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  Mac support in an Active Directory environment
Time: 16:53 EST/21:53 GMT | News Source: Macworld | Posted By: Andre Da Costa

Supporting Mac users can be a challenge to systems administrators in a Windows Active Directory environment. Although Apple has used Samba to make it easy for Macs to browse and access shares and printers hosted by Windows servers using Microsoft's server message block (SMB) protocol, true Active Directory integration requires more than just access to resources.

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#1 By 1401 (65.255.137.29) at 3/14/2007 7:50:28 PM
I provide support for Macs in my Active Directory environment. I've got one that's propped up against a door and I've got another that's being held up by some shelving in an old junk closet...

#2 By 3653 (68.52.143.149) at 3/15/2007 2:44:08 AM
we got rid of the last mac user (through attrition) about a year ago. since that time, mac support has gotten much easier.

#3 By 75647 (194.83.71.166) at 3/15/2007 3:39:20 AM
We have a handfull of Mac's on our network, they connect into our Active Directory using a 3rd Party product called Extreams-ip, coupled with Mac Administrator various scripts run connecting up the shares on login.

before you all think im a mac lover dont, i h8 the bloody things, max are for hippies.

#4 By 18033 (194.106.62.200) at 3/15/2007 7:22:59 AM
@2 - We managed to exterminate the last one recently as well. Over the years with hardware and software upgrades - G3 to G5, OS blah to OS blah, etc, more money had been spent on that single employee than had been spent on several employees using windows based PC's. And for that money you dont get any extra productivity. I really don't see the point of Macs at all.

Please dont hesitate to point out what it is that I seem to be missing.

#5 By 37 (76.210.78.134) at 3/15/2007 7:57:16 AM
I am slowly weeding out all my Windows PC's in my home and replacing them with Macs. Macs roolz FTW yo.

#6 By 45684 (69.40.29.120) at 3/15/2007 8:04:39 AM
#3: "max are for hippies."

F-ing hilarious.

#7 By 37 (76.210.78.134) at 3/15/2007 8:13:47 AM
I like Max, and I don't even have hair.

#8 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at 3/15/2007 8:52:53 AM
#4: I don't have much Max experience but I do know a few people who have them. Most are creative types like musicians, artists and media design. They all swear by Mac.


#9 By 18033 (194.106.62.200) at 3/15/2007 10:13:03 AM
@8: Nor do I, but I agree with you in that most/all people I know who use Mac's swear by them. The only place that argument falls down is that most of them have never (wanted) to use Windows, and wouldn't have an informed idea of what Windows could offer them, so its a fundamentally flawed argument to begin with.

#10 By 37047 (216.191.227.68) at 3/15/2007 11:19:36 AM
People recommend to friends and acquaintances what they know and like. Artistic types know and like Macs, because for a long time, a lot of the really good software for such things as music creation were only available on Macs. So, they used Macs to use this software. They would show this software to their artist friends and acquaintances, who would get Macs to run the same software. Now, there is a lot of good music creation software available for the PC as well, and the hardware to support it. However, a lot of the older musicians, for example, are used to the Mac by now, and they are not interested in switching, as the software they use is still available on the platform they like and know.

The PC bigots on here seem to have trouble understanding that others could possibly like Macs, and be able to get stuff done on them. There is good software available for both platforms, so one can and should have the freedom and choice to use the platform they are most comfortable with. Most of the issues connecting Windows to Mac OS are likely due to MS not caring about others connecting to their proprietary networks, as they want to sell more licenses. That is fine for them, but it limits what the customers are able to do in the real world, and that is where I have problems with MS. I am not anti-Windows, per se, as I use it both as a professional development platform and as my personal home OS. I have also used a wider variety of OS platforms throughout my career than most here, I suspect, so I have less of a bigotry against other OSes than most of the Windows bigots that frequent these forums.

I'll stop now, as I seem to be ranting a bit.

#11 By 10896 (64.140.196.109) at 3/15/2007 12:16:29 PM
The first rule in setting up an office computer network is no Macs. This removes about 90% of the problems. Mac cultists are even worse than the Linux cultists. Always complaining about Windows, when it is their crappy Macs fault.

#12 By 23275 (172.16.10.31) at 3/15/2007 1:08:55 PM
Setting technological considerations aside is the first step in interoperability - be it between systems, or most importantly, people with different preferences. What I mean by that is that one's focus and effort has to begin and remain centered on the user - inclusive of preferences.

We have some history in servicing heterogeneous environments - larger privately held ad agencies - where one can see very strong preferences opposite systems, or as is more common these days, people using multiple systems at the same time - Intergraph, MAC OS 9/X and XP/Vista.

When one uses the words interoperability and heterogenous they are most often directed "at" the Windows network engineer and the Windows developer - the people responsible for "making it all work" "Directed at" is a practical term which I assess is fairly directed at those of us that favor using Microsoft software to build solutions - the "to much that is given - much is expected" thing. This includes bracing as needed and accepting what others prefer.

Yeah, I know... sounds like a contradiction - based upon what I write here... but it isn't - here, on Awin, we're all "under the goatskin" so to speak and we can speak our minds about our own preferences and what we think of the MAC - including how much of a pain in the private parts it is to support. [anyone leveraging a chained proxy or doing a manual init of the TCP stack on a MAC will know what I mean].

The issue for us is what we have to accept and expect - we have the platform - we have the tools - we have the skill and the minds that are agnostic as to system. The question is do we have the patience and experience necessary to gut out the day to day work that supports our MAC clients equally - as users - not systems.

Is the MAC any good? Not really and those of us that do work with it and by virtue of that experience, do compare it to XP SP2/Vista and rightly so, find it lacking and more costly in terms of time, money and patience. That just is. Accepting that and not just professionally, but cheerfully, supporting not just the MAC/*Nix but users of the same, is where we can really show what we are made of and how we can demonstrate that we are deserving of the leading position we occupy. To do less isn't just bad form - it diminishes us as a group.

Under the goatskin, as here on Awin, we can dog-cuss the MAC all we want. Those old enough to remember Apple have to do just that, "remember Apple" and remind ourselves that it just isn't the same platform, or company - where the geek culture used to be totally on that side and the appliances were early PC's.


#13 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at 3/15/2007 2:17:51 PM
Artistic types know and like Macs, because for a long time, a lot of the really good software for such things as music creation were only available on Macs.

I've noticed that as well, particularly working at an ad agency. But with many Mac users, it goes far beyond just familiarity and enthusiasm for one platform--so often with the enthusiasm for the Mac comes a denigration of any and every other platform out there. Many Mac users are loathe to admit they use something like GigaStudio, for example. It strikes one as an inferiority complex, at times.


#14 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at 3/15/2007 2:52:20 PM
#12: I've just read your 7-paragraph post for the third time now, and for the life of me I can't figure out what you're trying to say. Or was it just your usual "MS Good! $FOO Bad!" tack?

#15 By 8556 (12.207.97.148) at 3/15/2007 2:52:31 PM
I love my MacMini. I have as much space on the hard drive as possible devoted to Windows. Mac OS X isn't horrible at all. It just doesn't do much other than sort photos and iTunes. Ubuntu Linux is easier to use than Mac OS X for productivity. I don't do iTunes. I hate veneer music.

#16 By 28801 (65.90.202.10) at 3/15/2007 3:17:57 PM
I for one have never used a MAC other than drive bys in Best Buy. It does appear to be an elegant, fun operating system (when compared with XP not Vista). I might even consider getting one - just not for work.

#17 By 23275 (172.16.10.31) at 3/15/2007 3:34:16 PM
#14 - most simply.... many people on non-Microsoft systems talk a lot about interoperability and heterogeneous environments - while actual and effective interop falls on good Windows network engineers and devs leveraging Microsoft software to make it work.

Regardless, because Microsoft software leads - those using and advocating it have the challenge and responsibility to support all users/systems and in a way that is mindful of how personal computers represent personal choices - e.g., a professional and can-do public face - since such admins and devs are on the leading platform.

Finally, by virtue of carrying the real interop load, Windows network admins and devs earn something of a right to speak candidly about what they don't like in less well supported systems - but that sort of speak is best reserved for places like Awin - amongst peers and in private - again, adhering to the responsibilities those that lead must address.

#18 By 23275 (172.16.10.31) at 3/15/2007 3:35:47 PM
#14, Oh, and if seven sentences in a post are rough, then I guess the instructions on the label of a can a soup must be quite a challenge :)

#19 By 3653 (68.52.143.149) at 3/15/2007 5:59:22 PM
MysticSentinel... i suppose I'm one of those "bigots" you are referring to, right?

However, what you can't get your mind around is the fact that I was AS DIE HARD A MAC FAN at one point. I went to a top engineering school (full of unix and the up-and-coming windows) with a mac and a mac only. And I SUFFERED as a result. But my mac zealotry necessitated that I tell everyone they were wrong, and my mac se 30 and my mac IIsi were the past, present, and future.

Then I got my first job, and I had a mac at the workplace. I participated so fully in that self-loving cult, that I dropped something like $4500 on a PowerComputing mac clone. But about a year into my career... in a moment of clarity (I prefer to think of it as an attainment of wisdom) I realized this wasn't a religion. What the *@#$ did I care about apple for? They sure as #@# didn't care about me. They didn't care that I dropped almost $20,000 on my obsolete macs and proprietary peripherals (including the original apple laserwriter @ $5000, but that came with free apple-net. LOL).

So, I moved a windows machine next to my work mac... and within a month... I dropped my mac (and its precious 30-seconds-to -oad netscape communicator suite). And I've never looked back, except in shock and disbelief that some still manage to hold to that "I'm better than you" and more recently "I'm different, cause I think I am" attitude.

Do I hate macs. No, but most mac users are jerks when talking about their precious mac manna. As an person charged with IT at my company, did I bend-over backwards to force the macs out? No comment. Am I ashamed of it? No way.

On a related note, just 3 months ago I converted one of the most staunch mac supporters to the pc world. And 3 months later, his IM picture says it all. Its a pic of an eagle, and in very tiny letters it says "mac-free-dom".

This post was edited by mooresa56 on Thursday, March 15, 2007 at 18:03.

#20 By 7754 (75.72.148.247) at 3/15/2007 10:40:04 PM
"mac-free-dom"

And if yewww don't throw in your buck 'o five, who will?

#21 By 37047 (216.191.227.68) at 3/16/2007 7:09:54 AM
#18: "Oh, and if seven sentences in a post are rough, then I guess the instructions on the label of a can a soup must be quite a challenge :)"

Latch may or may not have trouble with the instructions on a can of soup, but you most definitely have a problem with counting. There are more than seven sentences in post #12.

#22 By 37047 (216.191.227.68) at 3/16/2007 7:36:22 AM
#19: I wasn't pointing at anyone by name. If you have actual Mac experience, then good for you. You can actually talk from a point of experience, and therefore don't qualify in my prior statement. It was aimed at those who have never looked at anything other than Windows, and say that everything else sucks because Bill G. says it does. I've used I've used about a dozen different operating systems and hardware playforms in my career, both personal computing based and mainframes. Each platform has its pluses and minuses. I was mainly aiming at those who can't see any of the positives in anything that is not MS. Does the Mac have problem areas? Absolutely! Does WinTel systems have problem areas too? Absolutely! I have always believed in using the right tool for the job, and no system is perfect for everyone, despite what MS would like you to believe. As someone with tons of real world experience, and a need for unusual hardware combinations, I use Windows, partly because that is the best platform for me at the present time, as it has the most driver support for the more non-common hardware configurations. I also support the Open Source software model. I think that there are good things about the Mac, Linux, and Windows. I also recognise that each has their own problems, too.

Because of all that, whenever someone asks me what computer system they should get, I always ask what they plan to use the system for, now and in the foreseeable future. And then I recommend the best platform for those uses.

#23 By 23275 (24.179.4.158) at 3/16/2007 10:09:47 AM
#21, Sheesh... I bet you're a fun date..... "Do you realize that you have eaten exactly four bites of salad and have taken exactly two sips of your water????" <Uh... no... check, please>

Any literal number wasn't the point.

<My God, you mean we actually have to read? Like entire books and stuff...?>

We are in serious trouble.

#24 By 2960 (24.254.95.224) at 3/16/2007 11:01:46 AM
It's hilarious to see folks get so worked up over a lil' ol Macintosh :)


TL

#25 By 37047 (216.191.227.68) at 3/16/2007 12:11:13 PM
Just to point it out, Mac OS X is not an original operating system. The only thing it has that is sort of newish is the GUI. Under the hood, it is still the old NeXTStep / OpenStep OS. When Apple bought NeXT Inc., they got Steve Jobs back, and more importantly, Avi Tevanian, one of the main people behind the Mach microkernel. Tevanian was also largly responsible for NeXTStep, and its current incarnation, Mac OS X. So, their shiny new OS is really a new coat of paint on an old, but well designed, OS. Much of what I like of Mac OS X derives from my time as a NextStep / OpenStep software developer. It had a wonderful development environment. Thus, part of my bias is from the developer POV, having used the really nice, object oriented, development environment. Unlike most other OSes available, NeXTStep / Mach was designed from the ground up to be OO. Linux and Windows have a non-OO lineage that has OO support strapped on.

All else being equal, though, I likely will stick with Windows for the short to medium term. But it has been somewhat enjoyable stirring the OS pot to get some activity happening here. It has been too quiet on here lately. :-)

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