The The macOS User Administration Guide

This definitive guide starts by helping you to understand the macOS system from the ground up. You'll extend your knowledge of managing, configuring, and administering your macOS environment through expert tips and techniques. The book will enable you to realize the full potential of the latest macOS features and be prepared for the ACSP exam.

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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 DescriptionApple 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 forIf 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.