Apple claims 10.5 server is easy enough for anyone to setup; “no IT department needed,” they say. Well, anyone can tell you, it’s not that easy!
So, to help server newbies setup OS X 10.5 Server, I’ve made a basic installation procedure for newbies (that is: server newbies). Right now it’s not exactly “detailed” – just the basic steps to ensure success (although there are quite a few and you’ve got to have a basic understanding of os x and networking).
This setup procedure has worked well for me (especially at my home). It’s for a Standard Installation and we’ll be setting up the server to include Mail (local only), iChat, VPN, File Sharing, iCal, Web Server/Wiki, Apple Remote Desktop access, and Time Machine (which may not work well).
If you are a server expert, please let me know if I’m missing something that will help ensure this setup works as perfectly as possible on any system.
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to help make sure this works, try using all the names i’ve used below (besides perhaps user names & passwords); like “server.house”
1) Setup Router
• ensure router is properly connected to modem/internet
• router lan address = 10.0.2.1
• subnet mask = 255.255.255.0
• dhcp on
• dhcp server starts at = 10.0.2.9
• dhcp server ends at = 10.0.2.99
• dns server (opendns servers) = 208.67.222.222, 208.67.220.220 (not a completely necessary step, but may help ensure it works)
• port forward to 10.0.2.2 = vpn (udp: 500, 4500; udp/tcp: 50)
• port forward to 10.0.2.2 = ard (tcp: 5900, 5988; udp/tcp: 3283)
2) Install/Setup Server
• startup server computer with installation cd and start installation process
• choose “Standard Installation”
• setup administrator account with the following settings:
user name: Administrator
short name: admin
password: admin
setup network settings (choose manual configuration):
manual ip address = 10.0.2.2
subnet mask = 255.255.255.0
router = 10.0.2.1
dns server = 10.0.2.2
search domain = house
• primary dns server = server.house
• server name = server
choose all the services and let installation complete; wait until desktop loads
Verify things are initially okay:
• Open safari, and type “server.house” in the address bar (ensure wiki appears)
Good, now:
• Download latest 10.5 server combo update, install, restart.
• Run software update until all updates are installed (may require several restarts)
• Setup a dyndns account for your server, install dyndns software (make sure it’s updating via web and the ip address doesn’t start with 10.x)
3) Setup Server Preferences
• open server preferences
• go to file sharing: turn on file sharing
• go to vpn: turn on vpn
shared secret = somethingsecretive
ip address range = 10.0.2.101 – 10.0.2.199
• go to users
• make new user(s) with all options enabled
you should now have all services in server preferences enabled (if not, enable them) and user names setup; for good measure, restart the computer again
4) Setup Client Computers
make sure client computers have all software updates installed before proceeding
• Open system preferences: network
• Make a new location called “Server”
• Set TCP/IP to DHCP
• DNS Server = 10.0.2.2
• Search domain = house
• Click apply
It’s probably a good time to double check that the internet works – open Safari and google something. Good, it works.
There are two ways to setup the client computers to connect to the server with basically no manual configuration needed:
First way:
Go to system preferences: accounts: select user name to associate with server: select “server account” (if available): enter appropriate info for user on server: wait a bit: restart computer
or (if “server account” isn’t available):
Second way:
Open finder: applications: utilities: directory utility. once opened, it should automatically find your server. if it doesn’t, click the lock, click “plus sign”, type = “open directory”, server name = server.house, click ok
• enter appropriate info to connect to server and ensure it’s set to automatically setup all services, once finished – restart.
5) If the automatic setup didn’t work, here’s how to manually setup the client workstations:
Safari
• Open Safari and type “server.house” in the address bar, enter user/pass, make sure it connects to wiki.
iChat
• add new jabber account
• jabber id = username@server.house
• server = server.house
• port = 5222
• kerbos = on (you can leave off if you want)
You can test by connecting to your Jabber account
VPN
• open Network in system preferences
• click lock
• click “plus sign”
• interface = VPN
• vpn type = L2TP over IPSec
• service name = server
• server address = your dyndns address
• click advanced
• dns server = 10.0.2.2
• search domain = house
• click ok
• click authentication
• enter user’s server password
• enter “somethingsecretive” in “shared secret”
• click ok – click apply
You can test by clicking “connect” – after verified, disconnect.
File sharing
• Open finder: click “Server” under “Shared”
• If it connects as guest, click “connect as”
• enter your server username/password
Drag a file to and from a folder to make sure file sharing works
• Add new mail account (imap)
• Incoming mail server = server.house
• Outgoing mail server = server.house
• Outgoing authentication = kerberos 5 (or password)
• user name = username@server.house
• enter password
Check to make sure you get the server welcome e-mail and that you can send email to other users on the server.
Time Machine (very problematic at this time)
• Open Time Machine in System Preferences
• Click “options”
• Eliminate as many folders as possible to keep backup times shorter; click done
• Click “change disk”
• Select “Server” disk; click “use for backup”
** I highly recommend using local SuperDuper! backups and/or Retrospect for networked backups to the server. Other options include the dot mac Backup application or online backups (google it).
If you have PCs on your network that you want to be able to connect to the server for file sharing
• Open Windows Explorer (my computer)
• Click tools: map network drive
• Enter “\serverpublic” (or if you setup a user account on the server for the pc user(s) i think you can use “\serverpcusername” – and
follow the next two steps)
-Click “connect using different user name”
-Enter pc user account username/password
• save settings
Check to make sure the drive shows up and you can move files to/from server
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Helpful info for newbies setting up os x server 10.5:
• Apple’s Server Resources page with all manuals
• Probably the most helpful newbie setup discussion
• Probably the most helpful newbie setup discussion #2
• “Time Machine is a dog… discussion”
• Manage Central Address Book discussion
• Leopard to Windows Files Sharing Issues discussion
• Lynda’s 10.5 Server Training Videos (this does cost money and I haven’t personally used it, but it looks very helpful)
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I hope that’s a good start for people, but I’m sure some setting(s) can be tweaked or I missed something that could make this process go even more smoothly. Lets make this the definitive newbie standard installation setup tutorial!
