Managing Windows Servers from OS X.

[TroyD]

Hi All,

I work in IT and manage several Windows servers, including shares, permissions, AD, account creating, etc.

I've recently been asked to start using a Mac, which was fine for home use and general stuff around the company, but I'm finding it difficult to manage the Windows centric network through my Mac.

I basically need to be able to manage shares, their securities, add/remove/change users and computers in Active Directory but haven't had much luck finding any sources where people have had to do this from OS X.

I'm hoping that there are others who've had to manage Windows environments through OS X.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[satcomer]

Remote Desktop Connection for Mac 2 would be my guest. Plus to be recognized by a Microsoft Domain it has to be Server 2008s2 or better. Microsoft starting selling ActiveSync to Apple after Server 2008s2.

 

[TroyD]

Remote Desktop Connection for Mac 2 would be my guest. Plus to be recognized by a Microsoft Domain it has to be Server 2008s2 or better. Microsoft starting selling ActiveSync to Apple after Server 2008s2.

So essentially if I want to manage anything on the Windows side of things, I'll have to RDP into a Windows box? I was hoping there would be some sort of admin tools pack for OS X like there is for Windows 7 or 8.

 

[aristobrat]

So essentially if I want to manage anything on the Windows side of things, I'll have to RDP into a Windows box? I was hoping there would be some sort of admin tools pack for OS X like there is for Windows 7 or 8.

Don't hold your breath waiting for Microsoft write an Admin Tool Pack for OS X, like they do for their client OSs.

If you don't want to RDP into a Windows Box, you can run a Windows virtual machine on your Mac, and connect from there. That's what I do.

 

[TroyD]

Don't hold your breath waiting for Microsoft write an Admin Tool Pack for OS X, like they do for their client OSs.

If you don't want to RDP into a Windows Box, you can run a Windows virtual machine on your Mac, and connect from there. That's what I do.

I was thinking more along the lines of a OS X version of the Hyena program. I'll have to set up a couple of Windows versions in Parallels.

 

[old-wiz]

VM in Parallels would be my choice rather than trying to find an osx version of the software you need.

 

[MichaelSeirer]

managing windows servers from os x

heya

i know this thread is old, but there is a perfect alternative to RDP'ing to a windows box: Royal Server (http://www.royal-server.com) together with Royal TSX (http://www.royaltsx.com/)

Royal TSX helps you manage all your remote connections (RDP, VNC, SSH/Telnet, Webpage connections) and it can talk to Royal Server

Royal Server is a secure management gateway especially for OS X and mobile clients that allow common tasks like managing processes, windows services, eventlogs, terminal services, hyper-v and so on.

check it out,
Michi

ps: disclaimer: I am the developer of Royal Server