Best place to learn the ropes of OS X Server for a relative noob with some technical chops?

[St. Bernard]

Subject line just about says it all--I'm looking to do some reading up on OS X Server. I'm considering whether or not I'm capable to set it up to run in a small office (to provide mail/file services at least) with some amount of no risk playing around at home.

TiA as always!

[onthedownlow]

Go straight to the source. The manuals for OS X server are very well detailed and explain most everything in easy-to-understand instructions (unlike some tech manuals). Download the PDF(s) and I think you'll be surprised on just how easy it is to implement.

Mac OS X Server Documentation: http://www.apple.com/server/documentation/
Leopard: http://www.apple.com/support/macosxserver/
Tiger: http://www.apple.com/support/macosxtigerserver/

Also, be sure to check out Mike Bombich's white papers on OS X deployment, and especially the 'Leveraging Active Directory' on OS X server, if you may (ever) have to incorporate that into the mix; it doesn't sound like you will need it, but good reading down the road.

http://www.bombich.com/mactips/index.html

[incognegro]

this site is good
http://afp548.com/

[Paul F.]

You can do it!

If *I* can set up an OS X Server, you can do it.

AFP file services are almost trivially easy to set up (in their basic form).
Mail, I haven't tackled so can't say much about it.

DO read the manuals.

Also, during setup, if running 10.3 or 10.4 server, you'll want to make sure your OpenDirectory is set for Stand Alone FIRST, then set up your DNS Server, and THEN promote your OpenDirectory server to Master.
That all sounds harder and more intimidating than it is, really...
But there's a "bug" that can goober things up with your DNS Server if the OpenDirectory is set up as Master first.
Cost me more than a few hours reading to figure out that's what was going on.

PM me tomorrow (when I'm at work with my books in front of me) for the titles of two excellent books that you can probably find cheap used on OS X Server (specifically 10.3, but useable for 10.4 for 90% of it).

The way I learned was just start in, set it up, screw it up, wipe it clean, reinstall, and then read the manuals and get it right. Costs some hours, but gives a better idea how things work.

Hope this helps!

[St. Bernard]

Many, many thanks, guys!

I will indeed PM ya, Paul F.!

[Paul F.]

Found one of the titles;
http://www.amazon.com/Mac-OS-Server-10-3...0321242521

Mac OS X Server Visual QuickPro Guide..

Excellent overview and step-by-step. Little light on the "heavy tech" details, but great for a better "overview" of each service than the in depth of the Apple Manuals..

Also, they have an edition for 10.4 Server...

The other title (which is escaping me at the moment...).. it has "Essential" or "Essentials" in the title.
Better command-line and terminal based stuff... lots of "under the hood" instructions and "theory behind it" that the Apple manuals sometimes lack.

Darn it... Coming up empty with google...
But my copy is on a cart right next to my desk at work :-)

[Bubba3K]

I think Paul F is thinking of:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0...ive=327641&camp=14573&link_code=as1

Essential Mac OS X Panther Server Administration by Bartosh.

Obviously is great for panther server (which you can get at megamacs for $130 for an unlimited client version). It is also still pretty relevant for tiger. I haven't messed with leopard server yet. I don't plan on touching leopard for a while.

If you want to run mail service, check out http://maxo.captainnet.net/installs/mail...index.html

I have never been too fond of the built in mail services provided by apple. ECM has served my needs well.

-B3K

[Paul F.]

That's the one!