Specifications

15
Preface
About This Guide
This guide describes Mac OS X Server command-line tools
and commands, including the syntax, purpose, and
parameters, and provides examples of usage and output.
Command-Line Administration is written for system administrators familiar with
administering and managing servers, storage, and networks.
Beneath the interface of Mac OS X is a core operating system known as Darwin. Darwin
integrates a number of technologies, most importantly Mach 3.0, operating-system
services based on Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) release 4.4 high-performance
networking facilities, and support for multiple integrated file systems.
Darwin maintains most of the functionality of BSD 4.4 commands. Although some
commands are modified, most commands are kept as is, or their functionality has been
extended to support Apple-specific technologies.
This guide focuses on commands developed by Apple to allow administrators to
perform functions available in the graphical interface from the command line.
The guide also highlights BSD commands that have been modified or extended to
support Apple-specific functionality. Finally, the guide describes important commands
commonly used by UNIX system administrators.
Note: Because Apple periodically releases new versions and updates to its software,
images shown in this book may be different from what you see on your screen.