ExtremeZ-IP Overview
Achieve Enterprise Harmony: One Secure Network Serving Mac and PC computers
Apple’s traction in the enterprise is accelerating rapidly – industries where Macintosh computers could rarely be found except for in the design department are becoming staple platforms in most businesses in the world. In addition to the large number of enterprises that are offering employees a Mac option are businesses that are embracing the consumerization of IT, and allowing employee-owned devices like the Mac into the enterprise IT ecosystem.
Mac computers offer a rich user experience that improves productivity for its fans, but how does a Windows-based enterprise effectively integrate a platform not natively designed to work within that Windows infrastructure?
It’s easy with ExtremeZ-IP from GroupLogic.
With a simple server install and configuration process, ExtremeZ-IP empowers enterprise IT to seamlessly integrate Macintosh computers into existing Windows infrastructure, allowing Mac users to have the same access to Windows file and print servers as PC users and without the IT headache of overwhelming help desk calls and inaccessible and corrupted files.
Over 6000 enterprises worldwide use ExtremeZ-IP to empower Mac computers and PCs to connect, coexist, and communicate in a Windows based network.
ExtremeZ-IP delivers seamless access
ExtremeZ-IP enterprises experience the ability:
- Provide the same file and print access and resources to Mac users as PC users, simplifying management and consolidating servers
- Reduce the number of help desk incidents generated by Mac users
- Eliminate file corruption and incompatibility created by Mac users accessing Windows servers
- Seamlessly integrate Mac computers with Active Directory and Distributed File System (DFS) [*]
- Increase productivity with improved user integration, accessibility, and system performance
- Maintain expected Mac features such as Network Spotlight, full content search, and Time Machine backup.
- Ensure Mac clients self-restore previous versions of server-based files, reducing help desk backup restore requests.
- Eliminate the AppleTalk protocol from their networks
Why ExtremeZ-IP
Eliminate incompatibilities that Mac computers encounter when using traditional Windows SMB files shares, including:
- Elimination of 'dot underscore' files
- Support for Mac file 'resource forks'
- Proper handling of long file names
- The ability to browse DFS namespaces
- Compatibility with Mac OS 9 through the latest OS X 10.7 Lion.
Integrate into a wide variety of Windows environments, including:
- Windows 2003 and 2008 servers
- Microsoft Clustering
- Active Directory
- Distributed File System (DFS) [*]
- Windows ACL permissions
- Network-based Home Directories [**]
- Kerberos single sign-on authentication.
- Volume Shadow Copy Service previous versions file restoration.
Provide the Mac technologies your users expect, including:
- AFP file server access
- Network Spotlight
- Time Machine
- Bonjour resource discovery
- Auto-configuration of network printers
[*] ExtremeZ-IP DFS Virtual Root support is only available in the ExtremeZ-IP "Enterprise Solutions" class licenses; Unlimited-Client, Cluster or Enterprise License (ELP). The DFSConnect add-on is available for DFS support on other license client counts. However, any license of ExtremeZ-IP can be a DFS target. DFSConnect is available on our Online Store. Click here to request an ELP quote.
[**] DFS-based home directories are not yet supported for Mac OS X 10.7 Lion clients. Support for DFS-based home directories will require a follow-up release of ExtremeZ-IP and/or Mac OS 10.7.