to import and export user details to and from Mac OSX Server. You can use Passenger to export users from WorkGroup Manager, then import into SWIG to generate a web index page. Import and Export tutorial videos at this site. (Commercial - about $US60)

See also:

SWIG
(Student Web Index Generator)
A spreadsheet that creates a web index page, providing links to student web pages on an OS X web server. Student data can be entered manually, or imported from WorkGroup Manager, via Passenger (above).

Filemaker
xSUIM requires Filemaker to manipulate the data imported from OASIS. You can download a 30 day demo from this site.