Set up your OS X calendar server

OS X Server 10.5 includes iCal Server, a full-featured yet easy-to-configure CalDAV server. Beyond the ordinary requirements for OS X Server, though, iCal Server has some additional qualifications. First, the server must have a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) with a matching reverse DNS entry. (In other words, when you enter the server’s IP address in the Lookup pane of Network Utility, it should return the FQDN, and when you look up the FQDN, it should return the server’s IP address. See “Matching Pair.”) Also, the server must be set up as an Open Directory Master, which is the default if you chose the Workgroup configuration when you initially configured Leopard Server. (For more information on Open Directory, consult the OS X Server documentation.)

Turn on iCal Server After setting up Open Directory, you can activate iCal Server (if necessary) using either Server Preferences or Server Admin (both found in /Applications/Server). In Server Preferences, click on iCal and set the main switch to On, or, in Server Admin, select the server name, choose Server: Add Service, and select the iCal option. Then select iCal in the list on the left and click on Start iCal. Note that if you chose the Advanced configuration for your server, you may also have to configure the Web server separately.

User Accounts The system administrator need only set up (or import) an ordinary user account for each person using Workgroup Server or Server Preferences; users can create and edit their own calendars.

Group Calendars In addition to individual calendars that can be delegated to others, iCal Server supports group calendars; these are part of the Wiki server (which is in turn a part of OS X’s Web server).

 

Shared Account In a small office or informal group without significant security concerns, you may wish to avoid the extra steps of delegation and group calendars by creating an additional user account with a password everyone knows (and only calendaring enabled). Use that account strictly for a shared calendar that anyone can freely edit.

Locations and Resources To set up locations and resources in OS X Server, use the new Directory application (located on the server in /Applications/Utilities). Click on the plus-sign (+) button at the bottom of the window and choose New Location or New Resource from the pop-up menu, and then fill in the details for each location or resource.

Once you’ve got your server set up, you’re ready to take advantage of the group scheduling features in Apple’s iCal 3.

OS X Server 10.5 includes iCal Server, a full-featured yet easy-to-configure CalDAV server. Beyond the ordinary requirements for OS X Server, though, iCal Server has some additional qualifications. First, the server must have a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) with a matching reverse DNS entry. (In other words, when you enter the server’s IP address in the Lookup pane of Network Utility, it should return the FQDN, and when you look up the FQDN, it should return the server’s IP address. See “Matching Pair.”) Also, the server must be set up as an Open Directory Master, which is the default if you chose the Workgroup configuration when you initially configured Leopard Server. (For more information on Open Directory, consult the OS X Server documentation.)

Turn on iCal Server After setting up Open Directory, you can activate iCal Server (if necessary) using either Server Preferences or Server Admin (both found in /Applications/Server). In Server Preferences, click on iCal and set the main switch to On, or, in Server Admin, select the server name, choose Server: Add Service, and select the iCal option. Then select iCal in the list on the left and click on Start iCal. Note that if you chose the Advanced configuration for your server, you may also have to configure the Web server separately.

User Accounts The system administrator need only set up (or import) an ordinary user account for each person using Workgroup Server or Server Preferences; users can create and edit their own calendars.

Group Calendars In addition to individual calendars that can be delegated to others, iCal Server supports group calendars; these are part of the Wiki server (which is in turn a part of OS X’s Web server).

 

Shared Account In a small office or informal group without significant security concerns, you may wish to avoid the extra steps of delegation and group calendars by creating an additional user account with a password everyone knows (and only calendaring enabled). Use that account strictly for a shared calendar that anyone can freely edit.

Locations and Resources To set up locations and resources in OS X Server, use the new Directory application (located on the server in /Applications/Utilities). Click on the plus-sign (+) button at the bottom of the window and choose New Location or New Resource from the pop-up menu, and then fill in the details for each location or resource.

Once you’ve got your server set up, you’re ready to take advantage of the group scheduling features in Apple’s iCal 3. See “Corral Your Calendars” for tips.