Integrating MACs into a Window’s network

Sidzilla

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Network protocols

Networking

I am currently running a Windows 2003 server environment with approx 82 clients, all running Windows operating systems ranging from Win98 to Winxp. My video department has ordered a new system consisting of several high end Macintosh computers running OSX. I will need to integrate them into our Windows network for file sharing, email support on our Exchange 2003 server, etc. I have a vaugue notion that I need to add the Appletalk protocol, and not a clue as to what else needs to be done. Any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Asked: January 31, 2006 2:15 PM Last updated: February 19, 2018 7:02 PM

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Last updated: February 1, 2006 12:36 AM GMT

SheldonLinker30 pts.
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Thanks. We'll let you know when a new response is added.

OS/X can pretty much talk any format, including its native Appletalk. I’ve got a mixed network here (PC, Mac OS 9, Mac OS X, Irix, and Linux), and everything is happy talking everything. However, before your IT guys go nuts trying to safeguard the Macs with whatever firewall software they have, note that we’ve been running unprotected Macs since 1985, and no infections yet.
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Sheldon Linker (sol@linker.com)
Linker Systems, Inc. (www.linkersystems.com)
800-315-1194 (+1-949-552-1904)

Discuss This Question: 8 Replies

Bryanmjohns Feb 1, 2006 8:57 AM GMT

If the Macs are running OSX 10.4+, you don't need Appletalk. In fact, Appletalk might just give you fits. Apple's OSX has a utility called "Directory Access" that lives in this System Preferences that is a quasi-proprietary implementation of OpenLDAP. Regardless, it will get you the integration you are looking for. See this URL for more info: http://www.apple.com/itpro/articles/adintegration/ When it comes time to share calendars and contacts from Exchange 2003 to the Entourage client, you are most likely going to be dissappointed. I hope this helps.

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Spadasoe Feb 1, 2006 9:00 AM GMT

I agree, not too much you need to do to them. I have 5 G5s and 2 Xserver RAIDs in my AD domain with no problems. Here are a couple of links to look at to get you started: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues/2005/01/MacSecure/default.aspx http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=ServerAdmin/10.4/en/c2wn4.html

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Poppaman2 Feb 2, 2006 9:08 AM GMT

Couple of additional comments: Don't try using Entourage as an Exchange client, as it has a tendancy not to work. The Office:Mac beta testing I did a few years ago showed no connectivity between Exchange OR Domino. Although MS states that Entourage CAN be used as an Exchange client at this time, I have never been totally successful using it in an Exchange environment. Believe everything previously said about OS X.x connectivity with Windows - DO NOT implement Thursby Software's DAVE client. It will not work reliably in a Domain environment. While I agree to a certain point with what Sheldon said, there are viruses which target the Macintosh (yes, even OS X), and many OS vulnerabilities (the Symantec pages list a total of more than 2200 various threats). Having been involved in an MW2004 mitigation effort, I can state from personal experience that when exposed and infected, MacOS is no more reliable/safe/secure than any other OS out there - it's just a smaller target...

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Ligmania Feb 2, 2006 11:18 AM GMT

I would say your best bet is Outlook for Macintosh or implement Outlook Web Access, which would give you browser based email access.

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Desmo2 Feb 2, 2006 11:44 AM GMT

Hi, on my Linux box I use Evolution with evolution-connector to properly retrieve emails from the exchange 2003 server. Configured properly you can even retrieve contacts as you would expect using Outlook. It looks like it is an option for Mac OSX as well. Cheers

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Sidzilla Feb 2, 2006 1:23 PM GMT

Well, I purchased a Mac Mini as a test device prior to the arrival of the new Mac workstations. I can see my entire network, but whenever I try to connect to a 2003 server to access shared folders I get a message saying the alias no longer exists, and it asks if I want to fix the alias. Any ideas on what causes this? Other than that, it connects to my one Windows 2000 server shares easily.

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Sidzilla Feb 3, 2006 9:05 AM GMT

I found the followning on a site called allinthehead.com: "In a nutshell, the cause of the problem is the default security policy on Windows 2003 Server being set to always encrypt network connections under all circumstances. Whilst this is fine for most clients (especially Windows clients, understandably), the version of SMB that Panther uses doesn?t support encrypted connections. Apparently this support exists in Samba 3, but not on the version OS X uses. The solution is to change the security policy to use encryption when it?s available and not otherwise. Here?s how. From Administrative Tools, open Domain Controller Security Settings. Go to Local Policies then Security Options. Scroll down to find the entry Microsoft network server: Digitally sign communications (always). Set this to Disabled. The only thing left to do is to reload the security policy, as changes don?t otherwise take effect for some time. Open up a command window and type: gpupdate" Many thanks to allinthehead and to all of you!

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RomanF Feb 19, 2018 7:02 PM GMT

Let me revive this old thread. There is a 3rd party tool for SCCM that adds support for macOS management - Parallels Mac Management for Microsoft SCCM.

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