OS X Mountain Lion Server For Dummies

Chapter 7

Setting Up File Sharing

In This Chapter

Looking at types of file sharing for Mac, Windows, and Linux clients

Setting up file sharing

Setting user and group permissions for share points

Using FTP file service

For many organizations, file sharing is the raison d’être for a server. It enables users to quickly and securely move files between computers sitting next to each other or in different buildings. Mountain Lion Server uses the native file-sharing methods of OS X, Windows, Linux/Unix, and iOS (iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch). Apple refers to shared folders as share points; Microsoft calls them shares. But they’re the same thing in OS X Server.

The Server app provides a simple way to quickly set up file sharing and grant users and groups access. This chapter describes how to do this setup, and describes the file-sharing protocols and permissions involved in the setup. (Chapter 8 describes permissions in much more detail.) Apple’s approach is to keep the more complex tasks out of the way. In fact, you may never need to use them. If that’s the case, congratulations — you don’t ...