Alternative to ADmitMAC

The directory utility found in /Applications/Utilities allows a mac to bind to an Active Directory without the need of 3rd party utilities.

I would suggest that you use a mac that have not already installed ADmitMAC onto. Then bind it to the Active Directory using the macs built in directory utility.

Then see if you can access the windows domain services.

It depends on what you need out of active directory. You don't need ADmitMAC just to get a Mac into an AD domain; that capability is built into Mac OS X. See:

http://www.apple.com/itpro/articles/adintegration/

and

http://www.bombich.com/mactips/activedir.html

for starters. Apple also offers a free on-line seminar .

ADmitMAC provides some additional features and capabilities, but depending on your needs you may be able to get by with just the built-in functionality.

Hope this helps.

http://www.afp548.com/article.php?story=using-mcx-in-the-dslocal-domain

http://managingosx.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/mcx-dslocal-and-leopard/

this'll get you on your way in terms of management without an OS X Server

is it an issue with connecting the shares?

wow. Lot of questions. And we're starting to move into the realm of the server area here.

1: Leopard has what I regard as a bug where it doesn't use kerberos credentials when connecting to certain SMB shares via the Finder. If you look in your logs on the client you might see a message saying "Server doesn't support kerberos but you are requesting kerberos". Please call Apple and file a bug report so maybe they can fix this one of these days.

2. This bug is not present in command line. If you use login scripts you should be able to avoid this.

3. /Library/Preferences/com.apple.dockfixup.plist is your enemy

4. Create your mouse preferences. Open workgroup manager, select your directory node, select your group, click on preferences, click on details, then click on the + sign to add in mouse preferences.