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ACSP: Apple Certified Support Professional Os X Support

Subjects : certifications, it-skills, apple

Instructions:

Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
Match each statement with the correct term.
Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. Two primary partition schemes for mac formatted drives?
Safe boot refers to when the system is starting up - safe mode is when the system is actually running - and safe login is when the system starts up the user session.
ls
command - options - arguments
GUID partition table for intel-based macs - Apple-Partition-Map for PPC macs

2. Three minium requirements for creating a command line script
AFP - SMB - FTP - NFS - WebDAV
Single partition drives are easier to setup initially - but aren't as flexible for admin/maintenance. Multiple can segregate data
1.) Create a plain text file w/ the 2.) Make the first line #!/bin/bash 3.) Change the permissions to allow execution
Absolute always start at the root of the filesystem - whereas relative paths start where the user is current at

3. What type of files are omitted from time machine backups?
So they can navigate to the public or sites folder
Resource contention general - an item another user has running. Document contention for document another user has open. Peripheral contention for peripheral in use by another user. Application contention for when an app is designed to be open only on
Start the name with a . - or enable the hidden file flag.
Temp files - spotlight indexes - items in the trash - and any files defined as exempt either by you or by an application.

4. What does the firmware do? What is the POST?

5. What is the safe boot keyboard combo?
Hold down shift on startup
computer hostname - working directory - user account
The client uses the subnet mask to decide if the client is on the LAN. If it's not on the LAN - then it sends the data to the IP address of the local router. Traffic continues through routers until it reaches the destination.
cat - less

6. 3 Default items in CLI prompt
computer hostname - working directory - user account
Option key - Startup Disk preference pane in OS X - or the BootCamp utility in Windows.
Find the third-party resource causing the problem. Start in verbose mode and see where the startup fails.
More options than GUI - bypass finder restrictions - root access - remote ssh is invisible to users - automation easy with scripting - easy combining with ARD

7. What is a device driver? What three primary types of device drivers are there?
A driver is a piece of software designed to facilitate the communication between Mac OS X and the peripheral. There are kernel extensions - framework plug-ins - or stand-alone applications.
Core system files - fonts - X11 - nearby & local printers - language translations
It does a 7-pass erase.
Enable Web Sharing in System Preferences

8. Different between absolute and relative path
Locally connected volumes are fully accessible to any logged in user.
Absolute always start at the root of the filesystem - whereas relative paths start where the user is current at
File>>Create Burn Folder and drag items in then press burn. OR Insert blank media and choose new Burn Folder
Terminal - Single User Mode - >Console from login window - SSH

9. How does the default organization of the filesystem allow users to safely share local files and folder?
Automator is a workflow based application whereas AppleScript is an english-like scripting language
Used to make the filesystem appear less complex. Data forks and resource forks are combined to appear as a single item. They have fallen out because they're not compatible with non Mac-OS volumes and are not extensible.
Bonjour and NetBios & WINS
Every home folder has the public folder and dropbox folder whereas all other home folders are protected.

10. What are some common file flags and extended attributes used by Mac OS X?
Code signed items include a digital signature that the system can use to verify the authenticity and integrity of the application or process and its resources.
System launchd is responsible for starting every single system process. It manages system initialization and launches loginwindow.
AFP - SMB - FTP - NFS - WebDAV
Common flags include locked and hidden - Common extended attributes include an items color - spotlight comments - etc.

11. What are six common system resources? What purpose does each one serve and where are they located?
Option key - Startup Disk preference pane in OS X - or the BootCamp utility in Windows.
extensions - tied to the kernel to provide hardware support - frameworks - shared code libraries - fonts - preference files - configuration info - Launch Agents and Launch Daemons - used by launchd to provide auto-starting services - logs - contain d
command - options - arguments
The computer's website files are located in /Library/WebServer/Documents and each users' is inside ~/Sites

12. What is the difference between launch daemons - startup items - launch agents - and login items?

13. What is the purpose of IP addresses and subnet masks? What is their format?
Parental controls
1.) User accounts not tied to individual Macs 2.) Same user account for multiple services 3.) Kerberos SSO 4.) Define user/comp settings in a single location
IP addresses identify the location of a specific network device. Subnet masks are used by network devices to identify their local network range. IPv4 addresses are a 32-bit number represented in 4 groups of four octets separated by periods. 0-255.
All users can read/write - but only the creator can delete. This uses the sticky bit.

14. How does the IP addresses use the MAC address to send messages between computers on a LAN?

15. What are the min sys req for BootCamp?
Using information provided by the dynamic network services discovery protocols. Computers providing services appear as resources whereas service discovery zones or workgroups appear as folders.
Launch daemons and startup items are launched during system initialization by the system launchd process on behalf of root. Launch agents and login items are opened during the initialization of the GUI environment by the user's launchd process.
The loginwindow process logs all users out and then tells the kernel to quit all remaining system processes.
Intel - directly attached input devices - 10.5 or later - all new firmware updates - 10.5 or greater install disc - 10 gigs of free space - 2 GB or more of RAM

16. What are the four default top-level folders available in the Finder?
Applications - Library - System - Users
It will not load any third party KEXTs - third-party LaunchAgents - LaunchDaemons - StartupItems - fonts - any user login items - or any user specific LaunchAgents.
Local - BSD Flat File and NIS - LDAPv3 - AD
The client uses the subnet mask to decide if the client is on the LAN. If it's not on the LAN - then it sends the data to the IP address of the local router. Traffic continues through routers until it reaches the destination.

17. What are the device classes used by Mac OS X to categorize peripherals? What are some examples of each class?
Users don't traditionally need access to them - and if they do - they can use Terminal.
Users' public folders
Find the third-party resource causing the problem. Start in verbose mode and see where the startup fails.
human input devices (HIDs) like keyboards and mice - storage devices like hard drives - printers - scanners - digital cameras - video devices including both input and output - and audio devices.

18. What are resource forks and why have they fallen out of favor?

19. Security risks & account types
Absolute always start at the root of the filesystem - whereas relative paths start where the user is current at
Single partition drives are easier to setup initially - but aren't as flexible for admin/maintenance. Multiple can segregate data
Root has unlimited access - Admin can change system files & settings - guest can dump tons of files
Full directions to a specific item

20. How does Mac OS X use dynamic network discovery protocols to access network services?
Press the eject button - file>>eject - drag to trash - press eject in the sidebar
Devices providing network services broadcast their existence and Mac OS X picks up on these broadcasts and provides a list of services.
Local - BSD Flat File and NIS - LDAPv3 - AD
Root has unlimited access - Admin can change system files & settings - guest can dump tons of files

21. What are the differences between ZIP archives and Disk Images?
Any Mac OS X Extended volume including volumes from disk images stored on an AFP share on OS X Server.
Zip files are created with the Finder and are compatible with many OSes. Good for small files & small number of items. Disk Images are created in disk utility.
Kerberos tickets are used to validate an account's identity. Kerberos uses ticket-granting-tickets and service tickets. KDC = key distribution center.
File>>Create Burn Folder and drag items in then press burn. OR Insert blank media and choose new Burn Folder

22. Relative path

23. What backup destinations does Time Machine support?
Any Mac OS X Extended volume including volumes from disk images stored on an AFP share on OS X Server.
Option key - Startup Disk preference pane in OS X - or the BootCamp utility in Windows.
Cocoa - Carbon - BSD (CLI) - X11 - Java (Cocoa is native - Carbon is based on OS 9 but still provides OS X performance - X11 is a unix windowing environment)
Core system files - fonts - X11 - nearby & local printers - language translations

24. How do you use disk utility to burn an optical disk?
It's a special permission used to define a folder as an append-only destination (only the creator can delete the file he creates)
Users don't traditionally need access to them - and if they do - they can use Terminal.
Automator is a workflow based application whereas AppleScript is an english-like scripting language
Drag the disk image into disk utility and press burn

25. What is target disk mode and how is it engaged?
Run PPC based apps on newer Intel macs. It does not support pre-OS X apps - the Classic environment - PPC screen-savers - PPC preference panes - G5 specific apps - PPC kernel extensions - some Java apps
File>>Create Burn Folder and drag items in then press burn. OR Insert blank media and choose new Burn Folder
So they can navigate to the public or sites folder
Hold down T on boot - allows the mac to be turned into a very large - and expensive - external hard drive or disc drive.

26. What does iSync do?
Devices providing network services broadcast their existence and Mac OS X picks up on these broadcasts and provides a list of services.
iSync allows you to sync personal info between Mac OS X apps and peripherals like Palm PDAs - and Bluetooth enabled cell phones.
Apple Menu>> Force Quit - Activity Monitor - Dock contextual menu
Restart the app - try another document - try another user account - check log files - delete caches - replace preferences - and replace app resources.

27. Locate system version - build number - serial number location
Internet traffic goes through the primary interface.
About this mac or system profiler. System is general release number - build is specific - and serial number represents the machine.
This will not change the keychain. They can either unlock the keychain with the old password to sync them - or create a new keychain.
The loginwindow process logs all users out and then tells the kernel to quit all remaining system processes.

28. What does 'ignore volume ownership' do in the Finder?
The status indicator lights - Green - yellow - red.
This ignores any ownership rules and will grant any logged-on user unlimited access to the contents of the volume.
Intel - directly attached input devices - 10.5 or later - all new firmware updates - 10.5 or greater install disc - 10 gigs of free space - 2 GB or more of RAM
Terminal - Single User Mode - >Console from login window - SSH

29. How does the IP transfer messages between computers on a WAN?

30. What are four advantages of using network directory services to store account information?
Option key - Startup Disk preference pane in OS X - or the BootCamp utility in Windows.
1.) User accounts not tied to individual Macs 2.) Same user account for multiple services 3.) Kerberos SSO 4.) Define user/comp settings in a single location
Apple Menu>> Force Quit - Activity Monitor - Dock contextual menu
AFP - SMB - FTP - NFS - WebDAV

31. What are three common troubleshooting techniques for issues involving failure to connect to network services?
AFP - SMB - FTP - NFS - WebDAV
Review network preferences - review network utility preferences - and attempt to connect to different network services
RAID 0 uses striping to increase performance. RAID 1 uses disk mirroring.
About this mac or system profiler. System is general release number - build is specific - and serial number represents the machine.

32. Folder/directories
Describe containers in the file system
based on the user's current location
Apple Menu>> Force Quit - Activity Monitor - Dock contextual menu
Too many to list. Hehe.

33. Where are preferences stored? What format is generally used?
If the backup volume became full and removed the older item(s).
They're used to combine complex items into individual folders. Packages appear as a single item.
User preferences are in ~/Library and the format is often Property List - which is just a special XML file.
If a known master password is reset - existing accounts are not negatively affected. If the master is reset because it was lost - however - preexisting accounts cannot be reset by the new password until the old FileVault passwords are reset.

34. Absolute path
Enable Web Sharing in System Preferences
Too many to list. Hehe.
Every home folder has the public folder and dropbox folder whereas all other home folders are protected.
Full directions to a specific item

35. How do you provide Mac OS X web-sharing services?
Admins have access to any locally-connected volume whereas standard users can only access their home folders and other user's Public folders.
Common UNIX Printing System (CUPS) manages all printing and faxing for the system.
Enable Web Sharing in System Preferences
Screen sharing - remote login - remote management - remote apple events - and Xgrid sharing

36. Why might a previously backed-up item no longer be available in Time Machine?
If the backup volume became full and removed the older item(s).
Clear-text - encrypted - Kerberos
The client uses the subnet mask to decide if the client is on the LAN. If it's not on the LAN - then it sends the data to the IP address of the local router. Traffic continues through routers until it reaches the destination.
AFP - SMB - FTP - NFS - WebDAV

37. What happens during user log-out?

38. What are five common directory services and authentication services troubleshooting techniques?
Admins have access to any locally-connected volume whereas standard users can only access their home folders and other user's Public folders.
1.) Try another account 2.) Reset the account password 3.) Verify directory service connectivity 4) Verify kerberos authentication & config 5.) Check directory service log files
Documents - Movies - Music - Pictures - Library - Downloads - Desktop - Public - Sites
HFS+ (Mac OS X Extended Journaled - Mac OS X Extended Case Sensitive Journaled - Mac OS X Extended) - HFS - UFS - FAT32 - NTFS - UDF

39. How does Time Machine maintain a backup history of the system?

40. What shared items are accessible to any user who connects via FTP?

41. How does the firmware password help secure against password changes?
Prevents users from using the reset password utility on the os x install dvd because they cannot boot from it.
System Profiler
The user's loginwindow process does the following: Request that all user applications quit - quits any user backgroun processes - runs any logout scripts - records the logout to the man system.log - resets device permissions and preferences to defaul
1.) User accounts not tied to individual Macs 2.) Same user account for multiple services 3.) Kerberos SSO 4.) Define user/comp settings in a single location

42. What is the relationship between clients and servers as it relates to network service access?
Absolute always start at the root of the filesystem - whereas relative paths start where the user is current at
Client software is used to access services provided by a server
The system keeps applications from interfering with one another by segregating their memory using protected memory. 64 bit memory addressing allows apps to directly access more than 4 GB of ram.
Print and Fax or Sharing Preferences. For windows users - you must enable users' password in the SMB file sharing settings in Sharing Preferences.

43. What is authentication and authorization?
Root has unlimited access - Admin can change system files & settings - guest can dump tons of files
It will not load any third party KEXTs - third-party LaunchAgents - LaunchDaemons - StartupItems - fonts - any user login items - or any user specific LaunchAgents.
Authentication is who am I?Authorization is what can I do?
Hold down T on boot - allows the mac to be turned into a very large - and expensive - external hard drive or disc drive.

44. What functionality does 10.6 support with AppleTalk?
Nothing.
This will not change the keychain. They can either unlock the keychain with the old password to sync them - or create a new keychain.
Client software is used to access services provided by a server
1.) Try another account 2.) Reset the account password 3.) Verify directory service connectivity 4) Verify kerberos authentication & config 5.) Check directory service log files

45. What files are associated with the computer's website? What about the users' websites?

46. Why is time machine bad at backing up large databases?
May cause data corruption
Core system files - fonts - X11 - nearby & local printers - language translations
It has to copy the entire thing over again on each change.
Local accounts are just for that Mac - network accounts are available anywhere on the network - and Mobile accounts create a cached local copy of a network account for offline access.

47. What password issues may arise related to the SMB service?

48. How do kerberos and keychain system differ for managing authentication services?
Get Info from Finder or System Profiler
Clear-text - encrypted - Kerberos
The network service operates or broadcasts on a network port.
Kerberos can only be used to authenticate against kerberized services and is often managed on a network-wide scale.

49. Which two commands can read text files?
cat - less
Set the mac's network identification - enable the desired service - define access.System preferences >> Sharing
The user's loginwindow process does the following: Request that all user applications quit - quits any user backgroun processes - runs any logout scripts - records the logout to the man system.log - resets device permissions and preferences to defaul
firmware - startup chim or bright flash of power-on light and light gray screen booter - dark gray apple logo on primary display kernel - small gray spinning gear system launchd - bright blue screen

50. What is Rosetta and what types of items are not supported by Rosetta?
Every home folder has the public folder and dropbox folder whereas all other home folders are protected.
Terminal - Single User Mode - >Console from login window - SSH
Run PPC based apps on newer Intel macs. It does not support pre-OS X apps - the Classic environment - PPC screen-savers - PPC preference panes - G5 specific apps - PPC kernel extensions - some Java apps
It's used to verify or repair the directory structure of a volume which contains all the information used to locate files and folders on the volume.