Mac Os X Network Configuration ^
Before attempting a domain join from a Mac computer, we need to make sure that we have our server- and client-side networking correctly configured. This means, in a nutshell, that our Macs have:
- An IP address and subnet mask
- A DNS hostname
- A connection to a Windows DNS server
You can specify a DNS hostname for your Mac either by using Terminal or by using the Sharing Preference Pane. Of course, a properly configured Windows Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server will assign your Mac workstations a correct IP address, subnet mask, and preferred DNS server address.
Finally, and this should come as no surprise to Windows server administrators, you will need to perform the domain join either as a domain administrator, or as a user account that has been delegated the privilege to join workstations to the domain.
I Bind Os X To A Windows Domain
Follow these steps to bind OS X to a Windows domain:
Note**: By default, Windows will automatically create thecomputer object account in ADDS if one does not already exist. However, domainor enterprise admins may restrict this as a security feature tocurb random nodes from being joined to the domain. Additionally, Organizational Units may be created as a form to compartmentalize ADDS objects by one or more classifications or departments.Many enterprises will utilize OUs as a means to organize objects and accounts separately from the items created by default when a domain controlleris promoted and ADDS is created.
Add A Mac Os X Computer To Active Directory ^
Without any further ado, lets turn our attention to the specific steps required to accomplish our chosen task. The following procedure is essentially identical between Mac OS X Leopard and Mac OS X Snow Leopard systems where there is a difference, I will note it.
1. Open the Directory Utility program. In Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, run a Spotlight search for Directory and click Directory Utility.
NOTE: In Mac OS X Tiger and earlier, this utility is named Directory Access. Believe me, the renaming of Directory Access to Directory Utility in Leopard has caused many Mac administrators headaches!
The above single step is all thats required to open Directory Utility on Leopard. Unfortunately, in Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, the same procedure is a little more cumbersome .
To open Directory Utility on Snow Leopard, open System Preferences and then click Accounts from the System row.
In the Accounts prefpane, click Login Options. Then, next to Network Account Server:, click Edit.
2. Okay, now we are on the same page regardless of our recent version of Mac OS X. In Directory Utility, navigate to the Services tab. Next, select Enable for the Active Directory plug-in. Then click the Pencil icon.
3. At this point we really get down to business. At the very least, the two pieces of information that are required in order to join a Mac workstation to Active Directory are:
Verification and Login
zoey
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Adding Windows 10 To Domain On Parallels Desktop 13 On Mac
I have been thrown a Macbook which was running Windows 7 in Parallels 13. I have installed a new server and all machines are now Windows 10.
I have no experience of parallels but have managed to install Windows 10 1909 off an ISO image.
I have then gone to add Windows to the network trying both control panel and settings > about but the option to add it to a domain is not there and is missing. I can only rename the PC name.
I have tried searching the help documents and internet but can not find out why or how to add windows to the domain. Does anyone know?
- ROM
Is the WIndows 10 image a Home version and not Pro by chance? Need Pro or above to join to a domain.
Nope its Pro and showing as Pro on the Macbook.
Make sure the VM is getting correct DNS and time settings, you may need to specify them explicitly.
Otherwise, Parallels is simply a client-OS-based Hypervisor software product. There is also VMWare Fusion , and there’s Virtual Box that is free.
As with any virtualization, the OS doesn’t “know” it’s a VM per se, treat it like you would any other instance of Windows 10 in terms of working with your network and AD.
If all of the above doesn’t help, try joining the domain via PowerShell
Add-Computer DomainName ad.contoso.com -Credential AD\admininistrator -Restart Force
and see if it works or not and what output errors it brings. Hope this helps.
Mac On Windows Domain: Is It Worth It
Now I bet you’re wondering, is this worth it?
Joining a Mac to a your domain is not for the faint of heart and can get tricky depending on your environment. There can be issues with joining Macs to a .local domain and there can also be reverse DNS issues to be aware of. With these things in mind, there are definitely some things to consider before joining your Mac to a Windows domain.
Some may wonder what the benefits are of knowing how to add a Mac to a Windows domain. It mostly helps with accessing files on your Windows server without authenticating every time. It also helps with user account management and alleviates the need to have separate user accounts on the local Mac computer and on the Windows domain.
In my opinion, if you have a mobile Mac user you probably wouldn’t join it to your domain, but would instead authenticate when needed. If you have Mac desktop computers and multiple users logging into them and using them daily, joining them to the domain is probably a better solution. Overall it’s up to you how you want to configure it but hopefully, this gives you a good baseline to start with.
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S Required To Join A Mac To A Windows Domain
Now that you have a little background about joining a Mac to a Windows domain, we will look at the steps required to establish the connection.
Ii Modify Directory Services Settings
Your next steps will be to modify the Directory Services settings. Here’s how:
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Test The Configuration Profile As Created
Transfer the COnfiguration Profile file to a standalone Mac device, double-click on it and you would have the profile available to install from System Preferences > Profiles. Click on the Install button.
Test the Configuration Profile as created
The system will prompt to provide Admin credentials to proceed with the profile installation.
Test the Configuration Profile as created
The profile installation proceeds once the admin credentials are entered.
Test the Configuration Profile as created
Provided that the configuration profile is good and the installation did not encounter any errors, the profile install will complete and you will have the profile installed on the Mac.
Test the Configuration Profile as created
Only if the profile gets installed succesfully, we can repurpose it to be deployed to managed Mac devices using an MDM solution like Microsoft Intune.
However, if you do get an error like this, wait for my next blog on the same to help you troubleshoot!
What will you do if the profile installation fails while testing? Wait for my next blog.
Considerations Before Binding Mac To Domain
Before you undertake the process to bind Mac systems to the domain, there are some considerations to keep in mind.
If you use Directory Utility, which is an application that comes installed on Mac systems, users will enter their core AD credentials to access their machines, and theyll also be subject to the same AD password policies as Windows users.
However, a direct bind wont get you the same GPO control that you have over Windows systems. The bind is also at risk of breaking, and users might encounter challenges in file sharing. You wont get user management over the system remotely through AD, either.
Another thing to note: When AD-bound Mac users change their passwords in AD, theyre prompted to enter their old password upon login. Admins going this route might need to train users to keep their keychain in sync if they change their AD password. This doesnt address the complications with FileVault2 control either, which can be painful with the addition of Secure Token.
Its worth assessing why and whether you need to bind the machine to AD before doing so.
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Configure Network Sharing Name
Go to the Settings app on your Mac again and choose Sharing.
This part is easy. Set this to the computer name you are going to join the domain with. Usually the existing one will be something like admins iMac.
Next open up Active Directory and create a new Computer account.
I strongly recommend keeping your Mac name to 15 characters or less. This is demonstrated in the screenshot below. If that isnt possible then use the pre-Windows 2000 computer name when you join Active Directory or you will get an error .
Press OK to create the Active Directory account. Now switch back to the Mac and lets perform the bind.
Why Join A Mac Into Ad In The First Place
Now, this is a valid question. All in all, joining any directory service such as ADDS by Microsoft will not benefit as much as a full-blown Windows PC. Reasons? I will not get into it now in this article but there are many. Keep in mind that accessing network resources in a Microsoft domain can be archived without the need to be a member of the domain. Of course, if you need domain credentials to access those resources you will have to join, so there, that is one reason to do it. As much as there are pros and cons this depends on your company policy and it is best to leave it up to you and your needs.
So what are my needs? Why am I so determined to make this happen? Short version, Office 365. Long version? Keep reading.
So our company, as many others as well, has decided to move part of our services off-premise and into the cloud. Office and email to start. To make this work, of course, we had to sync our Active Directory into the could as well, and now that that is all done, we can start using our O365 and email) in the cloud. Simple. The problem now is that we are a 99,9% Windows-based company and with only 10 or so macOS based devices. So, if you want to run O365 version you can run it only on devices that are members of the domain . What this means is that any device that is not a current, active, member of the domain, will not be able to use any of O365 services.
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Mac Authentication In A Cloud Domain
Thankfully, over a hundred thousand IT organizations have taken a holistic look at identity management and sought a different path when it comes to macOS systems altogether. Rather than connect them to Active Directory or Azure Active Directory, IT admins have managed user and system access through a next generation cloud directory service called JumpCloud Directory Platform. And, as a bonus, JumpCloud offers Mac MDM services eliminating the need to purchase yet another solution.
JumpCloud has reimagined the legacy, on-prem Active Directory tool for the cloud era. As such, a cloud directory platform centralizes user identities behind a single credential per user. This unified single sign-on experience connects users to virtually all of their IT resources, making work easier for users and admins alike, and ultimately securing IT organizations worldwide. So, can you join Macs to an Azure AD domain? Technically yes, but it isnt a straightforward process.
But with JumpCloud, you can join Mac systems and more to almost any resource an end user may need to access. If JumpCloud seems like the right solution for you, you can give it a try today, absolutely free. By signing up for JumpCloud, you get full access to the platform, including our premium functionality, with 10 users and 10 devices free. Afterwards, you can scale JumpCloud with your organization. If you have any questions, please contact us or use our in-app chat during the first 10 days 24×7 to help get you started.