This walkthrough covers the steps to join a macOS device to the Uplevel Directory Service, allow domain users to sign in at the login window, and mount a network share from the gateway.
Configure DNS
The Mac needs to resolve the domain controller before it can bind, so point DNS at the gateway first.
- Open System Settings.
- Click Network and select the active connection.
- Under DNS, add the gateway/domain IP address.
Bind to Active Directory
- Back in System Settings, open Users & Groups.
- Under Network Account Server, click Edit.
- Click Open Directory Utility….
- Click the lock icon and enter local administrator credentials to unlock changes.
- Select Active Directory and enter the AD domain. Click Bind.
- Enter the directory username and password when prompted and click OK.
- If macOS asks “Join existing account?”, click OK.
The domain is now bound.
Allow network users to sign in
- Back in Users & Groups, enable Allow network users to log in at login window.
- Click Options, then click + to add users.
- Choose either Allow network users (open to everyone in the domain) or Only these network users (an explicit allow-list).
Sign in as a domain user and mount the share
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Sign out of the current macOS user account.
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Sign back in as the AD user.
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In Finder, choose Go › Connect to Server.
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Enter
smb://followed by the gateway IP (or domain) and the share name, for example:smb://192.168.1.10/SharedFolder -
Click Connect, then click Connect again if prompted.
The mounted share appears under Locations in Finder.