Question

Using workgroup manager to manage macs which authenticate to Active Directory

Asked by: steiner470

My user accounts are stored in active directory. My macs currently log in and authenticate against active directory (configured via Directory Utility) and work fine. However I also have an Xserve with Workgroup Manager and I'd like to use that to manage the user preferences, printing, etc. How can I do this?Is it possible to have the user accounts authenticate to active directory (possibly through the Xserve) and pull the workgroup manager preferences from the Xserve?

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Asked On
2009-09-14 at 14:52:02ID24731150
Tags

Mac os 10.5

,

xserve

,

windows server 2003

,

active directory

,

workgroup manager

Topics

OS-X Server

,

Snow Leopard (OS 10.6)

,

Active Directory

,

Mac OS 10.5 (Leopard)

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: hborisPosted on 2009-09-15 at 01:43:47ID: 25332949

Yes, this is indeed possible. The setup is called the "Magic Triangle" where user accounts are stored in Active Directory, but the Open Directory on the OS X Server holds the so-called augmented records with attributes not supported by Active Directory schema, as well as service locators. It is unfortunately to big of a topic to fit in an EE question so I suggest you get an Apple certified tech to help you with the setup. Just a note - the whole environment must be fully kerberized and for that to work the DNS service must be set up and working correctly.

Boris Herman, ACSA

 

by: nappy_dPosted on 2009-09-15 at 04:50:52ID: 25333837

There are two ways to do this.

Option1: if you do not have an xServe, this is OK. You can use Centrify(http:www.centrify.com). This procduct works as a plugin on your Macs and with your AD infrastructure. So, if you or your other admins are very comfortable with Group Policies, then this product is not a big leap to implement. Give them a call and get a 60 day trial.

I use this product and can only sing it praises.

Option2: you could work on creating the golden triangle but I have found that you have to pay Apple quite a bit of money for an Engineer's time. Also, since 10.4.11, the AD plugin has not worked as well as it could. Also, with this option, you would need to have an xServe to make the Golden triangle work. Google the prhase "afp48.com golden trianle". You will get a pdf on some implentation steps. While this is a bit dated, its fundamentals for implemtation pretty much remains the same.
 

 

by: hborisPosted on 2009-09-15 at 05:10:27ID: 25333939

Those instructions are very outdated and not to be looked at. As of Leopard, and, especially Snow Leopard, the Magic Triangle works very well. Also you don't have to go thru Apple Business Services for support, just find an Apple Certified Sysadmin in your area for help. The procedure is also covered in Apple Training courses so you can handle the setup alone. The point is to have DNS working very well and all services Kerberized. After that, it is a snap.

Boris Herman, ACSA

 

by: nappy_dPosted on 2009-09-15 at 07:00:24ID: 25334936

Hboris, as I stated in my last post; "it is dated but certainly a good read." :)

 

by: steiner470Posted on 2009-09-15 at 13:34:04ID: 25339124

Thanks all, I actually found a good guide online for leopard which is not as dated as the other version.

http://www.bombich.com/mactips/activedir.html

I will use that as a guide. Oh, question for hborris: When you say "Have DNS working well" is it necessary to actually have a DNS server installed on the Xserver or is it sufficient to have it pointed to a DNS server that is healthy and functioning properly?

 

by: hborisPosted on 2009-09-15 at 13:42:50ID: 25339250

DNS working well means any fully functional service on any server that has all pertinent records, including reverse mappings. It will hit you very hard if there is loose DNS configuration - Kerberos and bindings rely a great deal on working DNS. I cannot emphasize this enough as it is the root cause of 99.9% of binding problems.

Boris Herman, ACSA

 

by: steiner470Posted on 2009-09-16 at 18:19:04ID: 25352069

Excellent, I have the implementation working, but there is a small problem. Now that I have my xserve joined to active directory it seems anyone with a valid account can log into the machine! How can I disallow all logins to the xserve except for the administrator account?

 

by: nappy_dPosted on 2009-09-17 at 18:55:25ID: 25362508

You need to bind your workstations to OD.  After binding to OD, you can create computer groups and nest user groups to computer groups.

This way, you can control who can access which computer(s) or computer groups.  See my screenshot....

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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