WWDC: Apple rolls out new Mac OS X Server

Besides a new version of WebObjects, Apple used CEO Steve Jobs’ keynote today at the 2001 Worldwide Developer Conference to introduce an all-new, “industrial-strength” Mac OS X Server operating system along with new Macintosh Server G4 hardware configurations.

The new Mac OS X Server is built on top of the latest Mac OS X operating system foundation and combines the power of a UNIX-based server with the ease-of-use of the Mac, according to Philip Schiller, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. It also makes much fuller use of the Aqua GUI (graphical user interface) than its predecessor. The new Mac OS X Server integrates server applications such as an Apache Web server, Samba for Windows file sharing, WebObjects 5 application server, and QuickTime Streaming Server 3, to provide services to Mac, Windows, and UNIX clients and networks.

“Mac OS X Server is Apple’s most powerful server ever and can easily integrate into Mac, Windows and UNIX networks,” Schiller said in a statement.

Mac OS X Server sports protected memory, preemptive multi-tasking, symmetric multiprocessing, advanced memory management and the latest networking and security standards. To maximize server uptime, Mac OS X Server features fault tolerance systems to automatically detect and recover from failures in system services.

A dual processor configured Macintosh Server G4 takes full advantage of symmetric multiprocessing to automatically allocate tasks and deliver twice the productivity and efficiency, according to Apple. Additionally, Mac OS X Server and the Macintosh Server G4 combination deliver the benefits of Gigabit Ethernet allowing large files to speed across the network, the company adds. Apple says that, with Mac OS X Server, administrators have the tools to deploy servers that:

Share files and printers with Mac, Windows, UNIX and Linux clients;

Host Internet Web sites with the Apache Web server;

Enable collaborative Web publishing and remote content management with WebDAV, the new extension to the HTTP protocol;

Stream digital media over the Internet using the QuickTime Streaming Server;

Deploy scalable network applications with WebObjects 5;

Support SMTP, IMAP and POP mail protocols and provide anti-spamming services;

Protect network resources and dynamically assign IP addresses using advanced networking services such as IP filtering firewall and DHCP;

Locate Internet resources and organize IP-based work groups using standards-based protocols DNS and Service Location Protocol (SLP);

Provide students and educators with a “consistent, personalized and controlled experience” by centralizing the method of unifying system configurations with Macintosh Manager and NetBoot; and

Share user and group information between servers, utilizing NetInfo and LDAP-based directory services.

iServices, Apple’s training and professional services organization, will offer Mac OS X Server training courses and certification programs for system administrators and technical coordinators. For details go to Apple’s technical training Web site.

Mac OS X Server and Macintosh Server G4 can be purchased now through the online Apple Store, at Apple’s retail stores, and through Apple authorized resellers in the following configurations:

Mac OS X Server (10-Client Edition), designed for professional web masters and small work groups with simultaneous file sharing to not more than 10 Macintosh clients, for a suggested retail price of $US499;

Mac OS X Server (Unlimited-Client Edition), uniquely suited for classroom labs, creative professionals and medium-to-large work groups with high volume file sharing activity, for $999;

Mac OS X Server 10-client to Unlimited-Client license upgrade for $499;

Macintosh Server G4, single 533MHz with 256MB SDRAM, 1MB level 2 cache, 60GB Ultra ATA/66 hard drive, 133 MHz system bus, ATI RAGE 128 Pro with 16 MB SDRAM graphics memory, CD-ROM drive, two USB and two FireWire ports, 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet ready and Mac OS X Server Unlimited-Client Edition for $2,999;

Macintosh Server G4, dual 533MHz with 256MB SDRAM, 1MB level 2 cache per processor, 60GB Ultra ATA/66 hard drive, 133 MHz system bus, ATI RAGE 128 Pro with 16 MB SDRAM graphics memory, CD-ROM drive, two USB and two FireWire ports, four-port 10/100BASE-T Ethernet card, 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet ready and Mac OS X Server Unlimited-Client Edition for $3,999.

Mac OS X Server is designed to run on Macintosh Server G4, Power Mac G4, Power Mac G4 Cube, iMac, Macintosh Server G3 and Power Mac G3 computers with 128MB RAM and 4GB of available disk space.