File Servers

The Setup Notes below describe just one particular model for the installation and configuration of a server in a school environment. For some more comprehensive notes, and other server info and background reading, these links may be of interest...

- Apple's Server Info Page - Features, Tech Specs, etc.
- Apple's OSX Server Guides - Detailed info on each service.
- AFP548: Lion Server Review
- AFP548: Lion Server Admin Tools

- iOS Education Deployment (pdf)
- Mobile Device Management

- Mac & iOS Managament Videos

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

The documents below provide a (non-official) step-by-step guide to setting up an OS X 10.7 Server to provide basic network and collaboration services that meet the needs of a typical school environment. The documents are listed 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. However, the notes below describe the configuration of a model that will support school learning environments, while being technically 'supportable' by teaching staff or others who do not have extensive knowledge of server technologies.

As always, some testing and experimenting on non-production equipment is advisable. (Lion Server cannot be installed on pre-Core 2 Duo computers.)

1. Installing Lion Server (744k)

- installing server software;
- configuring initial setup options.

2. Install Server Admin & DNS (650k)

- adjusting default configuration;
- adding zone machines;
- checking hostname;
- setting up forwarders;
- testing lookup.

3. DHCP (248k)

Configure your server to provide a Dynamic Host Control Protocol service (automatic IP addresses) to your network.

4. Configure Open Directory (301k)

Create a directory for your network users and shared folders.

 

5. Create Home Folder Directories (219k)

Creating and designating folders that will contain network users' Home Folders.

6. Create Group Folder Shares (200k)

Creating a sharepoint, and sub-folders for student and teacher groups.

7. Create Groups (278k)

Creating Groups for user management and resource sharing.

8. Create users (400k)

Create network users and organise users into groups.

9. Shared folder permissions (308k)

Set folder permissions on shared folders.

Network Computer Configuration...
10. Mac 10.7 Configuration (544k)

Configuring Mac 10.7 clients to login to a Mac OS X Open Directory server.
See also:
- 10.6 Client Config
- 10.5 Client Config

11. Windows 7 clients

Accessing Mac OS X Server from Windows 7 computers on your network.
See also:
- XP access

12. Managing Preferences (1.26Mb)

Setting up the desktop environment for students and teachers.

For notes for the following, (for now) please refer to the corresponding notes for 10.6 server, which are essentially similar.

13. Client Imaging

These notes describe the process of re-imaging stand-alone and network computers using DeployStudio.

 

14. Creating a New User Template

Setting a variety of user-specific application preferences for initial deployment to each new user.

15. Blogs and Wikis (590k)

Build your school Intranet around Snow Leopard Server's collaboration services to host blogs and wikis for teachers, students and faculties and year groups.

16. Server Backup (680k)

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