Apple Mac OS X Server (Administrator’s Guide) - Manual (Page 121)

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Users and Groups
User and group accounts play a fundamental role in a server’s day-to-day operations:
m A user account stores data Mac OS X Server needs to validate a user’s identity and
provide services for the user, such as access to particular files on the server and
preferences that various services use.
m A group account offers a simple way to manage a collection of users with similar needs. A
group account stores the identities of users who belong to the group as well as
information that lets you customize the working environment for members of a group.
This chapter begins by highlighting the main characteristics of user and group accounts, then
goes on to summarize the aspects of account administration and tell you how to
m manage user accounts
m manage home directories
m manage group accounts
m find user and group accounts defined on your network
m use Workgroup Manager shortcuts for defining users and groups
m import user and group accounts from a file
m set up a password validation scheme for each user
Most of the information in this chapter does not require extensive server administration or
UNIX experience, but here are several suggestions for server administrators:
m An understanding of Mac OS X Server’s directory service options is very useful for
working with user and group accounts in different kinds of directory domains and for
creating and using Password Servers. Chapter 2, “Directory Services,” provides conceptual
information as well as directory domain and Password Server setup instructions.
m The dsimportexport tool information may be easier to understand if you have experience
with command-line tools.
m Kerberos information presumes a working familiarity with Kerberos.