The client version of OS X 10.5 wo n’t be the only version of Leopard to recoil into action on October 26 . Apple also be after to release Mac OS X Leopard Server , potentially the biggest update ever to its waiter - side software .
The lineament inclination for this upgrade to Mac OS X Server is immense , as extensive as the change announced for the drug user edition of Mac OS X 10.5 . What follows is an overview of the major feature as detailed onApple ’s Leopard Server site , with some extra inside information along the way of life .
Setup and Administration
One affair that all administrators sell with is do up a server — a tedious process at upright , and , at bad , a incubus . Previous versions of Mac OS X Server attempt to annul the nightmare scenario with vary success . However , Apple has done a flock of workplace in Leopard Server to aid make set up Mac OS X Server easier across all uses .
For those administrators who just desire to get their server up and running in a rushing , there are the new Standard and Workgroup option . These are design for servers in a standalone — that is , simple file cabinet and print — configuration or as a part of an existing electronic web providing departmental divine service .
Standard and Workgroup setups allow the decision maker to automatise much of the process of service apparatus . For object lesson , to fructify up the iCal Server , you need not only the iCal service , but specific WWW services as well . With the new simplified setup , you only require enable iCal , and all of this is handled for you . If you are a part of an exist directory serve — say Active Directory — you could spell user and or groups into Mac OS X Server and give them access to iCal , iChat , or any other service the administrator needs in just a few steps .
Leopard Server gives you two fresh configuration alternative — Standard and Workgroup — to go with the Advanced setup .
For those requiring more ripe services , such as DHCP , or DNS , there is the sophisticated setup , which allow entire ascendence over Mac OS X Server ’s services and features . This expend the redesign Server Admin app , which now provides primary control over sharing features , previously part of Workgroup Manager . Workgroup Manager is still keep on for fine - granulate control of user and machine management and the execution of Managed Client ( MCX ) policies ( exchangeable to Windows Group Policies ) .
However , even with a server OS as reliable as Mac OS X Server , you still need to be able to supervise the host . To make that soft , Apple has added Dashboard thingmabob that allow you to cross service status , CPU utilization , electronic web load and other statistic .
iCal Server
One of the biggest feature film in Leopard Server is the new iCal server . This plug a huge cakehole in Apple ’s server offer , specially in the minor to Medium Business ( SMB ) market . Rather than license someone else ’s proprietary protocol , Apple instead is basing iCal host on the open CalDAV standard . CalDAV is primarily run by theCalConnect Consortium , which include , along with Apple , companies like IBM , Novell , Google , Oracle , Sun , and notably , Microsoft .
On the guest side , Apple has beefed up iCal so that it can link up to iCal waiter , and provide thing like on-line meeting direction , way reservation , free / busy condition , and more . Since iCal Server is based on open standards , Apple has offer up thecomplete germ code to iCal Server , a decision that will make it much easier for third party to extend iCal Server ’s functionality beyond what Apple offer .
Wiki/Blog Server
Arranging meetings is n’t the entire collaboration history . Even in the SMB grocery store , there ’s a need for an easy way to put up data , documentation , and create common areas for multiple people to lick together . The obvious style to implement this form of coaction is via a web log / wiki system . While most web log system are fairly soft to setup and habituate for a single user , coif up company - panoptic web log can get rather tedious in short order . Wikis , even when put up , can be intimidating due to the arcane Wiki codes that are used .
Apple has ameliorate on the web log system introduce in Mac OS X 10.4 Server , and tot a Wiki in Leopard . Along with improved themes , the Wiki is a World Wide Web - base WYSIWYG wiki with RSS musical accompaniment , and does n’t require the manual incoming of codes . Apple has tied the blog / wiki scheme into other service , so that group calendars can be access from the wiki , mailing leaning , podcasts , and so forward .
Podcast Producer
Podcast Producer is a way to centrally manage podcast yield , so that podcast workflow become efficient and well-to-do . Once a podcast is create , Podcast Producer handle work flow consolidation , encoding , and publication . Podcast Producer workflows give you the ability to automate tasks like archiving , usance championship , watermarks , and such . The “ hard ” part about podcasts has always been everything that happens after you show the actual ’ mold , and this is where Podcast Producer lives .
iChat Server
The ability to lumber and archive chats — among other new features — work the Leopard translation of iChat Server much more sympathetic to corporate users .
iChat Server in Mac OS X 10.4 was a beneficial starting , but it had some issues — the inability to log chats , the deficiency of federation , and the unfitness to partake in documents , to name three — that made it hard to practice in a corporate environs .
Leopard ’s iChat Server , along with iChat in Leopard , addresses all of those proceeds . Chats can be archived at the waiter , ( critical for companies under regulations likeSarbanes - Oxley ) and chat rooms are persistent . With Leopard Server , you’re able to federalise your iChat Server with other XMPP - based systems , such as Google Talk , and this federation can be encrypted via SSL / TLS . you may also block communicating with servers that do not support cipher chat sessions .
Another new feature article in Leopard ’s iChat Server is depot - and - forward , or the power to place messages to the great unwashed who are not online when you are . This can be of great use for masses who are ferment globally , or even across shifts .
Web Server
While the service that Apache underpin on Mac OS X Server have changed radically in Leopard Server , the boastful news for Apache itself is that Apache 2 is now a fully - supported and unified part of Mac OS X Server . It shipped with Mac OS X Server in Mac OS X 10.4 , but was not integrated into things as amply as Apache 1.x . Along with that , some of the kernel technologies that are used along with Apache have been updated , such as MySQL to version 5.x . The edition used in Mac OS X 10.4 Server had not been updated in a while , which had created functional and security measures concerns .
Unix
As of Leopard , Mac OS X is officially UNIX , not just “ Unix- like . ”
64-bit everywhere
With Leopard and Leopard Server , Mac OS X is fairly much 64 - bit everywhere . Contrary to popular belief , 64 - bit is not a magic while , but for waiter , it has definite benefits .
A 64 - spot atomic number 8 can directly get at all 32 GB of RAM that you’re able to install into an Intel - based Xserve , rather than having to play whoremaster to habituate it all . Does this make a huge remainder for data file and print communion ? No . Does it make a huge difference for databases ? Definitely . The more chock up a database process can immediately address , the faster it can work .
Of of course , as Steve Jobs has pointed out , unlike Windows , there ’s no “ 64 - bit ” version of Mac OS X or Mac OS ex Server that has to be one by one purchased . Every version of Leopard Server is 64 - bit , while fully supporting 32 - routine applications and outgrowth .
Open Directory
A major Open Directory change in the unexampled translation of OS X Server is the integration of Active Directory . With Leopard , Macs bind into Active Directory 2003 or later directory systems will no longer take Active Directory executive to disenable packet sign language on those networks . This not only heighten Leopard ’s security posture in an Active Directory meshwork , but also removes one more “ particular thing that has to be done just for Macs ” problem .
Finally , integrating Leopard Server into both Open Directory and Active Directory system has been greatly simplified .
File SystemsandFile Sharing
The intelligence in file systems for Leopard is read - only support for Sun ’s ZFS data file scheme . ZFS is a high destruction file system plan primarily for servers . It ’s still new , but it is a radical re - thinking of how a file scheme should forge .
In the File Sharing area , NFS , the grand bird of file share protocols make Kerberos reenforcement , which both increases security for the protocol , and makes it easier for NFS users to integrate NFS into Leopard ’s and Leopard Server ’s backup for single - signon environs . As with the changes to Active Directory integrating , Leopard now supports SMB mailboat signing for adept security in Windows Server 2003 and tardy surround . On the Leopard client side , you’re able to finally apportion any folder you would like , not just the ones that the atomic number 76 tells you you’re able to .
Directory
Directory(.app ) is where you pull off the underlying setup for Leopard Server ’s new Wiki and iCal Server characteristic . Directory allows the initiation of deal rooms , resources , group and single liaison . In addition , you’re able to create maps for rooms , users , or other resources . “ My bureau is 5S244 ” becomes a plenty more useful when you could rend up a map that shows you precisely where that office is .
Security
Finally , Apple has increased security system all throughout Leopard and Leopard Server . From things that user will see,—including tagging downloaded program , which bulge out a dialogue that allege “ Hey , you downloaded this from < location > , are you sure you want to scat this ? ” when you first launch the program ; Library Randomization , a much - touted , and very reasonable feature of Vista as well ; amend Smart Card features ; secure SSL credentials support ; and support for Kerberized impression as well as the aforementioned Kerberized NFS musical accompaniment . In inadequate , Leopard Server has a plethora of real - world security system enhancements that will make it easier to safely habituate in an progressively unfriendly world .
And more
I did n’t even come unaired to either covering all the Leopard Server - link changes , or hatch the unity I did mention in any variety of detail . Then there are the features that will only become apparent once the software ships this Friday .
But , most survive Mac IT department , or IT departments considering Macs , can see that Leopard Server has a host of compelling reasons that make it a slam - stuff shot upgrade over late editions .
[ John C. Welch is a Unix / Open Systems Administrator for Kansas City Life Insurance and a long - time Mac IT pundit . ]
This article was reposted at 2:15 p.m. ET on October 23 , 2007 , to remove a paragraph on DFS reenforcement that was erroneously included in the original prevue .
