dirt -u username -n

will check if the username exists in any of the directories defined on the computer and list what directory it was found in.

Redirect My Documents folder
User Configuration > Windows Settings > Folder Redirection
My Documents

IE7 pop-up allow list
User Configuration > Administrative Template > Windows Components > Internet Explorer
Pop-up allow list

• Filemaker Pro 5 or 6
• Microsoft Word or text editor (to replace tab breaks with line breaks)

This is a utility I have created to help import users into Active Directory with all the Mac information as required by our implementation. The utility will also output a script to create the home directories on the (OS X) file server and assign permissions.

The utility is a Filemaker Pro 6 database and thus requires a copy of Filemaker to run.

The software is provided “as is” and does not include any product support. I plan to add instructions to this page when time permits.

Download the utility Bulk/New user utility (version 0.7)

In the test, Pi was calculated to 1048576 decimal digits on Mac OS X and to 1000000 decimal digits on Windows.

Computer specifications

* data based on ONE processor used

Software:
Super PI Windows | Mac

• Office 2003 install discs
• Active Directory Server
• User management MMC snapin

Create Network Installer

1. Run the setup off the CD with the /a switch (Start>Run>D:\setup.exe /a)
2. Share the folder Office is installed into (read only)
3. Run Resource Tools Setup off the CD
4. Run Custom Installation Wizard
5. Add to group policy

Group Policy: User based

Installs at login

Installs to a organisational unit of users:

1. Right click OU and select properties
2. Click Group Policy and create a new one or modify an existing policy
3. Add software installation to user configuration
4. Advanced tab
5. Modifications: Add the file that was created by the Custom Configuration Wizard.

Group Policy: Computer based

Installs at next startup

1. Move computers into an organisational unit
2. Right click OU and select properties
3. Click Group Policy and create a new one or modify an existing policy
4. Add software installation to computer configuration
5. Advanced tab
6. Modifications: add the file that was created by the Custom Configuration Wizard.

• Microsoft Excel or spreadsheet program to create csv, otherwise any text editor to do it all manually

This method is used to simplify the creation of users in bulk and to include all of the information Mac OS X requires such as home directory location.

To import users into AD, I use “csvde.exe -i - f path/to/file” to read a comma delimited text file and import the users into the Active Directory. This method seems to work well for Warilla, but unfortunately, all accounts need passwords set manually. DET has a licence for a peice of software called Hyena that can reset multiple passowrds.

I have included a table below with the fields and an example of the data in them. It is initially made in Excel with the concatenate function to create the required information from a users first name and last name.

The information should be arranged into column not rows as displayed in the data example above. A sample of what the text file should look like is included below:

dn, givenName, sn, description
CN=Joe BIGGS,OU=ImportedStaff,DC=warilla-h,DC=schools,DC=nsw,DC=edu,DC=au, Joe, BIGGS, Staff

Save the file as in CSV format. Then open a command prompt on the directory server. Enter the following command:

csvde.exe -i -f path/to/file

You should be presented with a bit of information, and a heap of . . . . . to indicate each record that has been successfully imported.

Check to make sure the users have been imported into the Active Directory. By default, hey will be disabled and have no password.

Server Administrator

Server Administrator allows you to configure Mac OS X Server’s services such as file sharing, network services including DHCP and other internet services. Beyond service configuration the application provides you with statistics and logs.

Configuration of services is similar to setting up options in other day to day applications. The interface consists of tabs, fields and pull down menus. All service configurations are done in the Settings tab. To turn on a service such as Windows file sharing it’s as easy as configuring the service and then clicking Start Service in the main toolbar.

Statistics can be viewed of most services via the Overview, Connections and Graphs . Depending on the service, information that is displayed ranges from how long the service has been running, to the amount of users and throughput. Raw logs can also be accessed for most services.

Server Monitor

Server Monitor gives you valuable feedback on the status of your servers with information from what version of the operating system is in use, to the temperature and speed of the fans in systems that support it. As with Server Administrator you can add more than one server to monitor.

Mac OS X Server’s Admin Tools provide every administrator with a collection of applications designed to make administration as easy as Apple is legendary for. I hope that you have a better understanding of what app does what. This concludes the two part article Get to Know Mac OS X Admin Tools.

The admin apps can be installed on any Mac OS X computer. Best practice is not use the server to run anything - including the management tools. The installation is as simple as installing any other Mac OS X software.

Workgroup Manager

Workgroup manager (WGM) is the most useful application after configuration is complete. It manages users, groups, shares and client preferences. Expect to spend most of your time in this application.

Users are added, removed and modified via the Accounts button on the toolbar. Creating a new user is as simple as clicking New User - similarly to remove users. The accounts section of WGM allows you to create user groups, assign users to groups and assign and create computer groups.

The Sharing button is used to set up share points for your users to access. Mac OS X Server allows you to share to a variety of platforms from Windows to UNIX and including Mac OS X. This section is where you configure who can access what share point and via what services.

Preferences allows you to specify how your clients user environment looks and behaves. They can be assigned by individual users, groups or computer groups. Most settings can be defined for your users including hard disk drives appearing on the desktop, specify what system preferences can be used to what applications can be accessed.

This has been a brief overview of what one of the Mac OS X Server admin tools offers. Continue to part 2 where we take a look at Server Administrator and Server Monitor .

Tip: You could include this maintenance as part of your login process by implementing login scripts.

Simply remove the desktop pictures folder from:

/Library/Cache/