Getting support on installation of server 1.2v3

Hello. In addition to my MDD mac which I use everyday, I am planning on using my sawtooth G4 500 as a server machine. I just purchased a whole box set of the Mac OS X Server 1.2v3(looks like mac os 9 or 8). I am having extreme trouble installing this thing. Although, the copyright date of the program is from 2001, for a fee, would Apple SOS support be able to assist me in getting this thing to work? I tried to follow in good faith the directions for getting this thing to work, but to no avail. I keep getting an error: ROOT DEVICE? when I boot from the cd once I have partitioned my drive with mac os extended + reserved some space for the server install. Can someone please shed some light on if Apple can assist me in getting past ROOT DEVICE error? and finally getting to the set up screen?

Power Macintosh G4 MDD 1.25DP System w/ 2MB L3 Cache/2GB PC2600U, Mac OS X (10.4.11), Apple 4.7GB DVD-RAM Drive/BenQ 16x Superdrive/Plextor 16x Superdrive

Posted on Jun 10, 2008 11:39 PM

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7 replies

Jun 11, 2008 5:17 AM in response to DaddyPaycheck

Hi, I am looking at the specs and system requirements on the side of the box. It says Power Mac G4/Power Mac G4 server. Version 1.2 works with the AGP Graphics Power Mac G4's, while 1.2v3 supports not only the AGP Graphics G4's, but also added support for Gigabit Ethernet G4 systems.

So, to answer that question - yes, this will work with AGP/gigabit ethernet G4 systems.

Jul 9, 2008 4:22 AM in response to Nadav

This is one of those far reaching memory tests, right. I am going to suggest creating a partition smaller than 8 GB on the boot drive and then install Server on that partition. If I recall, there was an issue with installing on larger drives and I am going to assume that you have upgraded the drive in the system. Also, make sure the 8 GB partition is the first in the partition map.

Thinking of this at breakfast, so this is top of mind suggestion. I will dig through my old records to see if I can find more suggestions.

Hope this helps

Jul 11, 2008 12:35 AM in response to Nadav

I don't think Apple provide any support for that now. Any support you get is going to come from folks like those on these boards (and others) who can remember back that far.

I don't know where you managed to purchase this software - it hasn't officially been available for several years. To be brutally honest I'd look to return it and find a copy of Mac OS X Server 10.3. That will run on your hardware and at least bears some resemblance to the current OS.

Jul 11, 2008 7:13 PM in response to Nadav

The boot partition must be the first logical partition on the boot drive. It should be formatted as a "Mac OS Extended" partition (that's what Apple did when they shipped pre-installed systems).

If I remember correctly, we needed to do something about the Boot ROM. There should be a "Boot ROM Update" utility or something on the install disc. If you have formatted your boot drive with a disk utility that's newer than the OS itself, you may need to reformat using the disk utility on the install disc, then install the Boot ROM.

Have you tried forcing a boot up from the CD by holding the "C" key or "Opt" key during start-up?

Jul 12, 2008 6:28 AM in response to RedRhubarb

I agree completely with Camelot: don't even go there.

Server 1.2v3 has nothing to do with any current version of OS X, server or client.

You would do better to put (Yellow Dog) Linux on there, at least you'd be learning
something relevant - re: Linux, KDE, bash, X11, etc.
http://www.terrasoftsolutions.com/support/hardware/

If you want it to be OS X Server, then yah, take that box back and save yourself really a waste of time and tremendous headaches that will largely lead you to what are now complete dead-ends for that product. Get 10.3 server, but even better, maybe think about a way (in your setup) to run server on your MDD: 10.4 server will run on a MDD G4 just fine, I was doing that for the past couple of years. Put enough RAM in it, and put new hard drives in it, and you'll have an enjoyable experience instead of... pointless pain.

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Getting support on installation of server 1.2v3

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