MacBook with IT admin/network

justinmccormick7882 · 2017-06-02T13:17:55.000Z

Is it possible to be a network/sysadmin for an organization and use a MacBook Pro? I’m trying to see if it’ll be easier to carry a second laptop, use parallels, or just not use a Mac in general. Thank you everyone!

tobywells · 2017-06-02T13:23:19.000Z

Well my network admin days are a good way behind me but of course it is. There isnt another piece of kit you can triple boot Mac/Windows/Linux with (legally and with full hardware support)

jason132 · 2017-06-02T13:27:22.000Z

My thinking is it is all in preference. I would prefer to only carry one laptop. I like the thought of MacOS because of having the ability to do Unix commands and still have a fairly well supported OS. I do carry Linux around with me because I do prefer some of the networking tools. Windows now has the option to install the BASH functionality so if you are wanted command line tools you have them. My question would be, do you have software that is supported on MacOS? If not, there would be no benefit to me. At my job I use RDP for server work, Office 365 for email and document editing, and then I have free tools/web based tools for managing other things. I also keep a Virtualbox instance of Windows 10 at hand just in case. If you can get around not having Windows for everything, then I think you should have no trouble getting around with a Macbook.

sactownchad · 2017-06-02T13:30:48.000Z

The best thing about the MBP is that it can run Mac OSX and Parallels / Bootcamp with Windows and or Linux. My only advice would be to avoid running Mac versions of the office suite.

bbigford · 2017-06-02T13:41:16.000Z

The workstation doesn’t matter. You won’t even need a VM, just remote out to a jump box or customer system.

Personally I prefer Linux on my own system so that I have more control but that’s just me.

chris0984 · 2017-06-02T14:00:50.000Z

Comes down to personal preference and how effective can you be with it. I deal with some Mac’s but not enough to make me want to switch to one, I only deal with one Red Hat machine, the rest is all Windows. So a lot would depend on your environment and how effective you can do your job with it.

Me personally, a Surface Pro 4 fits my need, a 3 in 1 (tablet, laptop, & desktop). Tablet mode is nice for doing wireless surveys with inSSIDer and other misc things like directly connecting to another piece of equipment with limited space. Laptop mode is nice when working somewhere else, and plugged into a docking station when I am at the office works just like a desktop with dual monitors.

sergio382 · 2017-06-02T14:56:53.000Z

I did this in a previous employer where there was a mix of Mac and Windows machines.

I used my Macbook Pro w/bootcamp to run Windows as well. No problems at all doing this and I would go this route.

Mac OS and Windows run perfectly. Why carry two laptops?

justindube · 2017-06-02T15:09:57.000Z

I use a MacBook Pro for most things. I setup a Windows 10 VM on one of the HyperV servers (very little resources needed, 2 cores 4GB RAM 120GB HD) and I just connect to that when I need to do something Windows related (IE Windows only software etc…); and for times when I don’t have WiFi I use VMWare Fusion and a Windows 10 VM there as well. I like the HyperV unit because it is always on the LAN, always accessible for the most part, and always on (so no boot up time.)

spike3 · 2017-06-02T15:49:32.000Z

have used MacBook Pro 17" for many years managing my client systems… have had VMware Fusion running for any windows specifics… had RHEL and other VMs for whatever else was needed…

always reliable and easy to deal with the different network environments.

as for the comment about Mac OSX version of Office… well… yeah… sometimes things didn’t work the same… but most of the time it was good

NetworKing · 2017-06-02T16:46:42.000Z

A partner school had an I.T person come up they used a mac book consoled into a Cisco switch, setup a VPN from a web UI. I am not an apple person, but if some like it okay. I run an old clunky XP laptop with a serial port to deal with legacy switches, etc. And a Dell insperon 11Z netbook running win 7 with USB console software to work on newer switches, troubleshoot issues, test WIFI, etc. I had issues with performance then I disabled the aero, advanced graphics and works perfect now. I want to lose the XP laptop and just get a USB-serial converter and use the 11Z for everything.

braninjohnson · 2017-06-02T17:30:49.000Z

I’ve used a Mac Book Pro for the past 10 years as my primary IT support laptop. I prefer MacOS and like having a unix terminal. I’m just a lot more comfortable doing my network admin tasks that way. However, I also started carrying a windows laptop as well. Some of that is I primarily do networking and need two laptops so I can test and design networks at clients sites but part of it is that I got sick of trying to run VMware fusion. Fusion works for a lot of stuff but when you are doing a lot of networking, I’ve had issues. Plus I need good serial console support since I’m doing that all day and it was just easier to have a dedicated windows box.

I’ve found that I like Microsoft Remote Desktop and Sonicwall SSL VPN client for Mac better than the windows versions. They actually have more features and are nicer. But VMware vshphere client is windows only (ya you can use web now but sometimes I have problems). Also some client software is windows only and is hard to test on fusion. I guess it really comes down to exactly what are you doing?

Also, it can either help or hurt if your users have macs or windows. Some of my clients have a lot of MacBook pros so it helps that I know them.

rename · 2017-06-02T18:18:09.000Z

Whatever floats your boat. Using VM’s to take up the slack is easier than trying to shoehorn everything on to one box anyway.

Most of my work is via RDP. I am still using an old Lenovo with a serial port on it as my primary machine. Whatever is not there is on a virtual machine somewhere.

The main reason I wouldn’t use a Mac is that my users would start asking for them if they saw me using one.

pbp · 2017-06-02T22:20:02.000Z

Need for a serial port can be an issue. Usually just need to find an adapter you like.

Related, may need a physical network port. Previous generation had one built-in. Current generation does not.

New Mac models have USB-C which can complicate things, if you let it.

OS typically isn’t much an issue with VMware Fusion and/or remoting options.

.

Orvis3094:

…main reason I wouldn’t use a Mac is that my users would start asking for them if they saw me using one…

Slather the case with stickers—- The Great Spiceworks Sticker Giveaway of 2017!

Decorate Your Tech with Stickers
etc

craigedwards2 · 2017-06-03T12:40:37.000Z

Didn’t read anyone else’s replies yet but:

At the office I use linux to admin a Windows network. In short my answer is “a mac? I don’t see why not.”

You’ll find that most of the things you do day in day out can be done via an RDP session to the servers. There are plenty of good free remote desktop clients for mac and also cross platform open source ones such as remmina.

Also running a non standard desktop means that in the event a piece of malware infiltrates all the windows pcs you’ll still be up and running and easier able to affect a fix.

Good luck!

izaakrach · 2017-06-03T22:49:54.000Z

Heck yes though I personally prefer and carry Linux but if apple is your thing and you like beautiful walled gardens then more power to you.

dannysalt · 2017-06-04T01:27:08.000Z

MBP has the Terminal Emulatot, “X12” I believe…this would allow SSH or, BASH of some type for “Midnight-related” issues…

chivo243 · 2017-06-05T11:48:33.000Z

I’d keep it really simple. If you like the macbook, weight, battery life etc, I would run Windows and Linux in Virtualbox, there is no reboot required to switch OS as with bootcamp. Parallels or VMware Fusion would work, but not free, nor would be your Windows install…

abcitdepartment · 2017-06-19T14:44:40.000Z

Does anyone use a Macbook Air instead of a Macbook Pro?