File Servers

Still early days for Leopard Server (plenty of undocumented features!) - these links may be interesting reading for early adopters...

Apple's Server Info Page (Features, Tech Specs, etc.)

What's New in Leopard Server (MacEnterprise Webcast)
Leopard Server Part 1 - Server Styles (afp548)
Leopard DNS - The Gui, The Bad, and The Ugly (afp548)
Leopard Server QuickStart Guide (afp548)

Mac OS X Server can be configured to provide a wide range of services, to suit the needs of many varied network environments. (See the official Apple Server documentation.)

The documents below provide a (non-official) step-by-step guide to setting up an OSX 10.5 Server to provide basic services that meet the needs of a typical school environment. The documents are listed basically in the order of the installation and setup process.

The model described in these documents is by no means comprehensive, nor prescriptive, and may not necessarily be suitable for use in your particular environment. As always, some testing and experimenting on non-production equipment is advisable. Each document is in pdf format.

1. Install Server & Config DNS (1.60 Mb)

Includes:
- installing server software;
- configuring DNS;
- configuring network settings;
- checking DNS operation;
- updating server software;

Configuring Services

2. Services Overview (85k)
3. AFP, Web, SMB (213k)
4. DHCP (199k)
5. Open Directory (417k)

6. Creating Sharepoints - 1 (339k)

Create and designate shared folders for Groups and User Home Folder directories.

7. Users & Groups (749k)

Creating Users and Groups, assigning Home folder sharepoints, creating account Preset profiles, bulk importing users.

8. Creating Sharepoints - 2 (445k)

Configure permissions for network re-imaging access, and permissions for subfolders within the Groups folder.

9. Client Imaging

Use Netboot and DeployStudio to re-image network Macs.

10. Managing Preferences (868k)

Manage the Dock, Printing, Group folder, Proxy server, and other default preferences for network users.

11. Create a Template User

Set a variety of user-specific application preferences for initial deployment to each new user. (For applications not able to be managed by WGM.)

12. Win XP Workgroup (288k)

Access Mac OS X Server from Win XP in a local Workgroup

13. Win XP Domain (641k)

Setup Mac OS X Server to be a Primary Domain Controller for Win XP computers.

14. Client Configuration (328k)

Setting up Mac clients to login to an Open Directory server.

15. Server Backup (680k)

Use Carbon Copy Cloner (CCCv3) and an external HD for a reliable, low-cost backup of server volumes.

16. Configuring your Intranet (605k)

Setup your Mac OS X server to host to your school intranet site, and teachers', students' and faculty sites, using iWeb.

17. Setting up Blogs and Wikis (590k)

Enable your Leopard Server to host blogs and wikis for teachers, students and groups, such as faculties and year groups.