| Revision History | ||
|---|---|---|
| Revision 2 | 18 April 2004 | frd - [email protected] |
| Updated links and revised terminology. | ||
| Revision 1 | 29 April 2001 | dag - [email protected] |
| Created. | ||
Abstract
This HOWTO provides a pointer to documentation on NetInfo, the technology used to administer host lookup, usernames, passwords, printers, and various other things in Mac OS X.
If you think of something that should be added to this document, please email <[email protected]>.
Table of Contents
Many long-time UNIX and Linux system administrators are puzzled when coming to Mac OS X. Most such systems use files to configure system parameters such as host name and IP, users and passwords, and so on.
In Mac OS X, the NetInfo database is used in lieu of flat files for most configuration. NetInfo can also be used for remote authentication and administration. For security reasons, however, this is not recommended. You should instead use alternative technologies such as LDAP.
NetInfo provides various graphical and command-line tools for modifying this information. These tools are described in the Mac OS X Server NetInfo documentation.
The NetInfo C API is documented in the NetInfo programming man page (man 3 netinfo). However, the preferred C API for modifying configuration information is the Open Directory (formerly Directory Services) API.