macOS for IT Administrators

1h 54mIntermediate2019-11-20

Authors

Sean Colins

Management Consultant, Author, Trainer, and Entrepreneur

Course details

Effectively work with macOS systems as an IT administrator. In this course, instructor Sean Colins reviews the fundamentals of how the macOS works and how it interacts with management tools, networks, and server systems. Along the way, Sean provides important information regarding the administration of a wide range of macOS versions, and in many cases, when there are breakpoints in a feature or pitfalls that admins should watch out for. He goes over the overall organization of the operating system; what happens at each phase of the startup of a macOS system; MDM management; how Kerberos works in Active Directory; important Apple SSO details; how caching works; how to leverage command-line options for configuration and reporting of the caching service, and much more.

Learning objectives
Backing up macOS
Administering apps in the enterprise
Network ports you need to know
Reviewing logs in the Console
Key commands and shortcuts
Working with MDM
Scripting solutions to problems
Remote administration tools and techniques
How Kerberos works in Active Directory
Important Apple SSO details
Working with FileVault and Gateway
Writing scripts to automate administration
Guidance on where to go to learn more
How macOS startup works

Skills covered

Mac OSSoftware AdministrationClient Operating SystemsIT Help DeskAppleServer AdministrationPersonaNetwork AdministrationNetwork and System Administration

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Airdropped into macOS
02 - What you should know
03 - Philosophy of macOS administration

1. Fundamental macOS Concepts

04 - The many layers of macOS
05 - Multi-domain system admin
06 - Kernel extensions and system extensions
07 - What is a plist file
08 - The startup process
09 - Modifying the startup process
10 - Using Safe Mode
11 - Backing up
12 - Installing macOS
13 - Creating an OS install device

2. Directory Services

14 - Local users and groups
15 - How Kerberos works
16 - Accessing Kerberized services
17 - Enterprise network integration with SSO
18 - Administer apps in the enterprise

3. Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

19 - Sidecar
20 - Key commands and shortcuts
21 - Network ports you need to know
22 - Reading and collecting logs
23 - Printer administration
24 - Administer gatekeeper
25 - Accessing filesharing
26 - Troubleshooting file sharing connections

4. Remote Administration

27 - Local and remote administration
28 - Use SSH to admin a Mac
29 - Use ARD or VNC to admin a Mac
30 - Understand MDM
31 - Work with MDM
32 - Creating profiles
33 - Deploying profiles
34 - Control caching on your network
35 - How caching works
36 - Cache server advanced administration

5. Advanced Administration

37 - Using the defaults system
38 - Creating your script
39 - FileVault administration
40 - Changes in Catalina

Conclusion

41 - Next steps