Apple 10.6 manual Setting up basic server infrastructure

For example, if you use Mac OS X Server to provide DHCP, network time, or BootP services to other servers, you should set up the servers that provide these services and initiate the services before you set up servers that depend on those services.

The amount of setup infrastructure you require depends on the complexity of your site and what you want to accomplish. In general, DHCP, DNS, and directory services are recommended or required for medium and large server networks:

ÂÂ The most fundamental infrastructure layer comprises network services like DHCP and DNS.

All services run better if DNS is on the network, and many services require DNS to work properly. If you’re not hosting DNS, work with the administrator responsible for the DNS server you’ll use when you set up your servers. DNS requirements for services are published in the service-specific administration guides.

The DHCP setup reflects your physical network topology.

ÂÂ Another crucial infrastructure component is directory services, required for sharing data among services, servers, and user computers.

The most common shared data in a directory is for users and groups, but configuration information such as mount records and other directory data is also shared. A directory services infrastructure is necessary to host cross-platform authentication and when you want services to share the same names and passwords.

Here’s an example of the sequence in which you might set up a server infrastructure that includes DNS, DHCP, and directory services. You can set up the services on the same server or on different servers:

Setting up basic server infrastructure:

1Set up the DNS server, populating the DNS with the host names of the desired servers and services.

2Set up DHCP, configuring it to specify the DNS server address so it can be served to

DHCP clients.

If desired, set up DHCP-managed static IP address for the servers.

3Set up a directory server, including Windows PDC service if required, and populate the directory with data, such as users, groups, and home folder data.

This process can involve importing users and groups, setting up share points, setting up managed preferences, and so forth.

4Configure DHCP to specify the address of the directory server so it can be served to

DHCP clients.

Your specific needs can affect this sequence. For example, to use VPN, NAT, or IP

Firewall services, include their setup with the DNS and DHCP setups.

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Chapter 2    Planning Server Usage