Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Mac OS X "Tiger" Server Previewed

Posted by pudge on from the sans-turtleneck dept.

Remaining unmentioned in Steve Jobs' keynote speech at WWDC today are the many updates to the Server cousin of Mac OS X. As with the Panther Server release, Tiger Server will focus on open source, Windows, and ease of use. A preview DVD was, as with Tiger client, given out to WWDC attendees. Tiger will include some new content server options, including blojsom, a Java-powered "blog" server, which was inspired by Rael Dornfest's bloxsom.

It also adds a Jabber server that provides the option of serving iChat. SSL/TLS and Kerberos can be added for security. A single Tiger iChat client can have chats running on multiple servers, so a user can be on the main iChat server, while having private chats on a company server. Because it is Jabber, non-iChat (and non-AIM) clients can participate too.

Tiger Server also works to make network setup even easier with Internet Gateway Setup Assistant. In Panther Server, setting up a network with DNS, DHCP, NAT, firewall, and port mapping was easier than most other platforms, but still required a good deal of manual configuration, and separate configuration of each service. The Setup Assistant will provide single-button setup of it all.

A Software Update Server can cache and control Apple software updates. So once you're satisfied that the new OS update won't delete home folders, you can OK it for your users to download; and they won't take up your Internet bandwidth, because the server cached it.

Mobile Home Directories allows a mobile user to sync his home directory with a central server, backing it up and allowing an admin to manage it.

A new Windows migration tool will allow Windows admins to migrate from Windows-based servers. Tiger Server can act as a Primary Domain Controller for a Windows network, and the tool will migrate user and group account from an existing Windows PDC into Open Directory 2 and Samba 3.

Tiger Server will retain the pricing structure of the previous versions: $500 for the 10-client edition and $1000 for the unlimited client edition (the number of clients referring only to simultaneous file sharing clients).

3 of 355 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Tired of Apple Fanboys? by SpankMonkeyPox · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I love apple fan boys. If it wer'n't for Apple fan boys, you'd probably have a life

  2. Searching for Terrorists... by big+daddy+kane · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    maybe big bro can use searchlight technology to find terrorists quicker...

  3. Re:I would love it... by Chuck+Bucket · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    this made me laugh out loud, thanks for it!

    CB

    --
    free ipod and free gmail!