Integrating Mac OS X into a Windows Environment: Hands-On

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this course about? This course will teach you how to install and configure Mac OS X desktops and servers to seamlessly integrate into a Windows environment. Through a progressive case study, you gain practical experience integrating OS X desktops and servers into a Windows enterprise system. Why do I need this course? With the introduction of more software options for Mac users, it's increasingly common for Macs to be integrated into a Microsoft enterprise network. However, since Mac OS X is a lesser-known technology, there are few resources available for making this integration. Organizations need system tools to manage both platforms and administrators with knowledge of maintaining both systems and ensuring hardware compatibility. I thought Apple computers were easy to use-all you have to do is plug them in and go. In any enterprise configuration, "plug in and go" is not realistic due to the number of machines that need to be managed, ensuring security, diversity of the shared resources (printers, file servers, back ups, etc.) and achieving a common desktop and authentication environment for all platforms. This course addresses enterprise network configuration, giving you the tools and techniques to achieve these solutions. Who will benefit from this course? This course is valuable for those who need to integrate Mac OS X into a Windows environment, including: Windows system administrators UNIX system administrators Apple power users Windows power users moving to Macintosh System integrators Help desk and support people What background do I need? General networking knowledge at the level of Course 450, A Comprehensive Introduction to Networking, or equivalent experience, is assumed. Course 145, Hands-On PC Configuration and Troubleshooting, and Course 150, Advanced PC Configuration, Troubleshooting and Data Recovery: Hands-On, also provide an excellent background for this course. Windows server and directory services knowledge at the level of Course 595, Windows Server® 2003: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction, or Course 960, Windows Server® 2008: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction, is helpful, but is not required. What versions of OS X are covered? This course covers OS X Tiger (10.4) and Leopard (10.5). While the exercises are performed on Leopard, if you use Tiger or an earlier OS X version, you will find the exercises equally applicable. The server platform used is OS X Server Leopard (10.5). What versions of Windows are covered? This course covers Windows XP and Server 2003. I use Windows 2000 or Windows Vista/Server 2008. Will this course be valuable for me? Yes. This course uses standard networking components built into the platforms and which have not changed across the Vista/XP/2000 versions. What is the difference between OS X client and server? Superficially, the OS X client and server may look the same. However, server platforms include several enterprise components not available at the client level, including directory services, management tools, enterprise-level file sharing, security and enterprise services. What are the benefits of having an OS X server within a Windows environment? An OS X server allows you to simplify your Mac client administration and authentication to the Windows Active Directory. Further, an OS X server allows users to save their work to the server, provides access to server files, facilitates collaboration, allows for Time Machine or Time Capsule backup, and enables client management and control. What computers are used? In this course, you work on MacBook Pro laptop computers with Leopard and VMware-based Windows XP and Server 2003. I have a lot of Apple experience with little Windows experience. Will I still benefit form this course? Yes! From any administrative perspective, the tools and techniques introduced in this course bring both platforms together. This course does not teach Windows Server and Active Directory administration. However, we will integrate the networking and administrative functionality across the platforms. How much time is spent on each topic? Content Hours OS X features and overview 2.0 Discovering the Mac user interface 4.0 Managing OS X network integration 5.0 Building centralized directory services 4.0 Simplifying OS X and Windows administration 4.0 Integrating enterprise services (DNS, security, Kerberos and replication) 4.0 Times, including the workshops, are estimates; exact times may vary according to the needs of each class. How much of this course is hands-on? You spend approximately 50 percent of the course in hands-on exercises. Based on a real-world scenario, the course exercises provide you with experience to build your own enterprise network with Mac and Windows clients and servers. Why come to Learning Tree for this course? Learning Tree is dedicated to helping accelerate the careers of our clients by providing them with world-class technology and management training. Our independence from Apple and Microsoft (and any other vendor) allows us to give an unbiased view of what works and what does not. This course is objective in its approach, having been developed independently from Apple and Microsoft by industry experts who bring their real-world experience to the classroom. Is this course going to teach me how to use Leopard from an end-user perspective? This course focuses on networking Macs within a Windows enterprise network. However, we will introduce some of the newer features of Leopard, including Spaces, Stacks, Time Machine and other UI features. How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses? For more information on Windows administration, you may be interested in the following courses: Course 960, Windows Server® 2008: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction Course 961, Windows Server® 2008 Administration: Hands-On Course 962, Windows Server® 2008 Active Directory Domain Services: Hands-On Course 595, Windows Server® 2003: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction Course 596, Windows Server® 2003 Active Directory®: Hands-On Course 597, Deploying and Managing a Windows Server® 2003 Environment: Hands-On For information on the network administration, you may be interested in these courses: Course 451, Network Configuration and Troubleshooting: Hands-On Course 367, TCP/IP: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction

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