Installing compressor on a headless xserve

Is this possible to do? When trying to install off the FCS2 DVD, it always complains it needs a graphics card, but I dont plan to use any app except compressor to start jobs.
Is this feasible to do or do I need to have a machine on the network with a card to start jobs from?

I think your best bet would be to connect the Mac Mini to your MacBook Pro in "Target Disk Mode" via a Thunderbolt cable. If that isn't available, a Firewire connection would be the next best thing.
Once in Target Disk Mode, your Mac Mini appears to the MacBook Pro as an external disk drive and an available target to install OS X Mavericks.
From that point on, you can run the OS X Installer from your MBP and install to the Mini as if it were an external drive.
After you boot into OS X from the Mac Mini's drive *on your MBP*, before disconnecting it to run "headless", you can configure a few things you'll need later. Not the least of which is going to be enabling remote logins and Screen Sharing or Remote Management (which includes Screen Sharing.)
All of this assumes you have DHCP working on your network and you can easily identify the IP address assigned to your Mac Mini after it boots up from the Mac Mini hardware for the first time.
I recommend recording the MAC address of the physical Ethernet and/or WiFi in the Mac MIni prior to upgrading it to Mavericks. That way you can configure your router to always assign the same IP address (reserved address) to the specific interface you would like to use.
Hope this helps!

Similar Messages

How to (freshly) install Lion on a headless Xserve

Dear all,
I'm writing here as I'd need some help on how to install Lion on a headless Xserve.
The Xserve has a static IP address, a DNS name and it is able to connect to the Internet. In order to install the OS on it I booted the machine from a self-made Lion DVD (connecting a keyboard and keeping the 'c' key pressed during the boot) and took remote control over it through another computer - on the same subnetwork - running ARD. So far, so good. The server can be pinged, ssh-ed, and the remote control via ARD works fine (blank username and the server serial number as password). I managed to erase the HD (which, of course, was previously backed up) and to launch the Lion installation. The installation seemed to go alright, until, at the end of it, ARD disconnected (I guess that happened because the installer forces a reboot at that stage). From that point onwards I'm not able to do anything else on the server. The machine can still be pinged, but no ports appear to be open. I can't therefore SSH the server and I can't access it through ARD or any alternative VNC client.
I've repeated the entire procedure twice, ending up with the very same results. My feeling is that the installation is waiting for some input by me (maybe it is stuck at the "select language/keyboard layout" stage?), but I don't know how to provide it. Of course I may be wrong and the problem being something completely different.
Please consider that the target machine doesn't have any graphics card installed at all, thus the option of connecting a monitor to it has to be excluded.
Would be absolutely lovely if someone could give me a hint!
PS: apologies for the cross-posting. I originally posted this message in the general Mac OS X 10.7 section, before realising it would have been more appropriate here.
Cheers,
Fabio

Thanks for your reply, Strontium. Unfortunately I'm quite confident about that Xserve not having any graphics facility. I manage 4 Xserve machine for my lab and, when we ordered them, I remember that we specifically asked for having graphics cards installed on only two of them. The other 2 servers (those, supposedly, headless) came with their DisplayPort closed by a plastic cap. To be fair I've never tried to plug anything on them but I would be EXTREMELY surprised (and feel amazingly stupid) in case something appears on a monitor (despite Wikipedia which seems to back your thought)!

Install Lion on a headless Xserve machine

Dear all,
I'm writing here as I'd need some help on how to install Lion on a headless Xserve.
The Xserve has a static IP address, a DNS name and it is able to connect to the Internet. In order to install the OS on it I booted the machine from a self-made Lion DVD (connecting a keyboard and keeping the 'c' key pressed during the boot) and took remote control over it through another computer - on the same subnetwork - running ARD. So far, so good. The server can be pinged, ssh-ed, and the remote control via ARD works fine (blank username and the server serial number as password). I managed to erase the HD (which, of course, was previously backed up) and to launch the Lion installation. The installation seemed to go alright, until, at the end of it, ARD disconnected (I guess that happened because the installer forces a reboot at that stage). From that point onwards I'm not able to do anything else on the server. The machine can still be pinged, but no ports appear to be open. I can't therefore SSH the server and I can't access it through ARD or any alternative VNC client.
I've repeated the entire procedure twice, ending up with the very same results. My feeling is that the installation is waiting for some input by me (maybe it is stuck at the "select language/keyboard layout" stage?), but I don't know how to provide it. Of course I may be wrong and the problem being something completely different.
Please consider that the target machine doesn't have any graphics card installed at all, thus the option of connecting a monitor to it has to be excluded.
Would be absolutely lovely if someone could give me a hint!
Cheers,
Fabio

Linc,
resurrecting this thread, as I'm having an absolute heck of a time for days, trying to get my early 2009 xserve back online with a clean install of ML. This thread was enormously helpful, but my problem is just slightly different. My ML install finished but I cannot see it because I have no video card. But my problem is that I cannot get to the XServe via SSH, Screen Sharing, nothing. The box acquired a DHCP IP on eth0 just fine, and I can ping it from anywhere on my network, but the SSH service and VNC, etc. are NOT running, so I cannot connect anyway. I have a perfect install of ML sitting there, I just can't reach the box to do anything to it! I do have LOM addres on Port1 and it responds to ping also, but I cannot manage it through that IP, right? I am thinking I may have to use the serial port to get on the CLI and restart some things. BTW, the obvious idea is to boot back into Target Mode, and mount the firewire from another mac. No problem, that's actually how I got this far. But the problem is that when I launch like System Pref's, Network, from the host computer, it is showing me the host computer's network info, not the mounted Firewire xServe's settings. Is there some raw file I could manipulate on the drive (xServe boot drive), that would affect the assignment of a static IP, or better yet, just start up the SSH service so I can log in. I've tried changing System Pref's, Sharing, but it obviously didn't take, as SSH is not actually running on the box right now.
Thoughts kind sir?

Unable to install headless Xserve G5 from DVD/CD: sa_srchr doesn't show any

Hi,
I am trying to install a Xserve G5 with a new OS X Server 10.4.
It has no graphics card installed.
I booted the Xserve from CD/DVD (Service/LED1). I have another Xserve G4 at the same Switch with a "real" IP. There is no DHCP server in the network. I suppose the Xserve G5 uses a self-assigned 169.254.. address. Therefore the headless G5 is in a totally different network than the G4.
sa_srchr (performed on the G4) does not find any "ready and waiting" Xserve G5...
I tried to configure the other Ethernet card in the G4 for DHCP (thus hoping it will get an 169.254..-address as well) or trying to set it manually to (let's say) 169.254.0.123 (netmask 255.255.0.0).
Nothing of that helps... sa_srchr does not find anything.
Pinging the Bonjour Broadcast IP does not return an up and running IP, just down hosts.
What solutions do I have?
Can I just install OS X Server using the target disk mode? (How would I set up the Network (IPs) and root password in that case?)
Or do I need a PowerBook which I can attach to a spare Switch (which won't be attached to the network), attach the G5 to the same Switch and then hope that sa_srchr will find anything?
How should sa_srchr normally work? Which IP do I have to set on the Mac that is running the search?

A couple of points.
First, since sa_srchr uses multicast (assuming you're using sa_srchr 224.0.0.1), it doesn't matter what IP address the host and remote server have. It should find them anyway.
The commonest issue I've found with sa_srchr is when using multiple NICs. Are both NICs on the active XServe in use? This seems to cause a problem - almost as if sa_srchr is looking out the wrong NIC. Can you disconnect the second NIC while you run this, or run sa_srchr from a machine that has only one NIC?
Also, on the new server, make sure you're only using one NIC there. Even if you plan to use two once the machine is setup, just have one NIC (en0, the bottom one) connected to the switch during this phase. This avoids similar issues with setup running on the wrong NIC.

Drive mirroring on headless Xserve

I have a headless Xserve with two 80GB hard disks. The manual says that you can mirror them so that if one fails, the other one will automatically take over. However, I don't see how to do this. I've read elsewhere that you have to use Disk Utility when doing the install to set it up, but how do you do this with a headless machine? Is there another way to accomplish this?

If I boot the xserve from the CD, then how do I then ssh on to it?
When booted from the CD, you can log in as root using the first 8 characters of the server's serial number as the password.
As for the IP address, if you have a DCHP server on the network, check its logs. If you don't have a DHCP server or logs you can use:
/System/Library/ServerSetup/sa_srchr 224.0.0.1
from any other machine on the network that has the Admin Tools installed. This will use the Server Assistant searcher tool to locate a machine on the network and will report its IP address. If the server is using a 169.254.x.x address you may need to configure an interface on your machine in the same subnet in order to talk to it.

Deleted batch monitor accidently, do I need to re-install compressor to get it back?

Someone moved my batch monitor application to the desktop and didn't tell me. I saw it, thought it was just a shortcut, and chucked it in the trash and emptied it. Now, I've got no batch monitor. Do i need to re-install compressor to get batch monitor back? I've tried putting the install disk in and trying to re-install just batch monitor but theres no option for that in the install. Anyone know?

YES... Easiest way is to remove Compressor/Qmaster first. Use this free program for removal:
http://www.digitalrebellion.com/blog/posts/how_to_reinstall_compressor_and_qmast er.html
Reinstall Compreesor and Qmaster from you install disk.

Server Admin 10.5.6 will not install on any of my Xserves with 10.5.6

I too have issues with Server Admin 10.5.6 update. It will not install on either of my Xserves. I have a G5 and Intel Xserve. Anyone else with this issue. I did install the update though on both of my client workstations.

Then you probably also are not aware that the new server admin tools are part of the server update itself (compare the version numbers of /Applications/Server/ with an upgraded client's ditto and see that they're identical…)

Enabling ARD on headless Xserve after initial setup

Hi,
I was setting up a new headless Xserve using Server Assistant and forgot to enable Apple Remote Desktop service.
Is there a way to enable ARD client service without access to the UI of the server? All I got now is Server Admin, Server Monitor and SSH access to the server.
Regards,
Darius
A whole bunch Mac OS X (10.4.6)

You can do it through the Kickstart command. See:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=108030
To restart ARD:
/System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Resources/ki ckstart -restart -agent
Hope this helps.

Verify that you have installed compressor?

I've been using compress for 3 years now, and today a box popped up after i selected the video, and selected the output. it said please restart your system or verify that you have installed compressor correctly.***. i have to export this video today. any help would be very helpful.

Hi:
You can try this:
COMPRESSOR TROUBLESHOOTING
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302845
Hope that helps !
Alberto

How to de-install Compressor 2 and install Compressor 1?

We are also experiencing the problems described in other posts -- chiefly lots of video ripples, artifacts and break-up in out DVD when exporting from FCP 5 via Compressor 2 and out through DVD Studio Pro 3.
Makes us want to revert to Compressor 1. We're wondering if we can cut in FCP 5, export a QT file, bring it into FCP 4.5, then resume the old, reliable workflow: export via Compressor 1 and then out through DVD Studio Pro 2 (or 3)?
We've tried to toss Compressor 2 (just trashing it, but not knowing any other files that need to be weeded out) and install Compressor 1, but Compressor 1 seems to install but is then nowhere to be found.
And thoughts? Suggestions? Instructions?
Thanks for your time,
Brad

You might want to refer to Apple's notes on uninstalling DVD Studio Pro (see link below). Make backups of any of the files before you remove them, then trash everything that is referenced in the DVDSP uninstall note. After that, reinstall FCP and/or DVDSP. Specifically, you'll probably want to remove anything in Apple's note that seems to be related to Compressor, Batch Monitor, or Qmaster. The procedure that Apple documents is for an earlier version of DVDSP, but many of the recent files (versions) have retained the same names and locations.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93452
I think it is somewhat unlikely, however, that Compressor v1.2.1 will work with Final Cut Studio (FCP v5). Thus, you may have to go back to FCP HD (v4.5) if you want to use Compressor v1.2.1.

"Quicktime MPEG-2 playback disabled..." - Can't re-install Compressor!

I just updated my system to SL today. Because of the MPEG2 playback problem in QT, I followed the instructions on this page:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3176
Since my updates including Pro updates were always done and that I'm usin LS 2009, I followed the last set of instructions on that page.
But when I get to re-installing Compressor from my install DVD, Compressor cannot be checked at all so I can't install it. I've still got the old Compressor in the Trash, but I've already performed the other operations.
What now? Thanks for any help!
Message was edited by: Qzxptl

Use this to uninstall Compressor the proper way: http://www.digitalrebellion.com/fcs_remover.htm
FWIW, it is often best practice when installing a new OS to do a "clean install." That involves backing up or cloning your boot drive (or better yet, install a brand new one), then install the new OS, repair permissions, run Software Update, repair permissions, then install the applications. Repair permissions after each install and be sure to run Software Update as well.
FWIW, it is often best practice when installing a new OS to do a "clean install." That involves backing up or cloning your boot drive (or better yet, install a brand new one), then install the new OS, repair permissions, run Software Update, repair permissions, then install the applications. Repair permissions after each install and be sure to run Software Update as well.
If you install a brand new hard drive, or if you cloned your old one, the old hard drive or the clone can serve as a backup should you ever need to revert back to your old system
-DH

Cannot install compressor with new Logic studio bundle

Hi, I just bought Logic Studio and in te installation process, the compressor option is greyed out is set to skip. Ive tried intalling the rest and it didnt work. I uninstall everything didnt work either.
What could I do to be able to install compressor?

Try using Pacifist to extract it from the installation disks.
(30088)

Headless Xserve Network Setup

I have installed the OS on G5 Xserve but I do not see the mac address of the Xserve to configure the network instead I see the mac address of the powerbook.Also on reboot the Xserve doesnot boot off its harddisk.Any ideas on to get everything working properly.
Xserve Mac OS X (10.4)

You don't need the server's MAC address to configure the network.
If this is a fresh install, run Server Assistant on another machine on the network. With luck it'll find the new machine on the network and you can configure it via the GUI, including configuring its network settings.
On the other hand, if it doesn't boot of the hard disk something else is amiss and Server Assistant might not work anyway. What does it boot off?

Re Installing Compressor & Qmaster

I have had an issue that required me to delete all compressor files and re install compressor & Qmaster as per Apples support article TS1888. In there support article the last thing I was to do was re install the above from my SL installation disc. HOW DO YOU DO THIS !! . When I have opened the CD there is nothing on there that allows me to load this software - Thanks in advance

According to the article you posted you are supposed to get these installations from the disc's that have the programs that installed them in the first place:
To reinstall Compressor effectively, you need to remove the application, its receipts and associated files, then install Compressor and use Software Update to install additional updates. Follow the steps below to completely reinstall a fresh copy of Compressor. *Note: Make sure that you have the installation discs for the application that Compressor was bundled with and the serial number handy before starting this.*
I'd take another look at that article to ensure you've actually followed every instruction or tip properly and in the right order.

FCS Compressor issues - Quartz Extreme not loading on headless XServe

Hi,
I am running FCS on a OS X Leopard Server Intel XServe...installed a Quartz Extreme GPU (an old stock nVidia 7300 taken from a Mac Pro) to meet the specs. Everything worked fine. However I want to run the system headless - it is an XServe in a rack! Only problem is that without a monitor attached to the GPU, the XServe fails to acknowledge the existence of the GPU. Quartz Extreme does not load. Compressor will not launch if opened (explaining that I have no GPU!) and the automatic encodes from FCS come out as 0Mbyte .mov files. I admit I already knew about the issue of Final Cut Studio apps not running on a headless machine, even with a GPU installed. I just assumed Apple must have fixed this one for FCS because it is server software....I am guessing plenty of people must actually run FCS on headless machines....what's the trick to getting encoding to work?
Thanks!
Daniel

Depending on your xServe, you can just stick the dongle in the back and it should activate Quartz Extreme. You shouldn't have to install another graphics card. If you have an older xserve, you may have to hook up a monitor to the dongle.

Installing compressor on a headless xserve

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for