The only Apple-certified book on Mac OS X Server, this comprehensive reference takes server administrators, support technicians, and ardent Mac users deep inside the server operating system, covering everything from installing and configuring Mac OS X Server to the fine points of networking technologies, service administration, customizing users and groups, command-line service equivalents, and more. Keyed to the learning objectives of the Apple Certified Technical Coordinator certification exam, the lessons in this self-paced volume serve as a perfect supplement to Apple’s own training class, as well as a first-rate primer for computer support personnel who need to support and maintain Mac OS X Server as part of their jobs.
About the
Schoun Regan is CEO of I.T. Instruction (www.itinstruction.com) and leads its group of roving IT specialists, The Mac Trainers. Schoun routinely travels North America, training users on Mac OS X, Mac OS X Server, Windows integration, and image management and deployment. He organizes and speaks at the Mac OS X Pro conference sessions at Macworld Expo and various other conventions, educational institutions, and businesses.
VERY BASIC. If you are not already familiar with Unix-based operating systems and Apple's MAC OS X approach to them, then you may find this of value to walk you through all the basics. But it's useless fore more detailed information, and it far too much "walks the party line". It does not give you any real caveats or warn you about the many flaws in the MAC OS X server implementation of it's technologies (directory services, VPN, NAT traversal for IPsec, etc.). Don't waste your money if you're already experienced with the Nix world. Other than that, for a newbie admin, it reads fine, and the illustrations are clear and concise. Just a shame Apple is being so deceptive with the public in how it's server software is actually functioning (I've spent many a phone call with their higher tier support now, helping clients who have converted away from Windoze (yay), but their tech support has repeatedly said "that's a known issue we're working on" and "that feature doesn't actually work correctly yet"). Anyhow, it will help you out with a baseline at least. Very Microsoft like (unfortunately). It would have been nice if the book gave more real world useful information.
An excellent book for those looking to set up a small business server with Mac OS X Server. This book is the 10.5 version, and covers a LOT of material. Be prepared if you are studying this book for the exam: there is a lot of information that will need to be gone over. Give yourself at least a week dedicated to this book.
A great overview of how to setup and manage the Mac OS X Server 10.4 platform. Not enough focus on Web and Mail for many people, but then the 10.5 version (also by Schoun) covers that and more.