What is the Directory Utility on Mac&How to join Mac to Directory service?

macos tips
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Hi, everyone! My Mac is part of a corporation. I learned that the built-in macOS Directory Utility enables me to authenticate users, manage network accounts, and configure how the system interacts with network services. But what I know about the Directory Utility is limited. I don’t know how it works, where to access Directory Utility on Mac, and how to bind my Mac to the directory service. Any helps would be appreciated!

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The Directory Utility on Mac is a built-in tool that allows users to manage and configure directory services on their system. It’s used primarily for advanced network configuration tasks, such as connecting a Mac to directory services like Open Directory, Active Directory, LDAP, or NIS. By connecting to these directory services, users can centrally manage accounts and resources for users, groups, and computers within a networked environment.

While the Directory Utility is accessible to all Mac users, it is primarily intended for IT professionals and network administrators. It’s especially useful in corporate environments, schools, and large organizations where Macs are connected to directory services for centralized management of accounts, authentication, and permissions. For general users, the tool isn’t necessary unless your Mac is part of a network that relies on a directory service for user management.

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A directory service on macOS is a system that stores and organizes information about users, computers, and other resources in a network. It allows macOS to manage and authenticate users, handle permissions, and facilitate access to network resources such as files, printers, and applications.

Key roles of directory services on macOS include:

  1. User Authentication: Directory services enable centralized user login management, so users can log in to different Macs or network resources using the same credentials.

  2. Authorization and Access Control: Directory services control who has access to certain resources (files, printers, etc.) on the network, managing permissions based on the user’s account information.

  3. Centralized Management: Administrators can manage users, groups, devices, and policies from one central location, which simplifies network and device management, particularly in large organizations or educational settings.

macOS supports different directory services such as Open Directory (Apple’s own directory service) and Active Directory (Microsoft’s directory service). These services allow macOS to integrate with various network environments, enabling seamless management and interoperability within mixed OS networks.

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To access Directory Utility on macOS, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Spotlight icon (magnifying glass) in the top-right corner of the screen or press Command (⌘) + Space.
  2. Type “Directory Utility” into the Spotlight search bar.
  3. When “Directory Utility” appears in the search results, click on it to open the application.

Alternatively, you can access Directory Utility through System Settings:

  1. Click the Apple Menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings.
  2. Scroll down and click on Users & Groups.
  3. At the bottom of the Users & Groups pane, click on Login Options. If needed, click the padlock icon and enter your admin username and password to unlock.
  4. Click the Network Account Server button or Join button, then click Open Directory Utility.

This tool allows you to configure and manage various directory services, such as Active Directory, LDAP servers, and Apple’s Open Directory.

Steps to configure domain access in Directory Utility on Mac:

  1. Access the Directory Utility app on your Mac, click Services.
  2. Tap the lock icon.
  3. Enter an administrator’s username and password, then choose Modify Configuration (or use Touch ID).
  4. Select Active Directory, then click “Edit settings for the selected service”.
  5. Enter the DNS host name of the Active Directory domain you want to bind.
  6. The administrator of the Active Directory domain can tell you the DNS host name.
  7. If necessary, edit the Computer ID.
  8. If the advanced options are hidden, tap the disclosure triangle next to Show Options. You can also change advanced option settings later.
  9. Select User Experience options, Mappings options, and Administrative options.
  10. Click Bind, then enter information including Username and Password, Computer OU, Use for authentication, and Use for contacts.
  11. Click OK.