If you are concerned about unauthorized or premature access during setup, you can set up a firewall to protect the server while you're finalizing its configuration.
If you can't avoid moving a server after initial setup, you must change location-dependent settings before it can be used. For example, the server's IP address and hostname must be updated.
When you move a server, take these guidelines into account:
- Minimize the time the server is in its temporary location so that the information you need to change is minimized.
- Postpone configuring services that depend on network settings until the server is in its final location. These include Open Directory replication, Apache settings (such as virtual hosts), DHCP, and other network infrastructure settings that other computers depend on.
- Avoid importing final user accounts. Limit accounts to test accounts so you minimize the user-specific network information (such as home directory location) that will need to change.
- After moving the server, use the changeip command-line tool to change IP addresses, host names, and other data stored in Open Directory NetInfo and LDAP directories on the server. Because changeip doesn't actually change the server's IP address, you use the networksetup or serversetup command (or Network preferences) to change the server's IP address in its network settings. See the command-line administration guide for more information.
- Reconfigure the search policy of computers (such as user computers and DHCP servers) that have been configured to use the server in its original location.