OS X Support Essentials 1Exam Preparation Guide 2023
with complete solution
What are the minimum hardware requirements for upgrading a system with OS X
Mountain Lion?
• OS X v10.6.8 or later
• 2 GB of memory
• 8 GB of available space
• Some features require an Apple ID
• Some features require a compatible Internet service provider
• Compatible Mac model
What four preparation steps must you take before upgrading a system with OS X
Mountain Lion?
• Install Apple software and firmware updates • Verify application compatibility
• Back up important files and folders
• Document critical settings.
How can you identify if a Mac requires a firmware update?
You can identify a Mac computer's firmware version by opening the full system report in
the System Information application or System Profiler application. You can verify if a
Mac computer's firmware is up to date by visiting the Apple support website, which
maintains a list of available firmware updates.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a single- partition disk with OS X?
How about a multiple-partition disk?
Single-partition drives are easier to set up initially, but they aren't as flexible for
administration and maintenance. Multiple-partition drives require repartitioning during
setup but provide several separate partitions, which can be used to segregate user data
and host multiple operating systems.
How can you acquire the OS X Mountain Lion installation assets?
The OS X Mountain Lion installer can be purchased and downloaded only from the Mac
App Store.
What options can you select from during the OS X Mountain Lion installation?
During installation of OS X Mountain Lion, the only optional choice is to define an
installation destination other than the Mac computer's current default system disk.
What key features do you gain by setting up iCloud?
iCloud is a free service from Apple that provides cloud storage and communication
services for applications (including Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Reminders, Notes, Safari,
Photo Stream, and any other applications that support iCloud integration). iCloud also
provides Find My Mac technology for help locating a lost or stolen system.
What three primary sources can Migration Assistant pull from?
Migration Assistant can migrate information from other OS X systems, other Windows
systems, and other disks (including Time Machine backups).
What are the five System Preferences categories?
System Preferences is divided into five categories, from top to bottom: Personal,
Hardware, Internet & Wireless, System, and Other.
How do the four default System Preferences categories differ?
,Generally, Personal preferences affect only a single user; Hardware preferences affect
hardware and peripheral settings; Internet & Wireless preferences affect personal and
system network settings; and System preferences affect all users and often require
administrative access.
What is a configuration profile? How are configuration profiles managed?
A configuration profile is a document, with the filename extension ".mobileconfig," that
contains system settings as defined by an administrator. Opening a configuration profile
prompts the system to install the profile and configure the settings. Installed
configuration profiles are managed via the Profiles preference pane.
Where can you locate the system version number, build number, and serial number?
What is the significance of these numbers?
The system version number, build number, and serial number are located in the About
This Mac dialog or login screen. The system version number defines the specific
version of OS X currently installed. The system build number is an even more specific
identifier used primarily by developers. Finally, the system serial number is a unique
number used to identify a specific Mac.
What utilities are available when started up from OS X Recovery?
The OS X Recovery system provides access to Restore From Time Machine Backup,
Reinstall OS X, Get Help Online, Disk Utility, Startup Disk, Firmware Password Utility,
Network Utility, Terminal, and Reset Password.
What two resources does the local hidden OS X Recovery HD need in order to reinstall
OS X Mountain Lion?
The local hidden OS X Recovery HD doesn't include the OS X installation assets. Thus,
reinstalling OS X Mountain Lion from here requires high-speed Internet access and the
ability to verify access to the installation assets. Upgraded Mac computers are verified
by entering the Apple ID used to purchase OS X Mountain Lion. Conversely, verification
is automatic for Mac computers that included OS X Mountain Lion.
What two methods can be used to create an external OS X Recovery disk?
The OS X Recovery Disk Assistant can create a minimal OS X Recovery disk. A full OS
X Recovery disk can be created by using Disk Utility to copy the Install OS X Mountain
Lion application assets to the disk.
Which application can you open to initiate Apple software updates?
All software updates are handled via the Mac App Store.
By default, are any items automatically installed via Software Update?
Important system files and security updates are automatically
installed after a period of several days.
Which applications are used to manually acquire and install OS X software updates?
OS X software updates can be downloaded from the Apple support website using any
modern web browser. Updates take the form of installation packages that are installed
via the Installer application.
How can you find which installations have taken place on the system?
The Installations section of System Information shows the history of all software
installed via the Mac App Store or OS X Installer.
What are the five types of user accounts in OS X? How are they different?
, Standard is the default account type; administrative users can make changes to the
system; a guest user doesn't require a password; sharing only users can access only
shared files; and the root user has unlimited access.
What are some security risks associated with each type of user account?
Standard user accounts are very secure, assuming they have good passwords.
Administrative users can make changes that may negatively affect the system or other
user accounts. A guest user could potentially fill shared folders with unwanted files.
Sharing only users are generally very secure as long as you don't allow excessive
access to your account. The potential for mayhem with root user access is nearly
unlimited.
What are account attributes?
Account attributes are the individual pieces of information used to define a user
account. Examples include full name, account name, user ID, Universally Unique ID
(UUID), group, and home folder.
How can you limit a user account from having full access to all applications?
Parental controls can be used to further limit a user account. Examples include
enforcing a simple Finder, limiting applications and widgets, setting time limits, and
content filtering for several applications included in OS X.
What types of contention issues can occur when fast user switching is enabled?
Resource contention occurs when fast user switching is enabled and a user tries to
access an item another user already has open in the background. Document contention
occurs when a user attempts to open a document another user has already opened.
Peripheral contention occurs when a user attempts to access a peripheral already in
use by another user's open application. Application contention occurs when the second
user attempts to access an application designed to run only once on a system.
What security risk related to storage can occur when fast user switching is enabled?
When fast user switching is enabled, all users are allowed to see other users' locally
connected disks.
What default folders make up a user's home folder? What are some optional folders in a
user's home folder?
The default folders in a user's home folder are Desktop, Documents, Downloads,
Library (hidden), Movies, Music, Pictures, and Public. Optional home folder items
include Applications and Sites folders.
When deleting a local user account, what three options does the Users & Groups
preference provide for dealing with the user's home folder content?
When deleting a local user account, you can archive the home folder content into a
compressed disk image, leave the home folder content in the /Users folder, or delete
the home folder content. Optionally, you can perform a secure erase on the home folder
content.
How do you associate a new local user account with a manually migrated or restored
user's home folder?
Before the local user account is created on a system, you must first copy the restored
user's home folder to the /Users folder. Then once you create the new user in the Users
& Groups preference pane with the same account name, the system prompts you to
associate the new account with the restored home folder.
What does the master password do?
with complete solution
What are the minimum hardware requirements for upgrading a system with OS X
Mountain Lion?
• OS X v10.6.8 or later
• 2 GB of memory
• 8 GB of available space
• Some features require an Apple ID
• Some features require a compatible Internet service provider
• Compatible Mac model
What four preparation steps must you take before upgrading a system with OS X
Mountain Lion?
• Install Apple software and firmware updates • Verify application compatibility
• Back up important files and folders
• Document critical settings.
How can you identify if a Mac requires a firmware update?
You can identify a Mac computer's firmware version by opening the full system report in
the System Information application or System Profiler application. You can verify if a
Mac computer's firmware is up to date by visiting the Apple support website, which
maintains a list of available firmware updates.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a single- partition disk with OS X?
How about a multiple-partition disk?
Single-partition drives are easier to set up initially, but they aren't as flexible for
administration and maintenance. Multiple-partition drives require repartitioning during
setup but provide several separate partitions, which can be used to segregate user data
and host multiple operating systems.
How can you acquire the OS X Mountain Lion installation assets?
The OS X Mountain Lion installer can be purchased and downloaded only from the Mac
App Store.
What options can you select from during the OS X Mountain Lion installation?
During installation of OS X Mountain Lion, the only optional choice is to define an
installation destination other than the Mac computer's current default system disk.
What key features do you gain by setting up iCloud?
iCloud is a free service from Apple that provides cloud storage and communication
services for applications (including Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Reminders, Notes, Safari,
Photo Stream, and any other applications that support iCloud integration). iCloud also
provides Find My Mac technology for help locating a lost or stolen system.
What three primary sources can Migration Assistant pull from?
Migration Assistant can migrate information from other OS X systems, other Windows
systems, and other disks (including Time Machine backups).
What are the five System Preferences categories?
System Preferences is divided into five categories, from top to bottom: Personal,
Hardware, Internet & Wireless, System, and Other.
How do the four default System Preferences categories differ?
,Generally, Personal preferences affect only a single user; Hardware preferences affect
hardware and peripheral settings; Internet & Wireless preferences affect personal and
system network settings; and System preferences affect all users and often require
administrative access.
What is a configuration profile? How are configuration profiles managed?
A configuration profile is a document, with the filename extension ".mobileconfig," that
contains system settings as defined by an administrator. Opening a configuration profile
prompts the system to install the profile and configure the settings. Installed
configuration profiles are managed via the Profiles preference pane.
Where can you locate the system version number, build number, and serial number?
What is the significance of these numbers?
The system version number, build number, and serial number are located in the About
This Mac dialog or login screen. The system version number defines the specific
version of OS X currently installed. The system build number is an even more specific
identifier used primarily by developers. Finally, the system serial number is a unique
number used to identify a specific Mac.
What utilities are available when started up from OS X Recovery?
The OS X Recovery system provides access to Restore From Time Machine Backup,
Reinstall OS X, Get Help Online, Disk Utility, Startup Disk, Firmware Password Utility,
Network Utility, Terminal, and Reset Password.
What two resources does the local hidden OS X Recovery HD need in order to reinstall
OS X Mountain Lion?
The local hidden OS X Recovery HD doesn't include the OS X installation assets. Thus,
reinstalling OS X Mountain Lion from here requires high-speed Internet access and the
ability to verify access to the installation assets. Upgraded Mac computers are verified
by entering the Apple ID used to purchase OS X Mountain Lion. Conversely, verification
is automatic for Mac computers that included OS X Mountain Lion.
What two methods can be used to create an external OS X Recovery disk?
The OS X Recovery Disk Assistant can create a minimal OS X Recovery disk. A full OS
X Recovery disk can be created by using Disk Utility to copy the Install OS X Mountain
Lion application assets to the disk.
Which application can you open to initiate Apple software updates?
All software updates are handled via the Mac App Store.
By default, are any items automatically installed via Software Update?
Important system files and security updates are automatically
installed after a period of several days.
Which applications are used to manually acquire and install OS X software updates?
OS X software updates can be downloaded from the Apple support website using any
modern web browser. Updates take the form of installation packages that are installed
via the Installer application.
How can you find which installations have taken place on the system?
The Installations section of System Information shows the history of all software
installed via the Mac App Store or OS X Installer.
What are the five types of user accounts in OS X? How are they different?
, Standard is the default account type; administrative users can make changes to the
system; a guest user doesn't require a password; sharing only users can access only
shared files; and the root user has unlimited access.
What are some security risks associated with each type of user account?
Standard user accounts are very secure, assuming they have good passwords.
Administrative users can make changes that may negatively affect the system or other
user accounts. A guest user could potentially fill shared folders with unwanted files.
Sharing only users are generally very secure as long as you don't allow excessive
access to your account. The potential for mayhem with root user access is nearly
unlimited.
What are account attributes?
Account attributes are the individual pieces of information used to define a user
account. Examples include full name, account name, user ID, Universally Unique ID
(UUID), group, and home folder.
How can you limit a user account from having full access to all applications?
Parental controls can be used to further limit a user account. Examples include
enforcing a simple Finder, limiting applications and widgets, setting time limits, and
content filtering for several applications included in OS X.
What types of contention issues can occur when fast user switching is enabled?
Resource contention occurs when fast user switching is enabled and a user tries to
access an item another user already has open in the background. Document contention
occurs when a user attempts to open a document another user has already opened.
Peripheral contention occurs when a user attempts to access a peripheral already in
use by another user's open application. Application contention occurs when the second
user attempts to access an application designed to run only once on a system.
What security risk related to storage can occur when fast user switching is enabled?
When fast user switching is enabled, all users are allowed to see other users' locally
connected disks.
What default folders make up a user's home folder? What are some optional folders in a
user's home folder?
The default folders in a user's home folder are Desktop, Documents, Downloads,
Library (hidden), Movies, Music, Pictures, and Public. Optional home folder items
include Applications and Sites folders.
When deleting a local user account, what three options does the Users & Groups
preference provide for dealing with the user's home folder content?
When deleting a local user account, you can archive the home folder content into a
compressed disk image, leave the home folder content in the /Users folder, or delete
the home folder content. Optionally, you can perform a secure erase on the home folder
content.
How do you associate a new local user account with a manually migrated or restored
user's home folder?
Before the local user account is created on a system, you must first copy the restored
user's home folder to the /Users folder. Then once you create the new user in the Users
& Groups preference pane with the same account name, the system prompts you to
associate the new account with the restored home folder.
What does the master password do?
