Can Mac OS X Server be used as an everyday OS?


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I have a spare iMac lying around my house that presently isn't of any use to me, and I've been unable to sell it. I was wondering if Mac OS X Server could feasibly be used in a fashion similar to Windows Home Server... That is, a relatively simple server that I can set up to manage the AirPort Extreme Base Station, connect various printers and external hard drives to it, etc. Basically, I'd like to turn the spare iMac into a centralized server.

Would I even need Mac OS X Server to do all of that? I've noticed that Apple recently started selling the Mac mini with a server configuration, so it seems that they're targeting it at the average consumer.

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As far as I know it's the same thing, except it comes with more tools and services. You could say it's suited for a workstation as well as Windows Server is.

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I've noticed that Apple recently started selling the Mac mini with a server configuration, so it seems that they're targeting it at the average consumer.

The new Mac Mini server is targetted at small businesses, not consumers or pro-sumers. The services on it are for email and collaboration and not multimedia.

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Does the Mac OS X Server install media limit hardware you can install onto? For instance only installing on Mac Mini and Xserve? Curious as I have been hesitant to try out OS X Server.

I have a spare iMac lying around my house that presently isn't of any use to me, and I've been unable to sell it. I was wondering if Mac OS X Server could feasibly be used in a fashion similar to Windows Home Server... That is, a relatively simple server that I can set up to manage the AirPort Extreme Base Station, connect various printers and external hard drives to it, etc. Basically, I'd like to turn the spare iMac into a centralized server.

Would I even need Mac OS X Server to do all of that? I've noticed that Apple recently started selling the Mac mini with a server configuration, so it seems that they're targeting it at the average consumer.

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I have a spare iMac lying around my house that presently isn't of any use to me, and I've been unable to sell it. I was wondering if Mac OS X Server could feasibly be used in a fashion similar to Windows Home Server... That is, a relatively simple server that I can set up to manage the AirPort Extreme Base Station, connect various printers and external hard drives to it, etc. Basically, I'd like to turn the spare iMac into a centralized server.

Would I even need Mac OS X Server to do all of that? I've noticed that Apple recently started selling the Mac mini with a server configuration, so it seems that they're targeting it at the average consumer.

Mac OS X Server would make RADIUS a little easier to set up (for the AirPort Extreme), but otherwise, the various printers and hard drives could be shared just as well over Bonjour using normal OS X.

Does the Mac OS X Server install media limit hardware you can install onto? For instance only installing on Mac Mini and Xserve? Curious as I have been hesitant to try out OS X Server.

Nope. You can install it on any hardware you can install normal OS X on. It's basically just OS X with extra services installed and GUI tools to management those services.

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Does the Mac OS X Server install media limit hardware you can install onto? For instance only installing on Mac Mini and Xserve? Curious as I have been hesitant to try out OS X Server.

You can install OS X Server on any hardware that supports it, just like a client OS. For example, I have OS X Server 10.4.11 running on 3 PowerMac G4 400s down in my garage. I have OS X Server 10.5.8 running on a PowerMac G4 867 as well. I am also dual booting 10.6.1 Client and 10.6.1 Server on my MacBook Pro 2.16.

To answer your question, yes, you can install Server on the iMac as long as it meets the minimum hardware requirements. The question, however, is do you really need a server OS on there? If you can share files, printers and proxy your internets through it, would it not just be easier to run a client OS on there?

Also, you do know that the server installation requires a product key that is validated, right?

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I currently have 10.5.8 Server running on a Mini at home.

Its used mainly for Websites, MySQL, DHCP, DNS, Netboot and as a firewall beyond what my router provides.

This way I can open up more services in my router, but restrict what IP ranged (work) can connect to my computer.

Stops the SSH Script Kiddies in there tracks when they use Brute Force finding TCP 22 is open

When I move to 10.6 Server - I am planning on reloading my laptop and my other mini and setting up Mobile Home Directories and using it as a backup solution as well (The automated sync to the server of the home directory) considering that Time Machine doesn't work well with File Vault.

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