Imac to Windows server

Hi everyone

We have a small/meduim office with a network using windows server 2003 and a few pcs. Various users are able to log on any of the pcs and are able to get to their individual user area on the server as well as other shared areas.

We have started using Imacs in the office but at the moment not setup on the network so one has to copy a file from their user area on the server (using a pc) before being able to work on them on the imacs.

Can the imacs be connected to the windows server so they can be logged on like the pc ie with the same usernam/password and have access to our user areas and shared areas.

If not able to log on as a pc but able to save work done on the imacs to ones user area on the server and also be able to retrieve work from the server whiles working on the imacs would be good enough.

Thank you.

Presuming that you have Active Directory on your Windows setup, this article may give you some pointers about integrating OS X machines.

I haven't tried it personally, but it looks fairly straightforward. Once logged on via Active Directory access to services on the Windows domain should be just like with a PC.

I run a small network of PCs at a local charity. I took my MBP into the office to do something the other day, plugged it into the LAN, and I was connected to the Windows server in about 10 seconds.

You should be able to connect using Finder->Go->Connect to Server. If you can't browse and see the server, try entering the address: smb:// followed by the name or IP address of the server.

I think the OP wants to actually authenticate via the server, which is a little more complicated. But it does depend upon how the network is configured.

You can mount any SMB/CIFS share from the Finder Go>>Connect to Server>> smb://yourserversipaddress/share then open system preferences>>accounts click on the user >>login items you can simply drag the network volume icon from the desktop/sidebar to the login items window for the share to be automatically mounted on login.

As posted earlier full AD authentication/integration is supported for larger networks.

In reply to a post by RoadRailer_Pilot:

you can simply drag the network volume icon from the desktop/sidebar to the login items window for the share to be automatically mounted on login.

I didn't know that, thanks