10.5 Server : Standard Installation : Newbie Tutorial / Setup Walk-Through

Question

Hello all,
I recently setup OS X Server 10.5 for a client after doing it many times at my home. I could not have possibly done it without the help of this discussion board so thanks to everyone asking and answering questions!
To help other server newbies easily setup Server 10.5 (as apple claims), I'm hoping to make a basic installation procedure that will always work for newbies. Right now it's not exactly "detailed" - just the basic steps to ensure success.
Below is my setup procedure that has worked well for me (especially at my house). It's for a Standard installation; and we'll be setting up the server to include Mail (local only), iChat, VPN, File Sharing, iCal, Web Server/Wiki, Apple Remote Desktop access, and Time Machine (may not work well).
Please let me know if I'm missing something that will help ensure this setup works as perfectly as possible on any system.
+to help make sure this works, try using all the names i've used below (besides perhaps user names & passwords); like "server.house"+
*1) Setup Router*
• ensure router is properly connected to modem/internet
• router lan address = 10.0.2.1
• subnet mask = 255.255.255.0
• dhcp on
• dhcp server starts at = 10.0.2.9
• dhcp server ends at = 10.0.2.99
• dns server (opendns servers) = 208.67.222.222, 208.67.220.220 (not a completely necessary step, but may help ensure it works)
• port forward to 10.0.2.2 = vpn (udp: 500, 4500; udp/tcp: 50)
• port forward to 10.0.2.2 = ard (tcp: 5900, 5988; udp/tcp: 3283)
*2) Install/Setup Server*
• startup server computer with installation cd and start installation process
• choose "Standard Installation"
• setup administrator account with the following settings:
user name: Administrator
short name: admin
password: admin
• setup network settings (choose manual configuration):
manual ip address = 10.0.2.2
subnet mask = 255.255.255.0
router = 10.0.2.1
dns server = 10.0.2.2
search domain = house
• primary dns server = server.house
• server name = server
+choose all the services and let installation complete; wait until desktop loads+
Verify things are initially okay:
• Open safari, and type "server.house" in the address bar (ensure wiki appears)
Good, now:
• Download latest 10.5 server combo update, install, restart.
• Run software update until all updates are installed (may require several restarts)
• Setup a dyndns account for your server, install dyndns software (make sure it's updating via web and the ip address doesn't start with 10.x)
*3) Setup Server Preferences*
• open server preferences
• go to file sharing: turn on file sharing
• go to vpn: turn on vpn
shared secret = somethingsecretive
ip address range = 10.0.2.101 - 10.0.2.199
• go to users
• make new user(s) with all options enabled
+you should now have all services in server preferences enabled (if not, enable them) and user names setup; for good measure, restart the computer again+
*4) Setup Client Computers*
+make sure client computers have all software updates installed before proceeding+
• Open system preferences: network
• Make a new location called "Server"
• Set TCP/IP to DHCP
• DNS Server = 10.0.2.2
• Search domain = house
• Click apply
It's probably a good time to double check that the internet works - open Safari and google something. Good, it works.
There are two ways to setup the client computers to connect to the server with basically no manual configuration needed:
First way:
Go to system preferences: accounts: select user name to associate with server: select "server account" (if available): enter appropriate info for user on server: wait a bit: restart computer
or (if "server account" isn't available):
Second way:
Open finder: applications: utilities: directory utility. once opened, it should automatically find your server. if it doesn't, click the lock, click "plus sign", type = "open directory", server name = server.house, click ok
• enter appropriate info to connect to server and ensure it's set to automatically setup all services, once finished - restart.
*5) If the automatic setup didn't work, here's how to manually setup the client workstations:*
Safari
• Open Safari and type "server.house" in the address bar, enter user/pass, make sure it connects to wiki.
iChat
• add new jabber account
• jabber id = [email protected]
• server = server.house
• port = 5222
• kerbos = on (you can leave off if you want)
You can test by connecting to your Jabber account
VPN
• open Network in system preferences
• click lock
• click "plus sign"
• interface = VPN
• vpn type = L2TP over IPSec
• service name = server
• server address = your dyndns address
• click advanced
• dns server = 10.0.2.2
• search domain = house
• click ok
• click authentication
• enter user's server password
• enter "somethingsecretive" in "shared secret"
• click ok - click apply
You can test by clicking "connect" - after verified, disconnect.
_File sharing_
• Open finder: click "Server" under "Shared"
• If it connects as guest, click "connect as"
• enter your server username/password
Drag a file to and from a folder to make sure file sharing works
Mail
• Add new mail account (imap)
• Incoming mail server = server.house
• Outgoing mail server = server.house
• Outgoing authentication = kerberos 5 (or password)
• user name = [email protected]
• enter password
Check to make sure you get the server welcome e-mail and that you can send email to other users on the server.
*Time Machine* (very problematic at this time)
• Open Time Machine in System Preferences
• Click "options"
• Eliminate as many folders as possible to keep backup times shorter; click done
• Click "change disk"
• Select "Server" disk; click "use for backup"
** I highly recommend using local SuperDuper! backups and/or Retrospect for networked backups to the server. Other options include the dot mac Backup application or online backups (google it).
*If you have PCs on your network that you want to be able to connect to the server for file sharing*
• Open Windows Explorer (my computer)
• Click tools: map network drive
• Enter "\\server\public" (or if you setup a user account on the server for the pc user(s) i think you can use "\\server\pcusername" - and follow the next two steps)
-Click "connect using different user name"
-Enter pc user account username/password
• save settings
Check to make sure the drive shows up and you can move files to/from server
Helpful info for newbies setting up server 10.5:
• Apple's Server Resources page with all manuals
• Probably the most helpful newbie setup discussion
• Probably the most helpful newbie setup discussion #2
• Discussion about DNS
• "Time Machine is a dog... discussion"
• Manage Central Address Book discussion
• Leopard to Windows Files Sharing Issues discussion
• Lynda's 10.5 Server Training Videos (this does cost money and I haven't personally used it, but it looks very helpful)
I hope that's a good start for people, but I'm sure some setting(s) can be tweaked or I missed something that could make this process go even more smoothly. Lets make this the definitive newbie standard installation setup tutorial.
-Brian
corewerkz

Answer 1

Hi gikku,
Good idea! I forgot about the web server port forwarding, that will allow the wiki to be seen over the internet.
One question: what does adding the dyndns address to "Server Admin > web > settings > sites" actually do? I'm not too knowledgeable about Server Admin.
Thanks,
Brian
corewerkz