Apple Mac OS X Lion Server Tutorial - A Definitive Guide

Check Apple's Lion Server specs for two gigabytes of memory and seven gigabytes of harddrive space, and have an Apple ID and App Store account to download Lion Server.

Purchase Lion Server through the App Store with your Apple ID and billing credentials, download the 33 megabyte server app, and connect to manage existing servers.

Install Mac OS X server on a Mac client by downloading and running the server app, then enter administrator credentials and configure services after an internet connection and update settings.

Set up an administration computer and connect to a local server via screen sharing. Accept self-signed certificates, save credentials in keychain, and adjust the server's IP settings.

Install server admin tools from Apple support downloads, run the disk image and installer. Connect to a local server via IP or DNS, then explore server admin and workgroup manager.

Learn to manage mac os x lion server using server app, including creating users, changing the hostname, and enabling core services like address book, file sharing, and calendaring.

Learn to locate and configure the server status widget in the dashboard, monitor cpu utilization, network load, and disk usage, and manage widget deployment on the administrative computer.

Enable and publish Lion Server services over the internet using the Airport Extreme base station, adding chat and address book services publicly while configuring optional radius authentication and ssl encryption.

Migrate a snow leopard server to lion server by booting in target disk mode, transferring data via FireWire, and applying users, groups, and network settings with server app.

Demonstrate bonding two network interfaces to create a link aggregation for increased bandwidth, configure a static IP and DNS, and ensure the switch supports 802.3ad and LACP.

Learn to set up and manage Lion Server remotely by entering the server’s IP address and serial number, using the server app and remote screen sharing for ongoing configuration.

Manage Lion Server with server admin: add local servers, activate services, view overviews and logs, export service settings and import them back, and organize multiple servers with smart groups.

Learn how to use Workgroup Manager to manage users, groups, computers, and computer groups on Lion Server, including adding users to groups and locating local network computers.

Discover how to access Apple's Lion Server documentation via web links or the server admin help, and use the advanced administration guide for searchable, printable reference.

Explore the server admin command in Lion server via a remote ssh session, manage services with status and start/stop actions, and back up or restore settings.

Set up a minimal dns service on the Lion Server and verify resolution. Configure reverse and forward zones and forwarders, and ensure clients use this server as dns via dhcp.

Configure a standard dns server by creating a primary example dot com zone, adding forward and reverse lookups, and managing host records on Lion Server.

Configure a backup DNS server using secondary zones, mirroring primary zones on two servers, test forward and reverse lookups, enable zone transfers, and verify with host in Terminal.

Configure the lion server as a dhcp server, enable a subnet, set lease times and dns, and map static addresses, while observing the Dora process and logs.

Configure network time for workstations and Lion servers using Apple time servers or your own, and enable DNS-based time servers for reliable synchronization.

Learn to manage security certificates on Mac OS X Lion Server and clients by creating, signing, and replacing SSL certificates, using keychain access and certificate authorities to avoid trust warnings.

Learn how to promote a server to an Open Directory master, manage network users and groups with Server app, and verify DNS, hostname, and certificates for secure directory services.

Create a new user in Open Directory, enable shared home directories, and bind the workstation to the server using either unauthenticated or trusted bind through Open Directory utility.

Learn to manage users and groups with server app by creating accounts, assigning passwords and email, editing access and advanced options, and organizing members into groups, with optional profile pictures.

Configure network home folders and group shared folders on the server app, switch user accounts, test access, and verify Kerberos tickets for single sign-on.

Manage password policies and service access on Lion Server using server app; enforce password complexity, reset intervals, and per-user service permissions, including file sharing and home folders.

Import and export users, groups, and computers with Workgroup Manager in Apple Mac OS X Lion Server, manage directories, handle duplicates, set passwords, and require change at next login.

Explore managing users' home folders and password policies with workgroup manager, using Open Directory passwords, per-user or bulk policy changes, and password resets across the server.

Compare users created in server app versus workgroup manager, highlighting how server app auto-assigns service access and simplifies group-based permissions for project teams.

Compare computer records created by browsing network vs bound in directory services, create a new computer group, add members, and note that trusted bindings imply IP address and MAC address.

Learn to set up the profile manager on Mac OS X Lion Server, enable device management, configure certificates, and activate address book and chat services to enroll devices.

Enroll an iOS device to a client server through the profile management service via the user portal, install the trust profile, and complete enrollment to manage the device remotely.

Enroll a Mac OS X Lion device into the profile management service via the user portal, install device enrollment and remote management profiles, and review trust and admin credentials.

Explore the Profile Manager interface in the server app, managing devices, users, and groups, and review apps, activity, and payloads in the web interface for enrollment.

Configure profiles with Profile Manager to manage devices using per-user and group settings, including dock, web clips, passcode policies, and iOS restrictions, with changes pushed to devices.

Manage devices with profile manager on a Mac OS X Lion server, including locking iOS devices, organizing with device groups, and updating device status.

Learn how to manage devices via the my devices user portal, including clearing a passcode, wiping an iPad, and removing devices while the profile manager updates the device list.

Create and deploy an unrestricted enrollment profile with the profile manager in Mac OS X Lion Server. Learn to download, install, and optionally remove remote management profiles on devices.

Learn to manage client preferences using workgroup manager on macOS lion server, applying user, group, and computer settings—dock position, login items, energy saver, and login window behavior, with precedence rules.

Learn to use custom managed client preferences on mac os x lion server by importing app preferences and configuring safari home page via details tab with often, always, or once.

learn how to create and manage a mobile account, set up network vs local home folders, and enable mobile login so users can access their network credentials outside the network.

Explore creating external accounts within Lion Server mobility settings, configuring always-on mobile accounts on any volume, including external drives, so user homes move between computers.

Troubleshoot manage client preferences by verifying directory services, DNS, and networking, then use the terminal to read MCX settings. Inspect cached values in /library/managed preferences and delete them to reset.

Configure service access with server admin and server app to grant or deny user and group access, including file sharing, testing connections and groups-based permissions.

Set up service administrators in server admin, assign Penny as a full mail service administrator and Luke as a monitoring administrator, then test access by reconnecting as each user.

Configure limited administrators in mac os x lion server with workgroup manager, delegating passwords, user information, and group membership management to designated managers using an employees group; support multiple connections.

Configure full administrators for server app by enabling 'user can administer the server' in Workgroup Manager's basic tab, so a user like Boyton can manage line 1 server.

Configure the software update service in server admin and enable it to download and cache updates. Set port 8088 and storage location, copy all updates, and monitor progress via logs.

Manage the software update service on a Lion server by copying updates from Apple, enabling or disabling them, refreshing, and using sort and search to pick versions.

Configure the software update service on a Mac server with the defaults write command, setting catalogurl to the local SU catalog and testing updates locally.

Configure the software update service with managed preferences and set the software update server URL in Workgroup Manager. Verify updates propagate to clients via MCX queries.

Configure a cascading software update service with a master server to pull update packages, copy and auto-enable them, and avoid deleting outdated updates while tailoring catalogs across servers.

Use the server app or server admin to check for and install software updates on your Lion server, respond to alerts, and restart when required.