System information
18 Chapter 1 Introducing Mac OS X Server
Snow Leopard Server in Small Business
A single server with Mac OS X Server can provide all the services needed by computer
users in a small business. The server and users’ computers are all connected to a private
local network that shares a DSL or cable Internet connection. The Internet connection
can be shared through an AirPort Extreme Base Station (802.11n) or a Time Capsule,
through a router from the Internet service provider (ISP) or computer retailer, or
through the server. The next few pages illustrate and describe these congurations.
Single Server with AirPort Extreme
The following illustration shows Mac OS X Server and users’ computers and iPhones
sharing an Internet connection through an AirPort Extreme Base Station (802.11n).
The base station connects to the Internet through a DSL modem or cable modem and
connects to the local network to share the Internet connection with the server and
users’ computers. The server and some of the users’ computers have wired connections
to the local network, and other users’ computers connect to the local network
wirelessly through the base station. The server and users’ computers get their network
addresses from the base station’s DHCP server. They get DNS name service from the ISP.
The base station also protects the server and all users’ computers against malicious
attacks from the Internet by blocking communications that originate outside the local
network. However, the base station is congured to allow incoming communications
for some services. For example, the base station allows the server’s mail service to
receive email from outside the local network.
All the wired and wireless computers on the local network get services from Mac OS X
Server.