macOS Administration
and Configuration
macOS Architecture and System Internals
Gerard Massey
Apple Systems Architect
@itsgerrrd | gerard.omg.lol
macOS Administration and Configuration
Entry-level course
Apple’s official
documentation:
support.apple.com /
developer.apple.com
macOS interface /
command-line
Prerequisites
Basic computer troubleshooting
skills
Familiarity with general IT support
concepts
No macOS command-line required
Comfortable navigating macOS
and System Settings
Course
Introduction
macOS Architecture and System Internals
Advanced macOS Configuration
File System, Processes, and Command Line
Interface (CLI) Management
The Boot Process
The Boot Process
EFI
Bootloader
Kernel
launchd
EFI
Extensible firmware interface
Bootloader
Find and load the OS
The launching pad
Kernel
Heart of the OS
Kernel extensions (kext), hardware/third-party
software
launchd
Master process manager
Boot Flow
EFI
Bootloader
Kernel
launchd
macOS Daemons and Services
launchd
Master conductor
Starting, stopping, managing processes
LaunchDaemons / LaunchAgents
LaunchDaemons vs. LaunchAgents
LaunchDaemons
LaunchAgents
System-wide services
User-specific services
Core System Directories
Core System Directories
Library directories
- /System/Library
- /Library
- ~/Library
Library Directories
/System/Library
/Library
~/Library
The vault
The toolshed
User-specific
Libraries? But Why?
Application issues
(/Library/Logs)
Settings
(/Library/Preferences
)
Third-party
apps/services
(/Library/LaunchDae
mons)
Philosophy of Separation
Core system
System-wide
User
Monitoring System Resources
Command-line Alternatives
top
iostat
vm_stat