Macs and Windows 2003 Server

[pantscat]

Hello!

I've just discovered this wonderful forum and it's been very entertaining and useful for me to lurk in... but I thought it was about time I unlurked and asked something that you chaps might have some info about:

Does anyone know of a website or a book that gives a pretty easy to understand explanation for setting up a network with Mac workstations and a Windows 2003 server?

Also - on another note - am I right in thinking that MacServer (what is it called?) is based on a linux platform?

Cheers,

Ant

[Geoff]

Does anyone know of a website or a book that gives a pretty easy to understand explanation for setting up a network with Mac workstations and a Windows 2003 server?

http://www.macwindows.com/ADinstruct.html

You will require a Mac OS X server running Open Directory though.

Also - on another note - am I right in thinking that MacServer (what is it called?) is based on a linux platform?

Mac OS X is based on BSD and Mach. A distant relative of Linux. There's also a lot of NextStep mixed in.

http://www.kernelthread.com/mac/osx/history.html

[russdev]

hello there...

yes mac os it based on darwin which is bsd i think more info here http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/unix/



Russ

[Roberto]

Hi Ant,
To integrate mac clients into a Windows network at a simple (but still very usuable and useful) level, you can do this very simply in 10.4 and the later versions of 10.3 without any 3rd party software or a Mac OSX server.

On the mac clients, look at /applications/utilities/Directory Access
- under "Services" tab, open Active Directory and configure a binding to AD from here, hopefully it should be fairly self explanatory.
- on the Directory Access "Authentication" tab, ensure "Custom Path" is configured under Search, and that Active Directory appears on the list underneath it.
- Click Apply.
- You should be done.

On the Windows Server (I'm assuming we're talking a Domain here),
open group policy in Active Directory Users & Computers, and configure the default domain policy and/or the default domain controllers policy
Computer Configuration/Windows Settings/Security Options/Microsoft Network Server: Digitally Sign communications (always) is set to DISABLED.

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823659)

That should just about do it.
Regards
Rob

[russdev]

Hello Rob

quick question for you mac people is it possable to cinfig a mac ibook hat when ti connects to network it logs on under domain but when not it is local


russ

[pantscat]

Thanks for all the replies chaps! Very helpful.

@Roberto - This sounds exactly the sort of thing I'd like to play around with.

Also - does anyone know if MACs support roaming profiles?
I have a Windows 2003 network with XP clients and I'd like to dabble with adding some MACs to our music department... but unfortunately I don't really have the time for the R&D (or money!)... I suppose I could always get a mini-mac just to play around with... hmm...

[petectid]

Hello Rob

quick question for you mac people is it possable to cinfig a mac ibook hat when ti connects to network it logs on under domain but when not it is local


russ

You can use a local account to log into the machine when not connected to the Domain and a Domain account when it is. You can also do some clever things with Locations Manager.

[petectid]

Thanks for all the replies chaps! Very helpful.

@Roberto - This sounds exactly the sort of thing I'd like to play around with.

Also - does anyone know if MACs support roaming profiles?
I have a Windows 2003 network with XP clients and I'd like to dabble with adding some MACs to our music department... but unfortunately I don't really have the time for the R&D (or money!)... I suppose I could always get a mini-mac just to play around with... hmm...

The Mac uses what they refer to as managed preferences, similar to the windows profile, not 100% sure but I think you will not be able to make use of these without the Open Directory server running on Os X server.

[russdev]

well you might be able to do something with applce script that gets the username name and copies files and settings down.

But as not got apple yet mini mac coming in 73 Days, 20 Hours,50 Minutes.

cant say for sure

Russ

[GrumbleDook]

If you are using Tiger (Mac OS X 10.4) then you have the option of creating a cached user from a domain logon.

You can set it up for the equivalent of offline files which will synch on a regular basis (or as regular as you want it ... ). To be honest it works pretty much the same way your iDisk does (which is probably no help to you if you don't have a .Mac account)

I have set it up on the few ibooks / powerbooks we have in school and it seems to be quite happy.