The macOS User Administration Guide

The macOS User Administration Guide

by Herta Nava
Released April 2021
Publisher(s): Packt Publishing
ISBN: 9781838643652

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Book description

Explore macOS tools and architecture for executing support tasks and system administration, and prepare for the Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP) certification exam

Key Features

  • Delve into macOS Big Sur, from installation to managing apps and optimizing your environment
  • Become an Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP) with this comprehensive macOS support guide
  • The book is not intended to be a user guide, it covers concepts pertinent for a user acting as an administrator

Book Description

Apple is pushing the capabilities of its technologies to help users achieve high performance, including improvements in its OS running across all Mac systems, macOS, and new technologies such as M1 Silicon chips. This book walks you through macOS from a system administration and support point of view, exploring its latest features.

The book starts by explaining macOS architecture, installation, and startup processes to enable you to get started with the OS. You'll learn how to manage users and discover techniques for user security and privacy. Moving on, you'll get to grips with the macOS file system and learn to manage disks, volumes, and partitions for effective file management. Most of the examples covered in this book are from an administrator's perspective; however, when relevant, a standard user's perspective is also presented. You'll find illustrations for Mac systems running macOS 11 (Big Sur), and when necessary, for macOS 10.15 (macOS Catalina). Finally, you'll explore advanced topics such as networking and using command-line tools for administration tasks.

By the end of this macOS book, you'll be well-versed with macOS features, administration tasks, and best practices. You'll also be able to apply the concepts to increase your chances of success in obtaining Apple certifications such as Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP).

What you will learn

  • Understand the fundamentals of the macOS system and architecture
  • Configure key services and perform essential troubleshooting in your Mac system
  • Install, update, and configure your local macOS system and identify the stages of the startup process
  • Create and manage a local user account and set up your customized macOS environment
  • Manage your file systems, storage, and permissions
  • Explore practices and techniques to work with apps, networks, and security for your Mac system
  • Delve into administration tasks such as managing service resources and peripherals

Who this book is for

If you are a Mac system administrator, support and help desk technician or engineer, or Mac power user looking to explore macOS architecture and tooling, then this book is for you. The book assumes beginner-level knowledge of the macOS environment and system administration.

Table of contents

  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright and Credits
    1. The macOS User Administration Guide
  3. Dedication
  4. Contributors
    1. About the author
    2. About the reviewers
  5. Preface
    1. Who this book is for
    2. What this book covers
    3. To get the most out of this book
      1. Download the color images
      2. Conventions used
    4. Get in touch
      1. Reviews
  6. Overview of the macOS System, Architecture, and Features
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Overview of the macOS system and architecture
    3. Overview of the macOS general features
    4. Exploring the new features introduced in the latest macOS releases 
      1. New features introduced in macOS Big Sur
      2. New features introduced in macOS Catalina
    5. Touring macOS
    6. Exploring the macOS version history
    7. Comparing macOS to other leading operating systems
    8. Exploring the industry standards used by macOS
      1. Multicast DNS
      2. Swift
    9. Summary
  7. Installing and Configuring macOS
    1. Technical requirements
      1. Requirements for macOS Big Sur
      2. Requirements for macOS Catalina
      3. How to find out your Mac model and specs
    2. Installing macOS
    3. Upgrading macOS
      1. Automatic upgrades
      2. Manual upgrades
        1. Manual upgrades to macOS Big Sur
      3. Through the internet
    4. Reinstalling macOS
      1. Reinstalling macOS via internet recovery
      2. Reinstalling through the macOS Recovery system
        1. What is the macOS Recovery system?
        2. Accessing the macOS Recovery system with macOS Catalina and earlier (Intel Mac)
          1. Startup Disk
          2. Startup Security Utility
          3. Network Utility
          4. Terminal and Reset Password
        3. Accessing the macOS Recovery interface with macOS Big Sur (Intel Mac)
        4. Accessing the macOS Recovery interface in Macs with the M1 chip
        5. How to perform a reinstallation with macOS Catalina Recovery
        6. How to perform a reinstallation with macOS Big Sur Recovery
        7. How to perform a clean installation
      3. Using an external installer
        1. Formatting the external volume or USB
        2. Downloading a macOS installer from the App Store
        3. Using the createinstallmedia command
        4. Testing and using the bootable installer
    5. Updating macOS
      1. Software updates
        1. Disabling update notifications
        2. Automatic App Store updates
        3. Manual App Store updates
      2. System updates
      3. Firmware updates
    6. Configuring the macOS installation
      1. The Setup Assistant process
      2. Adjusting the system settings
      3. Benefits of configuring iCloud
    7. Summary
  8. The Start Up Process
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Understanding the macOS start up process
      1. Primary system initialization stages
        1. Power-on or BootROM firmware
        2. Booter
        3. Kernel
        4. System launchd
          1. FileVault initialization
      2. User session stages
        1. loginwindow
          1. Logout, shutdown, and restart
        2. launchd
          1. Files and processes involved in launchd
          2. Visualizing the processes
        3. User environment
    3. Using energy-saving features
      1. Sleep mode
      2. Battery preferences (macOS Big Sur)
      3. Safe Sleep and Standby
        1. Waking up the Mac
    4. Using start up modes
      1. Safe mode
      2. Verbose
      3. Single-user
      4. The T2 Security Chip and Secure Boot
    5. Summary
  9. User Accounts Management
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Types of user accounts
      1. Local user accounts
        1. Standard user account
        2. Administrator user account
        3. Root user account
        4. Guest user account
        5. Sharing Only user account
        6. Group user account
      2. Other user accounts
        1. Network user accounts
        2. Mobile user accounts
    3. Managing user accounts
      1. Creating standard user accounts
        1. Initial setup of a new user account
        2. Using your Apple ID or iCloud account
          1. Creating a new Apple ID
        3. Turning a Standard account into an Administrator account
      2. Configuring additional account preferences
      3. What are account attributes?
      4. Deleting user accounts
      5. Restoring deleted user accounts from a disk image
      6. Restoring deleted user accounts kept in the Users folder
      7. Managing the root user
        1. Enabling the root user
        2. Logging in as the root user
        3. Disabling the root user
      8. Managing the Guest user
      9. Adjusting the login options
        1. Automatic login
        2. What is fast user switching?
      10. Using Screen Time (macOS Catalina and later)
        1. Tracking usage
          1. App Usage
          2. Notifications
          3. Pickups
        2. Limiting usage
          1. Downtime
          2. App Limits
          3. Always Allowed
          4. Content and Privacy
    4. Understanding user home folders
      1. The user home folder structure
        1. The Desktop folder
          1. Using Stacks
          2. Quick Actions
        2. The Library folder
        3. The Public folder
      2. Deleting local user home folders
      3. Migrating and restoring local user home folders
        1. Migration Assistant
          1. Your data is on a Windows computer
          2. Your target Mac is running OS X Mavericks v10.9.5 or later
        2. Restoring manually
    5. Summary
  10. Managing User Security and Privacy
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Understanding password types in macOS
      1. User account passwords
      2. Apple ID account and password
      3. Keychain passwords
      4. Resource passwords
      5. System firmware passwords
    3. Managing passwords in macOS
      1. Changing local user account passwords
        1. Changing account passwords through Users and Groups
        2. Changing account passwords through Security and Privacy
      2. Changing the root password
      3. Resetting local user account passwords
        1. Resetting account passwords with the Users and Groups preferences
        2. Resetting account passwords with macOS Recovery
        3. Resetting account passwords with the Apple ID
          1. Resetting local account passwords and the login keychain
        4. Resetting local account passwords with FileVault enabled
          1. Using a recovery key
          2. Using iCloud
          3. Using the Reset Password assistant
      4. Configuring a firmware password
    4. Understanding the Keychain system and iCloud Keychain
      1. Types of keychains
        1. Default keychains
        2. System keychains
        3. Other keychains
      2. How the default keychain works with iCloud
        1. Enabling iCloud Keychain
      3. Managing keychains
        1. Creating a new keychain
        2. Adding keychain items
        3. Locking keychains
        4. Changing keychain passwords
        5. Safari keychain information
    5. Managing privacy in macOS
      1. Security and Privacy settings
      2. Location Services
      3. Protecting yourself from cross-site tracking
      4. Privacy while using the Dictation service
    6. Summary
  11. The macOS File System: Disks, Volumes, and Partitions
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Understanding the macOS filesystem and storage 
      1. Understanding general concepts
        1. What is formatting?
        2. Differences between disks, partitions, and volumes
          1. Disks and drives
          2. Partitions
          3. Volumes
      2. macOS partition maps (schemes)
      3. Understanding the macOS filesystem
        1. What is a filesystem?
        2. macOS volume formats
        3. The advantages of APFS
          1. Space sharing
          2. Encryption
          3. Defragmentation
        4. Additional filesystems supported by macOS
        5. File system domains in macOS
    3. Managing disks, volumes, and partitions
      1. Examining storage
        1. About This Mac
        2. Disk Utility
        3. System Information
      2. Managing partitions
        1. Examining and modifying partitions
        2. Formatting/partitioning a disk/volume
        3. Adding a non-APFS partition
        4. Erasing/reformatting disks
        5. Resizing/deleting a non-APFS partition
      3. Using APFS volumes
        1. Converting volumes to APFS
        2. Adding a volume to an APFS container
        3. Deleting/erasing an APFS volume
      4. Mounting, unmounting, and ejecting disks/volumes
        1. Unmounting and ejecting
        2. Mounting
    4. Optimizing storage space
      1. Store in iCloud
      2. Optimize Storage
      3. Empty Trash Automatically
      4. Reduce Clutter
    5. Summary
    6. Further reading
  12. Understanding Ownership and Permissions
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Understanding ownership and permissions
      1. What are ownership and permissions in macOS?
      2. Access Control Lists (ACLs)
      3. Access hierarchical rules
        1. Case 1
        2. Case 2
      4. File flags
      5. macOS's filesystem security policy
    3. Managing access and ownership
      1. Verifying an item's ownership and permissions
      2. Changing an item's ownership and permissions
      3. Ownership in non-system volumes
      4. Granting and changing permissions
      5. Deleting permissions
      6. Permission customization examples
        1. Example 1: Restricting access to an item
        2. Example 2: Propagating folder permissions
    4. Using macOS shared folders
      1. The Public and Drop Box folders
      2. The Shared folder
    5. Summary
  13. System Resources and Shortcuts
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Understanding system resources
      1. Types of system resources in macOS
        1. Extensions
        2. Frameworks
        3. Fonts
        4. Preference files
        5. LaunchAgents and LaunchDaemons
        6. Logs
      2. System resource domains
      3. Sandboxing
    3. Managing system resources
      1. Uncovering hidden files and folders
        1. Accessing the Library folder temporarily
        2. Accessing the Library folder permanently
      2. Managing font resources
        1. Installing fonts
        2. Font location preferences
        3. Resolving duplicate fonts
        4. Disabling/removing fonts
    4. Understanding shortcuts in macOS
      1. Types of shortcuts
        1. Aliases
        2. Symbolic links
        3. Hard links
      2. Creating shortcuts
    5. Summary
  14. Understanding Metadata and Searching
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Understanding metadata in macOS
      1. Types of metadata available in macOS
        1. File flags
        2. File system tags
        3. The AppleDouble file format
        4. Additional extended attributes
    3. Using macOS tags
      1. Viewing tagged items
      2. Using tags
      3. Creating tags
        1. Creating tags from the Finder
        2. Creating tags from a file preview
      4. Deleting tags
      5. Advanced tag management
    4. macOS searching tools
      1. Using Spotlight
      2. Using Siri
    5. Summary
  15. Managing Apps and Documents
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Understanding apps in macOS
      1. Supported macOS environments
        1. Native macOS
        2. Universal macOS binary
        3. Unix-based
        4. Open source
      2. App compatibility
        1. Compatibility with 32- and 64-bit apps
        2. Universal and Intel apps
        3. iOS and iPadOS apps (Apple M1 silicon)
    3. Using the App Store
      1. The App Store and your Apple ID
        1. Logging in to the App Store
        2. Creating an Apple ID
        3. Creating an Apple ID without a payment method
        4. Managing your account
    4. Installing and managing apps
      1. Installing apps
        1. Installing from the App Store
          1. Installing iOS and iPadOS apps (Apple M1 silicon)
        2. Other installation methods
          1. Drag and drop
          2. Using packages
      2. Examining packages and bundles
      3. Updating apps
        1. App Store
        2. Automatic updates
        3. Manual updates
      4. Uninstalling apps
        1. Launchpad
        2. Dragging to the Trash
        3. Custom uninstaller
      5. Exploring installed apps
      6. Exploring app preference files
      7. Monitoring open processes and apps
        1. CPU
        2. Memory
        3. Energy
        4. Disk
        5. Network
    5. Managing app extensions
      1. Types of extensions
        1. Finder
        2. Sharing menu
      2. Managing app extensions and widgets
    6. Sharing apps
      1. Family Sharing
        1. Enabling Family Sharing
        2. Purchase sharing
        3. Start sharing purchases
        4. Stopping purchases and Family Sharing
    7. Managing documents
      1. Using the Launch Services, Quick Look, and Quick Actions features
        1. Launch Services
        2. Quick Look
        3. Quick Actions
      2. Using the Autosave, Versions, Locking, and Resume features
        1. Autosave
        2. Versions
        3. Locking
        4. Resume
      3. Using documents in iCloud
    8. Summary
  16. Backups and Archiving
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Archiving in macOS
      1. ZIP archives
      2. Disk images
        1. Creating disk images with the Disk Utility
        2. Changing a disk image's format
        3. Restoring a disk image to a disk
    3. Using Time Machine for backups
      1. Understanding Time Machine
        1. Where can you store your backups?
      2. Configuring Time Machine
        1. Stopping Time Machine backups
      3. Restoring a Time Machine backup
        1. Using the Time Machine interface
        2. Restoring only specific items
        3. Using the Migration Assistant
        4. Using macOS Recovery
    4. Summary
  17. Networking in macOS
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Understanding networking concepts
      1. Networking models
        1. The OSI reference model
        2. TCP/IP model
      2. Fundamental networking concepts
        1. Host
        2. What are network interfaces?
          1. Ethernet
          2. Wi-Fi
          3. FireWire
          4. Thunderbolt Bridge
          5. Bluetooth
          6. USB
          7. VPN
          8. PPPoE
          9. 6to4
          10. How to identify which network interfaces are available?
        3. LAN and WAN
        4. What is a MAC address?
        5. IP addresses and subnet masks
          1. IPv4
          2. IPv6
          3. Subnet masks
        6. Router address
        7. Network protocols
          1. What is DHCP?
          2. What is DNS used for?
          3. TCP and UDP
          4. ICMP
    3. macOS network configurations
      1. Initial network configuration
      2. Connecting to Wi-Fi
      3. Other types of networks
        1. Ad hoc networks
        2. Enterprise
      4. What are network locations?
      5. Configuring additional network services
        1. VPN configuration
      6. Bonjour
    4. Advanced network configurations
      1. Custom Wi-Fi configuration
      2. Manual TCP/IP configuration
      3. NetBIOS/WINS
      4. 802.1X configuration
      5. Network proxies
        1. Manual Ethernet configuration
    5. Summary
    6. Further reading
  18. Using macOS Network Services
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Using network services in macOS
      1. Understanding network services in macOS
      2. Types of network services in macOS
      3. Network services accounts
        1. Mail
        2. Notes
        3. Calendar
          1. Network calendar services
        4. Reminders
        5. Contacts
        6. Messages
        7. FaceTime
        8. Safari
      4. Configuring network services and apps
        1. Automatic configuration for essential apps
        2. Manual configuration for essential apps
        3. Adding additional email accounts
        4. Configuring services with an iCloud account
        5. Configuring Messages
    3. Continuity
      1. Sidecar
      2. Continuity Markup and Sketch
      3. Text Message Forwarding
      4. Cellular Calls
      5. Continuity Camera
      6. Auto Unlock
      7. Handoff
      8. Universal Clipboard
      9. AirDrop
      10. Apple Pay
      11. Instant Hotspot
    4. Summary
  19. Using macOS Sharing Services
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Understanding sharing services
      1. What are file-sharing services?
        1. Network file service protocols
      2. Using file-sharing on macOS
        1. Enabling file-sharing on macOS
        2. How to connect to file shares
          1. Automatic discovery
          2. Authentication
          3. Manual connection through SMB and AFP
          4. Manual connection through NFS, WebDAV, and FTP
          5. Creating automatic connections
        3. Disconnecting from a mounted share
      3. What is AirDrop?
    3. Remote controlling and screen sharing
      1. Remote controlling via System Screen
        1. Connecting
        2. Authenticating
        3. Controlling
        4. Adjusting settings
      2. Remote controlling via Messages Screen Sharing
      3. Remote controlling via Apple Remote Desktop (ARD)
    4. Other sharing services
      1. Internet Sharing
      2. Printer Sharing
      3. Bluetooth Sharing
      4. Remote Apple Events
      5. Remote Login
      6. Media Sharing
    5. Summary
  20. Managing Security in macOS
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Understanding System Security
      1. macOS security features
      2. Recommended security measures
      3. Bonjour/zero-configuration and mDNS security concerns
      4. What is System Integrity Protection?
    3. Understanding hardware security
      1. Firmware password
      2. T2 Security Chip (Intel-based Macs)
        1. Secure Boot
        2. External Boot
        3. Activation Lock
      3. Macs with the Apple M1 silicon chip 
    4. Understanding application security
      1. Application security technologies
        1. App sandboxing
        2. Code signing
        3. File quarantine
        4. Gatekeeper
        5. Malware detection
        6. Notarization
      2. Verifying app security settings
        1. Opening a non-notarized or unidentified app 
    5. Understanding Data security and encryption
      1. Types of encryption
      2. What is FileVault?
        1. FileVault Recovery
        2. Enabling FileVault
        3. Turning off FileVault
        4. Changing your recovery key
        5. Recovering FileVault access
          1. Using your iCloud account
          2. Resetting with the local Recovery Key
          3. Resetting using the regular user account password reset methods
      3. Encryption with the Apple M1 chip
      4. Encrypting external media
    6. Understanding User security
      1. The iCloud Security Code and two-factor authentication
      2. Login options
        1. Automatic login
        2. Display of usernames
      3. Enabling the firewall
      4. Screen Time
      5. Find My
        1. Locating your Mac on a map
        2. Playing a sound
        3. Locking your Mac
        4. Erasing your Mac
      6. Guest accounts
      7. Family Sharing
    7. Summary
  21. Using the Command Line
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Using the command-line tool
      1. When and why you should use the command-line interface
      2. Understanding the structure of a command-line string
      3. The sudo command
      4. The command-line interface in macOS
        1. Using macOS Terminal
        2. Creating customized profiles
        3. Using marks and bookmarks
      5. The default shell on macOS
      6. Terminal shell commands
        1. Common commands
        2. Uncovering hidden files and folders
        3. Hiding specific files and folders
    3. Monitoring and diagnosing the system
    4. Summary
    5. Further reading
  22. Troubleshooting Tips
    1. Troubleshooting app issues
    2. Troubleshooting disk and volume issues
    3. Troubleshooting system and startup issues
    4. Troubleshooting network issues
    5. Troubleshooting network services issues
    6. Troubleshooting with logs
    7. Summary
    8. Further reading
  23. About Packt
    1. Why subscribe?

Product information

  • Title: The macOS User Administration Guide
  • Author(s): Herta Nava
  • Release date: April 2021
  • Publisher(s): Packt Publishing
  • ISBN: 9781838643652