In Over My Head. User ID's on Network

[GclefBoogie]

Have various MAC machine and OS's from 7.6.1 to OS X on a TCP/IP network.
There are over 80 machine on the network.
In the past each user used the same ID/Password which gave them access
to the internet and that particular machine. I need to create a domain and to allow each user to have an indiviual ID/password so that they can log in from any machine on the network into that particular domain.
I was given a MAC 9500/200 running os 7.6.1 w/64MB to use as a server
to authenticate the user ID's. Trouble is I know nothing about MAC's.
So, can you help me?
I don't know what kind of server to load on this machine or the utility to
create the ID's. Also what client apps need be loaded.
I'm in over my head but I'm a good swimmer. A bit of help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[edesignuk]

I thought "domains" were a Windows thing? You can have Panther authenticate to an Active Directory domain, but AFAIK (which isn't far in this case, but anyway...) OS X server has no "domain" service, maybe there is a Mac equivalent? I remember seeing that it is possible to configure OS X also to authenticate via an LDAP directory of some kind as well, though I have no idea how, and I don't think I remember it saying this could be done with anything pre-X.

 

[GclefBoogie]

Thanks edesignuk.

I used an improper name, 'domain'. Bottom line, I prefer to use the 9500/200 os 7.6.1 machine for the server and each user needs an individual ID w/ password that can be used to log into any machine on the network.
So I imagine there must be a server somewhere (the 9500/200) that authenticates (perhaps another improper term) the id/password and grants access.
After that I would imagine there are certain preferences and permissions that allow that user access to certain volumes or files on other machines within the network.

So how do I do that?

I thought "domains" were a Windows thing? You can have Panther authenticate to an Active Directory domain, but AFAIK (which isn't far in this case, but anyway...) OS X server has no "domain" service, maybe there is a Mac equivalent? I remember seeing that it is possible to configure OS X also to authenticate via an LDAP directory of some kind as well, though I have no idea how, and I don't think I remember it saying this could be done with anything pre-X.

 

[jeremy.king]

Appleshare IP may be an option you could look into as it should run on that 9600. Im not sure about support for OS X clients though.

If you can get "better" server hardware, then go after OS X Server and it can serve ALL of your clients, including your windows boxes. http://www.apple.com/server/macosx/

I would recommend at least a good book or training class in administering OS X server for your how-tos. If you are responsible for that many machines, its probably a good idea to know what you are doing instead of relying on people here to help you setup a network.