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Apple talks G5 Xserve, enterprise with Serverpipeline

updated 10:00 am EST, Fri January 23, 2004

G5 Xserve, enterprise

Doug Brooks, product manager for server hardware at Apple, touts the G5 prcoessor, Mac OS X software, management tools, open-source support/integration, and competitive pricing as : " People are looking for compelling value in not so much the cost of the product, but in what does it cost to deploy it. Anyone in the enterprise space who looks at products looks at [both] the cost of the product, and what are the costs to service it. If they're not, they're making a mistake."

by MacNN Staff

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01/23, 10:15am | report spam | close Reply |
Interesting assumptions

So they are assuming people are rational. Interesting, interesting. How then to explain the way Mazda Protege sales spiked when Ford put their name and label on it? Or the way DOS people thought GUI was a bad idea until Windows? Or the dominance of Windows all these years?

I think they'd do better to figure out ways to convince IT people that they'd have higher salaries and less work to do if they went with Macs...! Not to mention giving them free 17" Powerbooks. Didn't MS have a kickback program going for college IT people at one time? I know it's illegal, but since when did the government enforce laws when corporations are breaking 'em?

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01/23, 10:57am | report spam | close Reply |
Stupid Question....

Sorry everyone, but I can't find the answer to this stupid question:

"Can a G5 Xserve run all normal Mac OS X applications just as a regular G5 does?"

"Are there any restrictions?"

Thanks for your schooling.....

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01/23, 11:11am | report spam | close Reply |
Killer app needed...

I sent Apple some feedback last night about the need for a killer app on OS X server: A full fledged groupware system like Exchange server.

Apple should create something that can compete with this, do it better and provide 100% functionality to Mac, WIndows and Linux clients. Oh, and some plug-ins so it can talk to Lotus Notes and Exchange server. Sound interesting? Anyone?

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01/23, 11:20am | report spam | close Reply |
Yes

Mac OS X Server can run any program that will run on OS X (Client). Mac OS X Server isn't a different operating system, it is a different configuration and includes different applications and services.

Well, not quite, but close. This answer should help you with 99% of applications. Some of the configuration differences (like case-sensitive file system) just might cause a few things to behave a little differently.

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01/23, 11:27am | report spam | close Reply |
Re: Stupid Question...

Why on the planet wouldn't an XServe be able to run Mac OS X applications just as a regular G5?!?!

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01/23, 11:40am | report spam | close Reply |
Re: Stupid Question

"Why on the planet wouldn't an XServe be able to run Mac OS X applications just as a regular G5?!?! "

It is better to ask. This way he understands.

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01/23, 11:43am | report spam | close Reply |
That's what I asked..

I told you it was a stupid question, but I thought there may be limitations .... like graphics output.

I am considering buying a G5 for Video / Audio production. Some may be in the studio, and some may be live, so I am interested in the thin rack mount and maybe slaving the controls to a powerbook.

Also, if video production goes well, wouldn't the benefit of Apple's new xGrid "?" and Rendevous work well other G5 xServes / xRaids are needed for rendering and pre-post production?

What if you could rent-a-GHZ when needed if you had a big project?

Just some purchase questions....

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01/23, 11:44am | report spam | close Reply |
Yes

Xserve can run anything that runs on OS X Server. This is pretty much everything that runs on OS X, except for apps that check the OS version and refuse to install on server (e.g. GarageBand).

These apps you can install if you do a little workaround.

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01/23, 11:44am | report spam | close Reply |
GarageBand

I have seen reports where one of the new iLife apps, I think it was GB, wouldn't run on Mac OS X Server. I don't know why.

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01/23, 12:39pm | report spam | close Reply |
There we go....

That is one of the applications I was thinking about ( Until I can afford Logic )

I wonder if there are others like this, and why.

I'm I correct? Would the xServe unit be a good choice if I wanted to expand without limitations for video, or would a regular Dual G5 be just as good, if not better betcause of the bus card support?

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01/23, 12:46pm | report spam | close Reply |
Maybe it doesn't install

Maybe application don't install because if the server in the network has the 'main' or 'template' application, nobody on the network would need the application installed on their own machine ( in theory ) .. so when iLife is free with purchase, or $49... ( including Garage Band ) what it the big deal.

I would see if Adobe's CS Suite could be shared in a campus from 1 xServe would be a big deal....

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01/23, 01:43pm | report spam | close Reply |
Why not

just install Panther while you are "cheap/broke" and put OSX Server back on when you need it to be a server. Think the other way. Most things can be done in OSX as in OSXServer.

OSX is multi user, can install most web apps, I think you can even install all of the xserve harware monitoring software on OSX. Just a thought.

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01/23, 01:49pm | report spam | close Reply |
Now we're learning...

Thanks for the info.

Is that the best work-around?

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01/23, 02:03pm | report spam | close Reply |
loud

The xserve is too freaking loud for studio work, unless you're planning on hiding it in a server closet away from your workstations.

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01/23, 02:57pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: loud

The Xserve is loud? I don't know because I've never seen one in person? If this is true, what will it be like when Virginia Tech changes over to Xserve G5's?

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01/23, 03:21pm | report spam | close Reply |
but it takes so long!

Both Xserve and Xserve RAID are very competitively priced and specd products - my problem in supplying to the corporate world in the UK is the lead time: 6 weeks as of last week!
Difficult for small to medium businesses, absolutely unacceptable for large...... come on, Apple, your engineers have produced fabulous pieces of hardware - now get them to us!

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01/23, 03:36pm | report spam | close Reply |
earlier X Serves

are really loud- much like a window fan. They quieted them down a little bit with the second revision. I would hope the G5's are really quiet. Did Jonathan Ives have a hand in the design?

OS X Server and Client are pretty much identical. The kernels and software are completely identical- with the exception of the Server coming with great GUI tools- like Workgroup Manager and Server Settings applications which help non-command line Admins do admin work on the server. You can run SAMBA and Apache and all that stuff on the client- you just have to command line it, edit config files and play around with NetInfo and LDAP stuff under the hood.

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01/23, 03:39pm | report spam | close Reply |
OOPS

Sorry I forgot that the client comes with a Samba (Windows File Sharing) config and Apache (Web Sharing) config built into the Sharing Pref pane, but it is very limited on what you can do. If you wanna tweak it, front the $$ for the license or command line config it on the client and use it as a server.

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01/23, 04:08pm | report spam | close Reply |
Loud

The xserve is loud and the case is somewhat flimsy and very deep. it is pefect for rack mounting in a datacenter or equipment room. If you are going to move it around alot it would be better to get a G5 tower which has handles and a bit more solid case.

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01/23, 04:50pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: why not

just install Panther while you are "cheap/broke" and put OSX Server back on when you need it to be a server. Think the other way. Most things can be done in OSX as in OSXServer.

Well, if he's getting an Xserve, it comes with OS X Server. He'd actually have to spend more to get OS X on it. Oh, and who knows if Panther is even supported on the XServe. It may require the server software.

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01/24, 10:25am | report spam | close Reply |
Noise, Flimsy, but great?

Thanks to all who are helping me learn.

I guess I could look it up, but is there and issues reagrding graphhic / card extentions that would limit the xServe?

If there is limited processor usage, or none, why won't the fan "spin down" as does the hard drive when not in use.

The ONLY thing that I hate about my ccurrent machine is that the hard drive NEVER spins down unless I do absolutely nothing. If I am typing a simple email, or browsing the web, why do I need the hard disk running, especially if I 576 MB or RAM.

In the UNIX shell / core ther must be some control for "parking" the hard drive at the user's chosen % of processor usage, "spinning down" the fan at the users chosen temperature, etc.

If you 'know' that it is going to be a hot day, and the fan is too loud, why couldn't a third party make a quieter cooling system ( maybe electro-thermal ) that could replace the standard fan. The may be a condensation problem, dust, or otherwise...

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01/24, 11:55pm | report spam | close Reply |
Spin down?

xServe is a server. Why in the world would you want a server's hard drive to spin down. Let me guess, you'd want it to go to sleep too?

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Apple talks G5 Xserve, enterprise with Serverpipeline

updated 10:00 am EST, Fri January 23, 2004

G5 Xserve, enterprise

Interesting assumptions

Stupid Question....

Killer app needed...

Yes

Re: Stupid Question...

Re: Stupid Question

That's what I asked..

Yes

GarageBand

There we go....

Maybe it doesn't install

Why not

Now we're learning...

loud

Re: loud

but it takes so long!

earlier X Serves

OOPS

Loud

Re: why not

Noise, Flimsy, but great?

Spin down?

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Apple talks G5 Xserve, enterprise with Serverpipeline

updated 10:00 am EST, Fri January 23, 2004

G5 Xserve, enterprise

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Recent Articles

Interesting assumptions

Stupid Question....

Killer app needed...

Yes

Re: Stupid Question...

Re: Stupid Question

That's what I asked..

Yes

GarageBand

There we go....

Maybe it doesn't install

Why not

Now we're learning...

loud

Re: loud

but it takes so long!

earlier X Serves

OOPS

Loud

Re: why not

Noise, Flimsy, but great?

Spin down?

Login Here

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