Pros/Cons of using Snow Leopard Server as my main OS?

Hi, I'd like to have some of the functionality of SLS in a small network, but I don't need a dedicated server. Purchasing the Mac Mini SLS config seems to be a good way forward. Apart from the hardware differences in the Mini (e.g. no built-in optical drive), are there good reasons why I would not want to use SLS as my everyday OS?
Simon.

This one gets asked pretty regularly; poke around the forums for various previous discussions.
Mac OS X Server is almost the same as client in terms of its contents and software.
Recognize first and foremost that it's more complex to manage a server than a client. You're expected to know more about IP networking, DNS, Open Directory, AFP and other services. Putting this distinction another way, you get a cute little documentation booklet included with Mac OS X client, and [here is the documentation shelf for Mac OS X Server|http://www.apple.com/server/macosx/resources/documentation.html].
And one more subtle detail that comes into play with a server; if the server is down, more than one user is typically adversely effected. Not only can management be complex, but there are considerations around whether the services are available and stable and reachable. Most folks don't care if a client comes or goes, but every other user and other box on the network that is depending on the server for (for instance) DNS translations can get cranky if the server isn't reachable.

Similar Messages

Can you use Snow Leopard Server with Timewarner Road runner for file sharin

I have Time Warner Roadrunner service for internet. I have there fastest package. they said it has a dynamic ip address. If you are using Snow Leopard Server and I want todo File sharing upload and downloads to my Macpro do I have to have a static ip address or is there a way around this. The Static ip address accounts are expensive
Also from your experience. if I have 12 people uploading and downloading files willt his bring my browsing in safari to a crawl?
thanks

You need to first check with your provider to see if that service is even allowed (often it is not). You may have to subscribe to a commercial or small business service to set up an FTP or other file sharing server.
Actual performance depends upon what your upload capacity is, and how much of that is being used by the total users using the service. It is possible a single user downloading files from your server will consume your entire pipe. OTOH, it might support hundreds of simultaneous users, if they are each using a small amount. In reality, your link capacity will be shared by all users regardless of the number of users.

Can I use Snow Leopard Server with Windows clients?

Mainly for e-mails and calendars. I have small office with 12 windows computers from XP to Win 7 and MS Office from 2003 to 2007. Will Snow Leopard Server work with that?

Can Mac OS X Server do this? Sure.
You're going to be learning a whole lot about running a server, regardless.
You really need to sort out what you have here and where you want to be, and how to upgrade or replace yor migrate your environment, and before you add the substantial increase in complexity of serving Windows from Mac. If you can't get off of Office circa 2003 or similarly old software, what are you going to do when you find, say, an incompatibility, or a need to migrate mail clients? Who are you going to call for help?
I'd guess that Small Business Server (SBS) is likely your best target here.
AFAIK, Exchange Server (which I'm guessing is what you're using) supports larger mailboxes in newer releases.
Look at the sustaining costs for what you're considering purchasing, too. How much it'll cost to configure, deploy and maintain the box and the network. Up-front costs are an obvious consideration, but maintaining many boxes and many versions itself introduces costs.
The arrival of Lion Server next month does not change my opinion. (And I'm not usually suggesting Windows and Windows Server boxes, either.) (And with the arrival of Lion and Lion Server, I'll follow my usual approach and not look to upgrade to the first release of that (or any other) new platform, if there are business-critical functions and services involved. You need time to debug and test the deployment.)

Creating a versatile DNS and redirection service on Snow Leopard Server

For the few of us who use Snow Leopard Server as a main DNS for our small network, the following is a workflow that I would like to share with the board for creating redirection services to not just sites found on the locally hosted apache but also external sites.
+IF you are adding a second domain name, the reverse domain lookup will not appear and you will need to add a Machine/A record with the fully qualified domain "domainname.com." (don't forget the . at the end) into the new zone and it will point to the "server" Machine/A record ip address.+
*DNS Portion* : (ServerAdmin > DNS > Zones >
Add Zone > Primary > Create a fully Qualified Domain name and dns "server" in the Machine / A Record
Create the (add Record > Alias/ CNAME) subdomain pointing to the server.domainname.com e.g. (library)
*Web / Apache Portion :*
Create a new site (ServerAdmin > Web > Sites > Plus button)
With General > host name exactly as spelled in above subdomain in full (library.domainname.com)
Select Web Folder where the site is hosted
If you are creating a redirection, create a folder on the server, add an index.php (with the script below)
Add Alias with the same subdomain as number 2
_PHP script :_
<?php
$location = "http://example.net";
header("Location: ".$location, "301 Moved Permanently");
?>
// Edit the "http://example.net" to which ever e.g. "http://apple.com"
_Alternatively you can also mask the page with :_
<html>
<head>
<title>Same Title As Your Homepage</title>
<script type="text/javascript">
function changeTitle()
if (top.frames['main'].document.title)
top.document.title=top.frames['main'].document.title;
</script>
</head>
<frameset>
<frame name="main" src="http://actual-url.anotherhost.com/page.html"scrolling="auto" target="main" ONLOAD="changeTitle();">
<noframes>
<body>
Place a suitable message here for people with browsers that can't read frames.
</body>
</noframes>
</frameset>
</html>

Ok, local DNS services (unicast DNS) are typically straightforward to set up, very useful to have, and can be necessary for various modern network services, so I'm unsure why this is even particularly an open question. Which leads me to wonder what other factors might be under consideration here; of what I'm missing.
The Bonjour mDNS stuff is certainly very nice, too. But not everything around supports Bonjour, unfortunately.
As for being authoritative, the self-hosted out-of-the-box DNS server is authoritative for its own zone. That's how DNS works for this stuff.
And as for querying other DNS servers from that local DNS server (or, if you decide to reconfigure it and deploy and start using DNS services on your LAN), then that's how DNS servers work.
And yes, the caching of DNS responses both within the DNS clients and within the local DNS server is typical. This also means that there is need no references to ISP or other DNS servers on your LAN for frequent translations; no other caching servers and no other forwarding servers are required.

Can I image Lion clients from Snow Leopard server using SIU?

I have a new iMac Lion client I need to image to a number of machines, using Snow Leopard Server, but System Image Utility will not recognize the Lion client as a valid source volume? Has anyone else experienced this yet?

Images must always be created on the same OS.
You'll need to download the Lion Server Admin Tools onto one of the clients and make it your "imaging system".
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1419

I've got Snow Leopard Server, but don't need the server functions. What to do?

This is somewhat complicated, so please bear with me. My Mac Pro was running OS X 10.5 and required updating. But we have legacy Power PC apps (mainly FreeHand) that we want to continue using, even though Mountain Lion doesn't support them.
As a solution, I'm going to run Snow Leopard Server in emulation on Parallels 8 Desktop. I would rather have used plain old Snow Leopard instead of the server version, but Apple's EULA only allows 10.6 Server to run in emulation.
So, I got Snow Leopard Server and have used it to upgrade 10.5. Eventually, (once I get everything working properly), I'll upgrade that to Mountain Lion and use SL Server in Parallels emulation to run the old Mac apps we can't do without.
But I've run into a problem I didn't anticipate: I don't have a clue about running a server.
I'm having trouble setting it up so the other Mac user in my department can access a shared folder. Also, I want the login window to display the list of users, but that option is grayed out.
What I'd like to do is strip out all the server functions and just run as if 10.6.8 was a standard version of Snow Leopard, which I'm familiar with. If that's not practical, please explain how to get sharing to work since that's the main problem.
I've tried turning off the services listed in the Server Preferences (iCal, Mail, etc.) but that hasn't fixed the problems. I think there may be server functions running that I haven't found preventing me from fixing the problems. Or it could be something else entirely (as I said, no clue).

DON'T MAKE A MOUNTAIN (lion?) OUT OF A MOLEHILL!
Several points in response to your post, in chronological order, not necessarily in order of importance:
• It was a common Urban Myth that Snow Leopard (client's) EULA prohibited its virtualization in Lion or Mt. Lion on a Mac! That myth has been largely debunked in the last 18 months.
Here are detailed instructions on how to install Snow Leopard client into Parallels 7 or 8:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1365439
That being said, and being the author of the aforementioned thread, I STRONGLY recommend that, where possible, you use Snow Leopard Server in favor of Snow Leopard client. This will side step some later corruption problems that can arise from the improper use and shutting down of this Parallels partition.
Historically, this thread was written when Apple sold Snow Leopard Server for $499+ or ceased sales altogether. Now, Apple has rendered the (now diminishing) debate over the EULA moot, by its recent release of Snow Leopard Server to the US & Canadian community for $20; leaving those who cannot purchase SLS (or get someone to purchase it for them) to continue to follow the instructions in my thread (or asking me to purchase SLS for them and forward it to them; my preferred course of action!).
• I ALWAYS recommend that data files be stored on the real Mac's HDs and NOT in a virtualized world. This is easy to accomplish and establishes a backup regimine (Time Machine, etc.) that will protect the users data. Lost applications are easily restored from their installer discs.
• In practice I find that using SLS in Parallels 8 is the same as using SL client in Parallels. I have even removed the Server apps from the Dock so as to not be confused by them.
So, your solution is to establish a "shared folder" on the hard drive of the Mac that is hosting Parallels. When in SLS in Parallels you will have access to your shared folder, ironically through Parallels' "Shared Folders" feature that is now present in Mac OS Guest installs on version 8 (see the "Shared Folders" SERVER on the right side of the screenshot, below).
When using Freehand MX or other PowerPC apps, save your data files into your shared folder through access to it by Parallels' Shared Folders. Other users on your network will have access to the SAME data files, through their customary use of file sharing to access your shared folder from your Mac's hard drive.
IGNORE the Server applications in the Applications folder...
Freehand MX running in Snow Leopard Server installed into Parallels 8 for use in Lion or Mt. Lion:
[click on image to enlarge]
Postscript: your post was so easy to follow!

Jetphoto Server on Snow Leopard Server - Need help.

Folks, I recently setup a machine using Snow Leopard Server and migrated our jetphoto server (http://www.jetphotosoft.com/web/?s=product_server) to this machine. I cannot get it to work. It worked perfectly on Leopard client.
I enabled my php5 module. I just don't know what to do on this one. I'd appreciate any help getting this going.
Essentially I downloaded the jetphoto server 1.3, moved the jpserver folder to the correct level of the webserver folder and attempted to load it in Safari.
All I get is:
Object not found!
The requested URL was not found on this server. If you entered the URL manually please check your spelling and try again.
If you think this is a server error, please contact the webmaster.
Error 404
lpiserver.local
Fri Apr 23 07:47:33 2010
Apache/2.2.14 (Unix) DAV/2 PHP/5.3.1

Folks, I recently setup a machine using Snow Leopard Server and migrated our jetphoto server (http://www.jetphotosoft.com/web/?s=product_server) to this machine. I cannot get it to work. It worked perfectly on Leopard client.
I enabled my php5 module. I just don't know what to do on this one. I'd appreciate any help getting this going.
Essentially I downloaded the jetphoto server 1.3, moved the jpserver folder to the correct level of the webserver folder and attempted to load it in Safari.
All I get is:
Object not found!
The requested URL was not found on this server. If you entered the URL manually please check your spelling and try again.
If you think this is a server error, please contact the webmaster.
Error 404
lpiserver.local
Fri Apr 23 07:47:33 2010
Apache/2.2.14 (Unix) DAV/2 PHP/5.3.1

Why can't Firefox set permissions for Snow Leopard Server Web-Site Wikis

I've established a web-site for collaboration of planning for a state-wide NGO and a local citizens-government oversight commission.
I'm using Snow Leopard Server v10.6.4, to drive the web-site, which includes the use of wikis.
In creating a wiki and setting permissions, I find that I cannot set permissions for users or groups to 'read only' from the default 'read & write' while using Firefox. However, I CAN set them to 'read only' using Safari. And, once the permission has been modified in Safari, THEN it can be modified in Firefox.

Solution found at http://michaeljin.wordpress.com/2010/01/05/locked-out-of-mac-os-x-server/
It’s blog update time! Updates have been a little scarce lately, been super busy with getting trophies on PS3
Anyway, recently encountered the following with a Mac mini server running Snow Leopard Server:
Despite being able to ARD / Screenshare the Mac mini, I was unable to get any further than the login window. Authentication credentials are obviously valid. No weird access permissions have been set. However, the weird thing was, I can connect to the server via Server Admin tools (from another Mac) and all other services were running without a hitch.
After much head scratching it turns out to be a sACL (Service Access Control List) issue.
This thread solved the mystery!
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1654864
To save you the trouble, I’ll lay it out here. I cannot take credit for this, but Randall can!
Open Server Admin on a computer (any), and connect with the local admin to the machine.
Select the server and authenticate.
Select Settings, then go to Access. You’ll want to make sure that Login Window and SSH have the local admin account listed if you select the option to “Allow only these users”. For now, I would suggest making sure all services have “Allow all users and groups” selected.
If (as in my case) it was set to Allow All in the first place, simply toggle the settings – back and forth.
Save.
Try logging in again… should be a good one!

Snow Leopard server for 10.7 netboot image

Hi Everyone,
I am trying to create a netboot image of 10.7 using snow leopard server but it is not working. I have already created an image of Lion and then tranfered it over to my server (Snow Leopard). I have scanned the image for restore (not sure if this is needed) and then mounted it using Disk Utility. Now when I lauch SIU then i don't see my pre-created image as image source.
Can i create netboot image of 10.7 using Snow Leopard?
OR
If I created the netboot image using Lion Server and then tranfer the files over to Snow Leopard Server for all my client. Can i do this?
Thanks,

Hi Brian,
Thanks for your help.
So if I create the 10.7 netboot image using 10.7 server and then move the NetBootSP0 folder to SL server then it should be working, right?

Snow Leopard Server Question

Does anyone know if I can use Snow Leopard Server with Windows clients? I would like to use it for backup of user folders and for a Wiki.

Does anyone know if I can use Snow Leopard Server with Windows clients?
Of course you can.

Snow Leopard Server fails when I restart my Mac Pro

I have a new Mac Pro that I've been running Snow Leopard Server on. When I restarted my computer it wouldn't boot up. It would only get to the screen with the apple symbol and the spinning dial under it. I had to totally reset up the computer and server software. 2 weeks later the same thing happened and I had to reset it all up again! A week later the same thing happened so I just gave up and installed Snow Leopard. I was using the computer as a "regular computer" meaning I had all my music, photos, other apps.... but nothing was installed or changed the day and the day before it failed. I didn't even have time to set up web hosting and all that crap. I was just browsing the web using Safari.
And yes everything was up to date.
I would love to go back to Server but I'm not going through all that crap again!!
Any ideas for what the problem could be would be great!
one last thing. Finder froze the last time which is why I had to restart; if that helps anyone.
but please leave a message even if you think it wouldn't affect it.

I would suspect your jumpers settings are wrong. These are cable select...try that not slave/master

Filemaker Pro 6 Client install on Snow Leopard Server on Parallels

Hey Gang,
As per MichaelLAX "Full installation instructions for Snow Leopard Server into Parallels", I have successfully installed SLS on an ML iMac using Parallels 8. Worked great, thank you.
The only issue I am runnig into is we require FileMaker Pro 6 client to be installed and functional. FM installs fine, but the client does not seem to be able to "see" the FM Server which is on the same local network all our other macs operate and access FM on.
I'm sure there is a preference somewhere that is preventing the SLS install of FM from accessing the local network computers as they are also not visible in finder as they would be normally. I have no experience with OS X Server in general, so any advice is greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Josh

OK: Here is what I did:
I installed FM7 on my Snow Leopard Mac Mini and created a small file called To Do List.fp7. I made it a FileMaker Network server file in the Sharing... Menu under FileMaker Pro menu.
I then opened FM7 in Snow Leopard Server in Parallels 8 on my Lion Mac Mini. Under the File Menu I selected Open Remote... I changed View to Favorite Hosts.
Then I clicked the Add button. Then for Host's Internet Address, I entered the IP for my Snow Leopard Mac Mini (in this case 192.168.0.151) and gave it a Favorite Host Name (To Do). I clicked Show All Available Files for this Host and clicked Save.
My server file To Do List.fp7 is now visible in the window and I can click Open.
In my case, since I have only one licensed serialized copy of FM7, it recognized that I was using it twice and told me that error and then quit.
But in your case, you should now be able to open your local area network served FM files!
[click on images to enlarge]

Using ms office 2008 for mac home & student edition with snow leopard serv

Hi all,
I have a very particular question.
I have a new small business starting up and we want to make full use of leopard and snow leopard server in our infrastructure. We also want to use os x for all our client machines.
We want to use ms office 2008 for mac as our main offfice software but i believe we don't need all the uses or festures of the business edtion and i need to seek good advice and clarity on this.
We won't ever use any microsoft exchange servers but instead willl use the apple mail servers and all the other apple server services.
My question is, based on the fact that we will have an all apple mac os x backend and client frontend but want to use the ms office for mac as our business software, and also based on the fact that we wont use the "Build your Brand clip art, Build your skills by lynda.com, the Remote Desktop for mac 2, the Microsoft Exchange Server Support and the Microsoft Windows sharepoint services support, do we really need to go for the business edition? Can we not just use the home and student edition and get the same functionality using everything else apart form what we listed as we wont need these?
The other question is, the Entourage 2008, Web services Edition, will this work with an apple backend instead of ms exchange server?
Kind regards and thanks for your wise advice,
Neil Watson

Thanks, Kurt--I understand now.
One reason I was alarmed was that evidently when the tech installed Office 2008, something went awry with either the key installer or the key code, because when I finished the first two updates (12.1 and 12.2), I tried to open Entourage to see if the problem I'd been having was resolved. Instead of opening, Office gave me a message that my product key was invalid! I did find the product key, and called the tech, who will come by to see what's wrong (he's an honest guy, so I'm sure it's a legitimate error of some kind, not a pirated copy). But the thought of installing two pages of updates and maybe running into the same glitch every time made me blanch. So I'm glad to know that Microsoft is still doing Service Packs for 2008!

I want to install Snow Leopard Server on our MacPro (2.66) using Mac Mini Snow Leopard Server disks? I kept getting an error for backwards compatibility. Is this possible or do I need to purchase another copy of Snow Leopard Server?

I want to install Snow Leopard Server on our MacPro(2.66) using Mac Mini Snow Leopard Server disks? I kept getting an error for backwards compatibility. Is this possible or do I need topurchase another copy of Snow Leopard Server?

The OS disks that are shipped with a particular product
are set up so that tey will only install on that product.
It will install on any Mini of that exact vintage, but that
is all.
This is to prevent people from doing exactly what you
are trying to do. The license for OSX shipped with any
is only valid for that product. Also, Snow Leopard,
including Server, is only permitted to be run on one
computer at a time. Bottom line, unlike Lion, legally
you cannot install the same copy on multiple
computers unless some "family pack" or site license
is purchased.
Yes, you need to purchase another copy.
The copy of Snow Leopard license is here:
http://images.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/macosx_snowleopard.pdf

We are having old home movies put on DVD's. How do we import them to MacBook Pro using Snow Leopard and iMovie 8.0.6. Can watch the video, but can't get it to import.

We are having old home movies put on DVD's. How do we import them to MacBook pro using Snow Leopard and iMovie 8.0.6? Can watch the movies on the laptop, but they will not import.

We took 3 video cassette 8mm that were recorded in the early 90's to a place that burned the videos onto 3 DVDs. When inserted to our Mac, the DVD player comes on to play the DVD. Opened Quicktime, but can find no way to import. Went to File>Open File>Sony_DVD_Recorder_Volume. Clicked on Sony_DVD-Recorder_Volume and it shows a file named VIDEO_TS. Clicked on that and 6 files showed VIDEO_TS.BUP, VTS_01-0.BUP, VTS_01_0.IFO, VTS-01_1.VOB, VTS_01_2.VOB, VTS_01_3.VOB. Where is DVDxDV?

Pros/Cons of using Snow Leopard Server as my main OS?

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