What s in this book?

What's in this book?

Mac OS X Server can do so much that describing it in one book is a challenge.

While this books discusses Web, mail, NetBoot, file sharing, virtual private networking, DNS, network address translation, QuickTime streaming, and a few other services, there is much more under the hood of Mac OS Xand thus, Mac OS X Serverthat is not specifically server related but is important to understand nonetheless.

First, Apple has generously sprinkled open source software throughout Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server. You can consider Apache for Web services, Samba for Windows file sharing, CUPS for printing, FreeBSD for the underlying substructure, BIND for DNS, Postfix and Cyrus for e-mail, Jabber for an iChat server, and so on.

Second, these applications are versatile and expandable, and when a GUI is placed on top of them, they become easier for those attempting to harness the power within them to understand.

Add the server pieces to Mac OS X, and Mac OS X Server shines as a well-balanced collection of open source software controlled primarily by buttons, frames, pop-up menus, and check boxes.

Mac OS X Server also makes use of LDAP, DNS, KDC, ipfw, QTSS, IMAP, SSL, and other technologies commonly known by their acronyms (though maybe not, if you're new to Mac OS X Server, commonly known to you).

Added to the mix are Xserve and Xserve RAID, Apple's entries in the ever-expanding storage market. Xserve provides the first Apple computer designed to be managed without the administrator having to sit directly in front of the serveran approach totally foreign to most long-time Mac users. In fact, Xserve doesn't even come with a video card! (If you want one, you must add it as an option.) The remote administration aspect of Xserve is often what introduces many users to Unix. Powerful, expandable, customizable, dangerous, wonderful, old schooltake your pick. If you really want to learn about Mac OS X Server, you need to know a little about Unix.

This book sheds light on these and other technologies to help you make your entry into the Mac OS X Server world. The knowledge you gain from this book is but a starting point for further exploration of a well-designed, solid, secure operating system.