Mac OS X Server

If you have a thorough knowledge of Unix, a thorough knowledge of Macs and are generally intuitive about new computers then you probable already know more than what this book will tell you. I personally was hoping for answers to a number of questions. Specific examples: how to implement RAID; how to perform backups. Both of these questions were covered in less than a page each, and both were described as "yes, you should implement this feature" without telling or even *hinting* at how to do so. Argh! The book continues on in this fashion. If you are using your server for anything but NetBoot and Apple File Services, *don't get this book*! Get a Unix book instead, e.g. Aileen Frische's System Administrator's Guide (O'Reilly books).

This book is very basic and should have been included with MacOSXS to begin with.


Finally!   October 17, 2000
 15 out of 19 found this review helpful

Have spent a week with this book and found it very helpful. I admin a mid-size network of K-12, primarily AppleShare but moving to Mac OS X Server. If you have an admin background but lack Unix experience, this book is a agreat place to start. It's well-written and organized, and even manages to be funny once in awhile.

If your needs run more to WebObjects and business applications, you'll need some additional books for in-depth info.

If your key focus is on getting and keeping users up and running, this book will help you do just that.


The Manual that never was   October 13, 2000
 6 out of 7 found this review helpful

I've been waiting for something to provide some information on this amazing server. this wasn't it. Basically its a manual that should have shipped with the server itself. It doesn't provide the insight and detail that was needed for the one thing I wanted to do (utilize the 5 enet ports for load balancing) and most of it is elementary network info. Definitely NOT worth the [money] I paid for it and not worth the 4 mo. wait.


Too little, too late...   October 12, 2000
 23 out of 24 found this review helpful

The release of "Mac OS X Server Administrators Guide" is the first of its kind for this platform and I'm sure much anticipated by some. However, I have to feel for the authors, Andrew G. Russell and John Welch, because they are about a year too late and caught right before the transition to Mac OS X. (As of this writing Mac OS X Public Beta is available for purchase.)

While I found the Administrator's Guide a well written and thorough book, my expectations were not met by a long shot. The authors spent more time and chapters than necessary discussing "A Peek Inside the Mach Kernel","Network Preparation" and "Understanding TCP/IP." They completely gloss over NetInfo, a very powerful network information management tool at the heart of Mac OS X Server, as well as WebObjects. They are only mentioned a few times and not discussed in-depth.

If you are using Mac OS X Server for anything but NetBoot and Apple File Services, you will be dissapointed. The Mac OS X Server user community has done a much better job cobbling together information and experiences on the web than this book is worth.

If you want a very simple "reference" book to sit on your shelf for occasional use--the type Apple Computer should have included with Mac OS X Server in the first place--then by all means buy it.


Essential for Mac OS X Server Admins.   October 10, 2000
 1 out of 5 found this review helpful

I recently took a 2 day training course in Mac OS X Server. I wish I the book were published sooner. I could have used it in conjunction with the course. This book explains in clear detail what the OS X Server is all about and is a great reference book This book is an incredibly useful tool that is a must for administrators on the MAC OSX Server.