About This Guide
The Apple Pro Training Series macOS Support Essentials 10.12 guide prepares learners for the macOS Support Essentials 10.12 exam. To prepare for the macOS Support Essentials exam, learners can use the guide alone or they can use the guide in the macOS Support Essentials 10.12 course. Either way, if learners pass the macOS Support Essentials 10.12 exam, they’re eligible for the Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP) 10.12 certification.
Read this section to find out more about this guide published by Peachpit Press and the Apple course, exam, and certification.
Audience
Whether you’re an experienced system administrator or you just want to dig deeper into macOS, you’ll learn the technical information and processes that ACSP IT professionals use to install, configure, maintain, diagnose, and troubleshoot Mac computers that run macOS Sierra.
You should be comfortable using a Mac before you read this guide or take the course. If you’re not sure about basic Mac use, visit Mac Basics at http://www.apple.com/support/macbasics.
This guide and the course are aimed at these types of professionals:
Help desk specialists
Technical coordinators
Service technicians
System administrators
Others who support macOS users
How to Use the Guide
This guide gives you an in-depth tour of macOS. It also teaches you how to best support macOS users and troubleshoot their systems. After completing this guide, you should be able to:
Explain how macOS works
Explain best practices for configuring and using macOS
Explain macOS troubleshooting and repair procedures
Demonstrate macOS diagnostic and repair tools
Lessons and Exercises
For example, in Lessons 19 through 21, you’ll learn networking concepts; you’ll use network configuration and troubleshooting applications like Network preferences and Network Utility; and you’ll explore methods for resolving network issues. Each lesson has a reference section, which teaches essential concepts, followed by an exercise section that develops your skills through step-by-step instruction.
Note
“Note” resources, like this one, offer important information or help clarify a subject.
Tip
“Tip” resources, like this one, provide helpful hints, tricks, or shortcuts.
More Info
The “More Info” resources, like this one, provide ancillary information. These resources are merely for your edification and are not considered essential for the coursework.
For the most part, the exercises in this guide work in the classroom or at home. If you’re learning from home, make sure you have the following:
A Mac that meets the requirements to install macOS Sierra
macOS Sierra (Exercise 1.2, “Upgrade to macOS Sierra,” includes instructions for downloading macOS Sierra if you do not already own it)
A high-speed Internet connection
Student Materials demonstration files (see Exercise 2.5, “Download the Student Materials Independently” for instructions)
A new or existing Apple ID (no credit card information needed for free applications)
These optional items aren’t required but can be helpful to have:
A new or existing iCloud account.
An erasable external USB, FireWire, or Thunderbolt disk with a capacity of at least 1 GB (8 GB for Exercise 3.2, “Create a macOS Install Disk”).
An isolated network or subnet with an exercise-specific configuration. You can use a small network Wi-Fi router with multiple Ethernet ports—for example, the Apple AirPort Extreme (www.apple.com/airport-extreme/). Get the setup instructions from your Account page at www.peachpit.com/register.
A Wi-Fi interface in your Mac and access to at least two Wi-Fi networks (with one being visible).
An additional Mac running macOS Sierra. This Mac can have macOS Server 5.2 installed and set up with an exercise-specific configuration. macOS Server 5.2 costs $19.99. Get the setup instructions from your Account page at www.peachpit.com/register.
The required FireWire, Thunderbolt, or USB-C cable to connect two Mac computers in target disk mode.
A magnifying glass. This could help in Exercise 26.2, “Use Single-User Mode.”
You can complete the exercises in any order, except for the following:
Lesson 1, “Install macOS Sierra”—If your Mac isn’t running macOS Sierra, you must perform the appropriate exercises.
Lesson 2, “Set Up and Configure macOS”—You must perform the appropriate exercises to set up your Mac for later exercises.
Exercise 5.1, “Create a Standard User Account”—You must perform this exercise for later exercises.
Exercise 6.1, “Restore a Deleted User Account”—You must perform this exercise for later exercises.
Some exercises have dependencies on other exercises. These exercises list the dependencies as prerequisites.
Note
The exercises may be disruptive to your system. To complete the exercises, please use a Mac that isn’t critical to your daily productivity.
Unless otherwise specified, references to Apple operating systems in this guide refer to macOS Sierra 10.12. Because macOS Sierra is updated as necessary, some screens, panes, features, and procedures may be slightly different than they are presented in this guide. You can check for updates to this guide at www.peachpit.com/apts.macossierra.
Additional Learning Materials
Apple Support
This guide includes references to the latest free online Apple Support articles. You can find the articles at the Apple Support website (www.apple.com/support/). Please use these articles and the site for macOS support.
Lesson Files
Lesson files and bonus materials are available online when you register your guide at www.peachpit.com/register. The online “Lesson Review Questions & Answers” appendix checks your knowledge regarding each lesson through a series of questions. You’re encouraged to use the guide and the Apple Support website to answer the questions. After you attempt to answer the questions on your own, you can refer to the provided answers to confirm your knowledge. The “Additional Resources” appendix contains a list of relevant Apple Support articles and recommended documents as they relate to topics in each lesson.
Web Edition/Content Update Program
This guide is part of the Peachpit Content Update Program. As Apple updates macOS Sierra, this guide may also be updated. Updates are delivered to you via a free Web Edition, which contains the complete guide, including updates. When you purchase this guide from Peachpit (in any format), you automatically get access to its Web Edition.
Accessing the Lesson Files and Web Edition
If you purchased an eBook from peachpit.com, your Web Edition will automatically appear under the Digital Purchases tab on your Account page. Click the Launch link to access the product. Continue reading to learn how to register your product to get access to the lesson files.
If you purchased an eBook from a different vendor or you bought a print book, you must register your purchase on peachpit.com in order to access the online content:
1. Go to www.peachpit.com/register.
2. Sign in or create a new account.
3. Enter ISBN: 9780134713854.
4. Answer the questions as proof of purchase.
The Web Edition will appear under the Digital Purchases tab on your Account page.
5. Click the Launch link to access the Web Edition.
6. The Lesson files can be accessed through the Registered Products tab on your Account page. Click the Access Bonus Content link below the title of your product to proceed to the download page. Click the lesson file links to download them to your computer.
More Info
Access to the Web Edition doesn’t automatically provide access to your lesson files, or vice versa. Follow the instructions above to claim the full benefits of your guide purchase.
Apple Training and Certification
Course
Students use this guide in the macOS Support Essentials 10.12 course, a three-day, hands-on course that provides in-depth training on macOS Sierra. Apple Certified Trainers teach each course and give presentations and demonstrations. Students practice macOS support with hands-on student exercises. The course prepares you for the macOS Support Essentials 10.12 exam. If you pass the exam, you become eligible for the ACSP 10.12 certification. To find out more about Apple courses, exams, and certifications, visit http://training.apple.com.
Exam
Certification exams are offered through LearnQuest and Apple Authorized Training Providers worldwide.
To prepare for the macOS Support Essentials 10.12 exam, do the following:
Read the reference sections of this guide.
Complete the exercises in this guide.
Complete the macOS Support Essentials 10.12 course.
Gain experience on a Mac running macOS Sierra.
Study the macOS Support Essentials 10.12 Exam Prep Guide.
To learn more about Apple certifications and to find the macOS Support Essentials 10.12 Exam Prep Guide, visit http://training.apple.com.
Note
Although the questions in the macOS Support Essentials 10.12 Exam are based on this guide, nothing can substitute for time spent learning the technology. After you read this guide, or take the course, or both, spend some time working with macOS on your own to become more familiar with it and to ensure your success on the certification exam.
Certification
Apple’s macOS certifications are for IT professionals who:
Want to know how to add a Mac to a Windows or other standards-based network
Support macOS users
Manage networks of Mac computers running macOS—for example, a teacher or a technology specialist who manages classroom networks or computer labs
Manage complex, multi-platform networks that include Mac computers running macOS
An ACSP 10.12 certification verifies your understanding of macOS core functionality and your ability to configure key services, perform basic troubleshooting, and support multiple users with essential macOS capabilities. Passing the macOS Support Essentials 10.12 exam makes you eligible for an ACSP 10.12 certification. To learn more about Apple certifications and to find the macOS Support Essentials 10.12 Exam Prep Guide, visit http://training.apple.com.