How do I log into a windows domain server on OS X?

[Poseidon79]

Can anyone link me to a current guide or tell me how to log onto my 2003 windows domain server with OSX? The guides I've found are way old.

[raduga]

Can anyone link me to a current guide or tell me how to log onto my 2003 windows domain server with OSX? The guides I've found are way old.

Its a bit Complicated.
Depends:

• what OS you running? SL, Lion? Server?
• Do you need to join the domain (be recognized as a domain member)?
• Are you just looking for authentication- using WDC credentials to log on to your Mac desktop?
• use domain credentials to provide unix shell access on OS X machines?
• Just looking to auth yourself to access domain file or printer shares?
• Provide your own shares for domain clients?

all the above?
other services not mentioned?
[do you really need ALL, or are some parts more or less critical?]

I don't have a faq or a guide handy, but could probably cobble some together, depending on what you're looking to do.

Send a PM if you like

[Poseidon79]

OSX Lion on the mac mini I just picked up today
Yes I need to join the domain as a user for file/folder access. If all I need to do is authenticate myself to see the folders then that's cool.

[raduga]

You probably do NOT need to join the domain; unless your Mac needs to be visible TO the domain controller, or to other machines using the domain.

To connect to remote shares provided through Windows domain services you can usually just use Finder:

Go -> Connect to server ->

smb://domainname;servername/
Oops.
smb://domainname;username@servername/

___
It should show you a list of shared folders, and then prompt you for a username and password. Enter your DOMAIN user/pass - which may not be the same as your local Mac account. If that doesn't work, you can try:

smb://servername/
smb://servername/sharename
smb://server_ip_address/

Edit:
damn buggy undocumented code

[Poseidon79]

The last suggestion worked with the ip address. Thanks! I had to enable SMB in the sharing preferences first though.

[raduga]

The last suggestion worked with the ip address. Thanks! I had to enable SMB in the sharing preferences first though.

glad you got it!
(btw, the first option won't work due to incomplete implementation on Apple's part. See revised post above.)

[Claire Green]

Useful stuff is provided here.