Curriculum

MacTech InDepth's curriculum is set by MacTech with a combination of speakers from both the region, and nationally.

Topics

MacTech InDepth: OS X Server Administration will spend the entire day focused on Mac OS X Server. Topics will include:

• Differences between Lion and Snow Leopard
• Understanding Issues
• Working with DNS
• Definition and Uses of Open Directory
• Relevance of OS improvements to SMBs
• Mobile Device Management
• Visual and Functional updates
• Changes in Applications
• Changes in general admin tasks
• Network Configuration Requirements

Sessions

Each event has a different set of speakers who bring their own set of experiences, examples, and more to their presentation. Session content continually evolves and is updated regularly. As a result, it is subject to change (without notice). With that in mind, here's the session descriptions for the event.

Session Title:
The Elephant in the Room
Time: 45 minutes including Q&A

• Snow vs. Lion
• Why Snow Leopard Server was not the last great Apple Server
• Advanced Services
• FTP
• Apache management GUI's
• Service ACLs
• Analyzing the needs of a prospective OS X Server customer
• Profile Manager
• File Sharing
• Podcast Publisher
• Command Line Administration
  
  

Session Title:
Setting solid foundations
Time: 45 minutes including Q&A

• Internet DNS
• Routing to your server
• Port Forwarding
• DMZ
• Stupid Router Tricks
• MX, SVR, and SPF
• Open Directory: The Kind is Dead, Long live the king
  
  

Session Title:
Mobile Device Management 101: Apple’s IPCU/Apple Configurator
Time: 30 minutes including Q&A

• Mobile Device Management Overview
• Introduction to Apple's IPCU
• Practicality of use
• IPCU Interface
• Managing Devices
  
  

Session Title:
DNS, Ahh, run away, run away
Time: 40 minutes including Q&A

• Stop your whining, why DNS is easy
• DNS and BIND
• What really matters
• A, MX, CNAME, and PTR records
• Server Admin DNS configuration
• DNS at the registrar level
• Splitting the horizon
• Internet and Internal DNS
  
  

Session Title:
Administering a Server with just Server.app
Time: 45 minutes including Q&A

• The Services
• General Administration
• Collaboration Services: Address Book, iCal, iChat and Mail
• File Sharing and Time Machine Server
• Profile Manager
• VPN
• Web and Wiki
• Storage
  
  

Session Title:
Web Administration of OS X Server
Time: 35 minutes including Q&A

• Mobile Device Management
• Services you can administer or use from a web page
• Profile Manager and Devices
• Webmail
• Podcast Publisher
• iCal
• Wiki Server
  
  

Session Title:
Going old school, using the old tools
Time: 45 minutes including Q&A

• Server Admin: What is left, and why?
• Workgroup Manager
• Advanced DNS
• Using RADIUS
• Advanced Mail Server Configuration
• Working with Open Directory
• MCX
• User and Group Management
• Computer and Computer Group Management
  
  

Session Title:
Deployment Part I: Tools & Concepts
Time: 45 minutes including Q&A

• NetBoot, NetRestore, and 3rd party tools
• Network configuration requirements
• Using a Software Update Server
• Difference between NetBooting and NetRestoring
• Master Image Creation Best Practices
• Spanning Tree and Port Fast
• DHCP
• Deploying to more than one subnet
• Firewall ports to open
• Configuring client machines locally
• Using Profile Manager, MCX settings, or DeployStudio to configure clients to point at SUS
  
  

Session Title:
Deployment Part II: DeployStudio
Time: 45 minutes including Q&A

• DeployStudio Creation Techniques
• DeployStudio Management Techniques
• Making an NBI Set
• Creating master images
• Creating workflows
• Using tools for Admin Tasks
• The computers database