Maximizing Mac OS X Lion Server-powered networks typically requires sharing data. Share points can consist of volumes, drives or individual folders. Here’s the quick skinny on configuring share points using Mac OS X Lion Server.

Enable File Sharing

Before drives, folders, or volumes can be shared, you must first enable File Sharing. Enable File Sharing by following these steps:

  1. Log on to Mac OS X Lion Server and open the Server app.
  2. Select Manage.
  3. Choose Connect to Server.
  4. Select the Lion Server.
  5. Enter the username and password for the server’s local administrator account.
  6. Choose File Sharing from within the Services section of the Server app.
  7. Turn File Sharing on by moving the Off / On switch to On.

Create a share point

Mac OS X Lion Server creates several default share points: Groups, Public, and Users. Of course, organizations frequently wish to organize and share data using additional or different folders. Follow these steps to create a new share point:

  1. Open the Server app.
  2. Select File Sharing.
  3. Click +.
  4. Select the location of the resource, such as a folder or volume, to be shared or create a new folder and provide it with the intended name.
  5. With the resource highlighted, click Choose.

Edit share point settings

Once share points are created the share’s settings must be configured. Both access permissions and share Settings must be specified. Access permissions dictate which users or groups can access the share point, while Settings specify which protocols are used to share the resource and whether guest users receive access to the share point.

Mac administrators can follow these steps to configure share points:

  1. Open the Server app.
  2. Select File Sharing.
  3. Highlight the respective share point.
  4. Click the pencil icon to edit the share point’s configuration.
  5. Configure POSIX and/or access control list permissions as required, clicking the + icon to add users or groups and the – icon to remove highlighted users or groups.
  6. Select the appropriate protocol settings.
    • Select Share with Mac clients (AFP) if the share point will be accessed by Mac users.
    • Select Share with Windows clients (SMB) if the resource will be accessed by Windows computer users.
    • Check the Share with iOS devices (WebDAV) box if you wish to enable compatible (iOS) mobile devices to access the share point.
    • Click Allow guest users to access this share if you wish to provide guests with permission to the share point.
    • Choose the Make available for home directories over AFP/SMB (you must select which protocol to use) option if you wish to enable the share point to host home directories.
  7. Confirm the changes and click Done.

Note, configuring POSIX and ACL permissions is beyond the scope of this article. For more Mac permissions information, you may wish to reference: