Snow Leopard Server in Small Business
A single server with Mac OS X Server can provide all the services needed by computer
users in a small business. The server and users’ computers are all connected to a private
local network that shares a DSL or cable Internet connection. The Internet connection
can be shared through an AirPort Extreme Base Station (802.11n) or a Time Capsule,
through a router from the Internet service provider (ISP) or computer retailer, or
through the server. The next few pages illustrate and describe these configurations.
Single Server with AirPort Extreme
The following illustration shows Mac OS X Server and users’ computers and iPhones
sharing an Internet connection through an AirPort Extreme Base Station (802.11n).
The base station connects to the Internet through a DSL modem or cable modem and
connects to the local network to share the Internet connection with the server and
users’ computers. The server and some of the users’ computers have wired connections
to the local network, and other users’ computers connect to the local network
wirelessly through the base station. The server and users’ computers get their network
addresses from the base station’s DHCP server. They get DNS name service from the ISP.
The base station also protects the server and all users’ computers against malicious
attacks from the Internet by blocking communications that originate outside the local
network. However, the base station is configured to allow incoming communications
for some services. For example, the base station allows the server’s mail service to
receive email from outside the local network.
All the wired and wireless computers on the local network get services from Mac OS X
Server.
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The server provides user and group accounts, shared folders, server-based address
books, shared calendars, instant messaging, and wikis with user portals, web calendars,
and blogs. The ISP doesn’t provide enough email addresses for everyone in the
organization, so the server provides email addresses and mail service.
Mac OS X
Server
DSL
or cable
modem
The Internet
AirPort
Extreme
ISP
Local network
Mac OS X computers
iPhone
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Users with Mac OS X Snow Leopard or Leopard use Time Machine to back up their
Macs to an external hard drive (not shown) attached to the server.
Some users have their portable computers and home computers set up to connect to
the server’s VPN via the Internet. This gives them secure remote access, while traveling
or working at home, to all the services that the server provides on the local network.
iPhone users check wikis and blogs while they’re roaming.
Single Server with a Network Router
The next illustration shows Mac OS X Server and users’ computers and iPhones sharing
an Internet connection through a wireless router from the ISP.
The wireless router in this configuration takes the place of the AirPort Extreme Base
Station in the previous configuration. The wireless router has a built-in DSL or cable
modem that connects to the Internet. The router has wired and wireless connections
to the local network to provide Internet access to the server and users’ computers and
iPhones. The router includes a DHCP server that provides network addresses to the
server and to the users’ computers and iPhones.
In this configuration, the server’s firewall blocks malicious attacks originating outside
the local network. The firewall is configured to allow some services to receive incoming
communications. For example, iChat service can receive instant messaging invitations
from Google Talk users via the Internet.
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Mac OS X Server provides services to all the wired and wireless computers on the local
network. The server provides user and group accounts, shared folders, server-based
address books, shared calendars, instant messaging, mail, and wikis with user portals,
web calendars, and blogs. Users with Mac OS X Snow Leopard or Leopard use storage
space on the server for Time Machine backups.
Mac OS X
Server
The Internet
ISP
Local network
Wi-Fi
router
Mac OS X computers
iPhone
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While away from the local network, users with mobile devices can check email,
web calendars, wikis, and blogs via Wi-Fi hotspots in libraries, cafes, and airports.
Single Server as an Internet gateway
The next illustration shows Mac OS X Server configured as an Internet gateway to
provide Internet access to computers and mobile devices on the local network.
The server’s primary Ethernet port connects through a DSL or cable modem to the
Internet, and its other Ethernet port connects to the local network. The server’s DHCP
service provides network addresses to users’ computers and mobile devices. Thus the
server in this configuration does the job of the AirPort Extreme Base Station or generic
router in the previous two configurations.
The server’s firewall is configured to block malicious attacks from the Internet, but does
allow incoming email and iChat invitations that originate outside the local network.
Besides mail and iChat, the server also provides user and group accounts, shared
folders, server-based address books, shared calendars, and wikis with user portals,
web calendars, and blogs.
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Users with Mac OS X Snow Leopard or Leopard use storage space on the server for
Time Machine backups.
Mac OS X
Server
The Internet
AirPort
Extreme
Lo
cal net
w
or
k
DSL
or cable
modem
ISP
Mac OS X computers
iPhone
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