iMacs in a Windows Enviroment

[S_Hannah]

Hi Guys,

 

I guess you can tell I am relatively new to having iMacs on the Windows network. Basically we have 6 iMacs that need to be managed, but we don't have any Mac Servers etc.

 

How am I able to manage them (at no cost) so we can deliver basic settings and profiles for the students.

 

Anyone have an ideas?

 

Regards.

[scholes99]

Put windows on them haha

[FN-GM]

Have a look at this. Group policy for Mac without a mac server! - Active Directory Integration for Mac OS X

[Norphy]

Put windows on them haha

 

Hmm, helpful

 

You can join your macs to the Windows domain so you can at least use your normal user names and passwords. However, unless you're willing to spend a little bit of money, either on what FN-GM suggests or a Mac Mini server with OS X Server on it, I don't think you're going to be able to do what you want. I think the closest your going to get is to modify the default user profile so your users will at least get a standard desktop. However, doing this is somewhat hacky to say the least. There's a post on Edugeek about here: http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mac/72443-how-create-os-x-default-profile-template-bind-ad-10-5-10-8-a.html and more about on Apple's forums here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3266469?start=0&tstart=0

[scholes99]

What ever you do. Do not add the macs to a .local windows domain

[mavhc]

I have them on a .local domain, mostly works, takes about 30 seconds before they can log in, red dot thing.

 

Step 1 is: travel back in time and stop yourself naming the domain .local, although not sure what the proper local tld is now.

[S_Hannah]

Hi Folks,

 

Thank you all for your replies. I have now managed to bind them to AD (.local domain) and they have now all been setup. My next steps will be to create a default profile that will apply to use users as they login.

 

Thanks for your input.

 

Stuart