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Using Network-Visible Resources
Mac OS X Server lets you make various resources visible throughout your network so users can access them from different computers and various locations.
There are several key network-visible resources:
ÂNetwork home folders. A home folder, often referred to as a home directory or simply home, is a place for each Mac OS X user to keep personal files. A user with a record in a shared Open Directory domain may have a home folder that resides on the network, often on the same server where the user account resides.
A home folder contains several
ÂGroup folders. When you set up a group account for network users, you can associate a group folder with the group. A group folder is a place for group members to exchange information electronically. By default, it contains three folders— Documents, Library, and Public. The Public folder contains a Drop Box folder, which allows users to easily share their files.
By residing on the server for easy access throughout the network, a group folder can be shown in the Dock for access from wherever a user wants to work on group activities.
ÂOther shared folders. You can set up other folders on the server to provide users access to applications, handouts, announcements, schedules, and other files.
ÂNetBoot and NetInstall images. You can use NetBoot images and NetInstall images on the server to simplify the setup of network users’ computers.
A user’s computer can start up from a NetBoot image stored on the server. You can use the same computer for a science lab booting from one image and for a French lab booting from a different image. Each time a lab computer restarts, the system reflects the original condition of the selected boot image, regardless of what the previous student may have done on the computer.
A NetInstall image installs preconfigured software on users’ computers, making it easy to remotely deploy the operating system, additional applications, and even custom computer settings, without user interaction.
Chapter 9 Client Management Overview
