macOS is the current generation of operating systems running on all Apple Mac computers. In this book, we will explore the capabilities and tools it offers for system administration and support tasks. Although many features of the Mac's interface are covered, this book is not intended to explain all the basic aspects of the hardware and user interface, but rather the areas pertinent for a user acting as an administrator.
This book will walk you through the world of macOS from a system administration and support point of view. You will be able to take advantage of the resources macOS offers for a large variety of common administration tasks. In addition, you will be empowered to configure key services and perform essential troubleshooting. More importantly, you will have a good understanding of the macOS environment and its tools for system administration tasks. For this reason, most of the examples provided will be from an administrator's perspective. However, when relevant, a standard user's perspective is also presented. The examples and illustrations we show in this book are from a Mac running macOS 11 (Big Sur), and sometimes, when necessary, we refer to other macOS versions, such as macOS 10.15 (Catalina).
On the other hand, we are all aware of the incredible pace at which technology is changing today. In particular, Apple is implementing improvements and new technologies at a rapid pace, and this includes its operating systems, such as macOS, the subject of this book, and its Mac models, with the introduction of the M1 silicon chip, which will introduce significant changes as its implementation across models advances. In that respect, we have done our best to make this book useful for all the most recent macOS versions, and we will do our best to update and review any topics that are improved or changed over time. However, bear in mind that sometimes it is not possible to do this as soon as changes or improvements are implemented.
We will start by understanding how macOS is different from other leading operating systems, as well as exploring its main and most recent features. Then, we will move on to installing and configuring macOS, including the use of the recovery system. Next, we will examine the start up process. After that, we will learn how to manage users, including important information on user security and privacy. Following that, we will describe the filesystem to understand the logic behind it, including managing disks, volumes, and partitions. Next, we will cover ownership and permissions in macOS and how to manage them. Then, we will jump into managing system resources, apps, and documents, including backups with Time Machine. In the final part of the book, we will touch on more advanced topics, such as network configuration, network services, and sharing services. There is also a chapter dedicated to the tools available for securing the system. And, finally, we will look at examples of how to use the command-line tool for administration tasks. An Appendix that includes troubleshooting steps designed to help you solve various potential issues and common scenarios is also included.
Who this book is for
The information this book provides is intended for system administrators, support professionals, technical coordinators, or advanced users looking to learn about the tools macOS offers for system administration and support. At the same time, if you are intending to take the Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP) examination for supporting and troubleshooting macOS, this book can be a great study guide since it covers all the topics you need to know to increase your chances of success.
What this book covers
Chapter 1, Overview of the macOS System, Architecture, and Features, is an introduction to macOS. It explores how macOS is different from other leading operating systems, reviews its main and most recent features, and explores the basics of its architecture.
Chapter 2, Installing and Configuring macOS, explores the installation of macOS in various scenarios and the system configuration during and after installation. We also learn how to use the recovery system to reinstall macOS or to perform a clean installation.
Chapter 3, The Start Up Process, covers the different stages of the macOS start up process. It describes the audio and visual cues that happen during the process.
Chapter 4, User Accounts Management, describes the types of users available in macOS and how to manage them.
Chapter 5, Managing User Security and Privacy, includes key aspects of managing user security and privacy.
Chapter 6, The macOS File System: Disks, Volumes, and Partitions, describes the macOS filesystem, and this includes managing disks, volumes, and partitions.
Chapter 7, Understanding Ownership and Permissions, explains how ownership and permissions work in macOS and how to manage them.
Chapter 8, System Resources and Shortcuts, explores what system resources are and how macOS uses them to optimize the system.
Chapter 9, Understanding Metadata and Searching, examines the tools macOS provides for the effective use of metadata (such as tags) and searching (with tools such as Spotlight).
Chapter 10, Managing Apps and Documents, shows the resources that macOS provides for managing apps and documents efficiently.
Chapter 11, Backups and Archiving, describes the methods available in macOS for creating backups, more specifically, through the Time Machine app, and archiving.
Chapter 12, Networking in macOS, reviews basic networking concepts for understanding networking configuration in macOS.
Chapter 13, Using macOS Network Services, explains how to take advantage of the network services macOS provides for key services such as mail, as well as features such as Continuity for seamless work across Apple devices.
Chapter 14, Using macOS Sharing Services, explores the sharing services macOS provides for useful tasks, such as file sharing, remote controlling, and screen sharing.
Chapter 15, Managing Security in macOS, covers system, hardware, application, and user security topics. It discusses measures and suggestions to improve security in all these areas.
Chapter 16, Using the Command Line, describes the macOS command-line tool called Terminal and includes several examples of how to use it for advanced administration.
Troubleshooting Tips, provides tips and suggestions for troubleshooting various frequently asked questions.
To get the most out of this book
You will need a Mac with macOS installed—the latest version, if possible, which, at the time of publication of this book, is macOS Big Sur. There may be differences in the UI according to the Mac machine model you are using, whether you are using a Mac with the Apple M1 silicon chip, with the T2 chip, an iMac, and so on, and we have tried to point out those differences in most of the examples. However, it is not always possible to do so every time, or the differences are not significant.
Since this is not a Mac or a macOS user guide, it would be very helpful to be familiar with the Mac hardware and the macOS environment. If you are new to the world of Mac and macOS, it might be helpful first to check out a Getting Started guide. There are many good examples available on the internet that will walk you through the basics of using a Mac for the first time.
Download the color images
We also provide a PDF file that has color images of the screenshots/diagrams used in this book. You can download it here: https://static.packt-cdn.com/downloads/9781838643652_ColorImages.pdf.
Conventions used
There are a number of text conventions used throughout this book.
CodeInText: Indicates code fragments, folder names, filenames, file extensions, and pathnames. Here are two examples:
- Enter the csrutil disable command.
- Both can be accessed from the /Applications/Utilities/ folder.
A block of code is set as follows:
softwareupdate --install-rosetta
Bold: Indicates a tool, an app, or an important word that you see on screen. For example, words in menus or dialog boxes appear in the text like this. Here is an example: "Select Edit from the File menu."
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