Xserve vs. Mac Pro?

Question

Level 3

556 points

Xserve vs. Mac Pro?

Can anyone point me to a table or a review that compares the Xserve and Mac Pro server features?

Seems to me you get the prospect of better reliability with an Xserve and spare parts, more (Apple-supplied) hard drive options, and Server Monitor works with the Xserve.

With the Mac Pro you get an extra hard drive bay (and therefore more RAID options?), you don't need a rack and it comes out a little cheaper than the Xserve.

Is that about what it comes down to?

Posted on Mar 10, 2008 5:13 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Mar 10, 2008 5:18 AM in response to Christiaan

Hi Christiaan-

I think you've pretty much nailed it.

The Mac Pro isn't actually a "server" so not designed with the robustness in mind that an XServe is built around. An XServe is designed to operate 24X7 doing nothing but serving.

Server Monitor should work to connect to any Mac running OSX Server.

Luck-

-DaddyPaycheck

Reply

Answer 2

Mar 10, 2008 5:45 AM in response to Christiaan

The Mac Pro isn't any cheaper than the Xserve when you add $1000 for the OS X Server license... if you plan to use it as a server.

Reply

Answer 3

Christiaan Author

Level 3

556 points

Mar 10, 2008 6:40 AM in response to William Lloyd

Hmm, true, but we already have an unlimited Leopard Server licence.

Reply

Answer 4

MrHoffman

Level 10

146,407 points

Mar 10, 2008 9:49 AM in response to Christiaan

Mac Pro: High-end desktop.

Office environment box, with options and pieces configured for office use.

Xserve: High-end 1U rack-mount server.

Configured for computer room use, including lights out management (LOM).

Yes, you can use a Mac Pro in a computer room (if you're able and willing to walk into the computer room to manage it) or (with an acoustical rack) an Xserve in an office environment.

AFAIK, Server Monitor isn't useful with boxes other than Xserve.

At its simplest, the difference is "where do you want to install the box?"

Reply

Answer 5

Christiaan Author

Level 3

556 points

Mar 10, 2008 10:50 AM in response to MrHoffman

Excellent point. I forgot about that one: noise.

Although it will be in it's own room we may want to have a workstation in their too and we don't really want to install an acoustic rack.

Thanks for all your advice.

Reply