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beatle20359 Author

Level 2

314 points

A Sad day.. Xserve discontinued...

http://images.apple.com/xserve/pdf/L422277AXserveGuide.pdf

Personally I'm not the least bit happy about this.. I don't want a rack full of MacPro's or a shelf full of under powered mac mini's... I utilise the LOM card.. I run 2 power supplies and want the ability to quickly and easily hot swap parts.... I know this is not the place for writing such things but I am disappointed to see the end of a great product with no true replacement available for it.

Many thanks
Beatle

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Nov 5, 2010 4:06 AM

202 replies

Feb 8, 2011 1:47 PM in response to gen_

Gen, personally I don't think you know what you are talking about. Linux isn't the end all be all you think it is. Go back to your fanboy sites and bash macs there.

Zlyx

Level 1

10 points

Feb 12, 2011 2:49 PM in response to beatle20359

Apple-endorsed XServe replacement in the works?

http://www.applegazette.com/mac/xserve-replacement-being-released-by-active-stor age/

... or not:

http://www.macgasm.net/2011/01/31/activesan-announced-xserve-replacement/

Message was edited by: Zlyx

hylas

Level 1

100 points

Feb 14, 2011 12:35 AM in response to beatle20359

Apple’s new data center obviously isn't filled with Xserves I bet - our company bought in early with the Xserve (Slot Load).

http://support.apple.com/kb/SP102

PowerPC, I loved those too - skip instead of walk.
So what do you think they're sporting in that data center? wouldn't it be a kick in the butt if they are all POWER7s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/POWER7

That ... I could get behind.
I was so close to being able to get some new servers - so close.
This is so unlike Apple, pulling the rug out on us - it's more like a MS move, sounds like they're slipping.
There is no real reason to do this.

Might as well be Windows Server for all I care now, they have no confidence in us - that's crystal clear to me now.
Dam shame, they'll cancel OS X Sever next, it's not good enough to run a data center - why should I bother.
I'm off to price IBM.

http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/power/?cmre=masthead-_-products--sys-power

Feb 18, 2011 9:32 AM in response to beatle20359

Yeah - we run a small business of hosting websites and doing e-mail marketing. The XServe has been a great box since we started doing this in 2003. And now with OS X Server allowing us to do our own Calendaring, iChat video conferences, Mail, etc... is so great do be able to do this in-house and not have your data going on someone else's server. It'd be nice if Apple came out with a cheaper version of the XServe. It seemed to me their pricing was the main reason people didn't consider them ... about $1,000 too high for a starting price.... base model needed to be $1,995 or $1,495.

I recently wrote an article on why Apple needs to stay in the server market.
http://t-gaap.com/2011/2/18/why-apple-needs-to-stay-in-the-server-market?site_lo cale=en

Here's to hoping Apple changes their mind.
Best,
-Werner

Fletch--

Level 1

0 points

Mar 17, 2011 2:33 PM in response to beatle20359

This is GOOD news. I've only been using Xserve for a few weeks but it is terrible! Permissions re-set themselves, authentication *****, support is awful, user groups are unresponsive and unhelpful.

Don't get me wrong I use a MacBookPro and love it (Other than the HUGELY inflated cost!) but for a server platform, Apple : Not your niche. They are sticking with what they do well and leaving the professionals to deal with servers.

Mar 18, 2011 10:28 PM in response to beatle20359

Pray tell what permissions and authentication have to do with the hardware? And the xserve mailing list is incredibly helpful. And you haven't posted there. Do you mean OSX Server instead of Xserve? RTFM - just because you have a Mac doesn't mean you understand server technology.

(I know guys, I shouldn't reply to trolls, but really...)

Mar 22, 2011 6:51 AM in response to Fletch--

Yes, brilliant news for those of us who have been championing Macs as enterprise solutions for the last decade, have spent thousands on professional qualifications and would sooner sell Big Macs than re-train on that M$ rubbish.

I've said in another post on elsewere on here - we are seeing an effect on the education market already. No one is buying Macs, new clients are opting for PC solutions and existing clients are thinking twice about renewing their existing Apple hardware.

The sad reality is that they have chosen to chase the consumer market's better margins and shareholder dividends rather than stick with it's traditional values of quality professional products, and innovative solutions to tricky enterprise integration in a lower revenue market. I suppose it's all we should expect in this day and age; quarterly results, stock value and company image is everything.

It seems Apple will only be content when everyone has and iPad and/or iPhone and only use their products for web browsing, buying music and playing Angry Birds.

Mar 30, 2011 8:25 AM in response to Christopher Mills2

Yes - we've unfortunately had to jump ship from Open Directory to an OpenLDAP-based directory, and have found various other non-OSX solutions, but none of them have really been better than what we had.

This has taught us an important lesson about Apple; when they get bored with a product, they jump ship. Other companies have divisions - Apple just leaves.

So, if you guys are confident that OSX as a client will be around a few years from now at all - keep in mind it's a decade old, and they're already signaling that iOS will be merging with OSX in Lion. You can laugh at XServe users now, but don't laugh too hard. 🙂

hylas

Level 1

100 points

Apr 8, 2011 5:42 PM in response to pcoreyboyer

I was cruising around and found this link concerning Steve Wozniak and his new gig ('09?), as Chief Scientist at start-up solid-state drive company Fusion-io:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9139300/QA_Why_Apple_s_co_founder_is_hot_on_solid_statestorage?taxonomyId=15&pageNumber=1

But this is what's killing me - in bed with Dell ...

(scroll to the end of article)
System Changes

MySQL 5.x on Mac Xserve Cluster

Four Apple Servers

Changes to the System

Replaced the four Apple servers with two new
HP DL380 x550 processors and two 640GB ioDrives

+Repurposed two of the four database servers as application servers+

http://community.fusionio.com/media/p/905.aspx

I'd like to see if I could use this tech for my Xserves.
This is such a shame - Apple should really reconsider their decisions.

I've been looking around (previous post) and nothing seems to replace the Xserve in the 1U form factor:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rack_unit

Has anyone found something that could?
This would seem to "invite" the OS X x86 Hackintosh community for rescue, better yet, maybe a small company retrofitting old Xserves with reroutes to new Motherboards - if that's even possible.
This decision really seems to borders on cruel - this is doing us in server-wise, we don't have the space needed for the Mac Pro form factors.

InGen

Level 1

5 points

Jul 27, 2011 7:33 AM in response to hylas

ESXi 5.0.0 supports OS X Server 10.6 (as listed in Other OS category) I'm sure it upgrades to Lion Server, but I haven't tested OS X on VMWare yet. I'll test it on a PowerEdge T100 when I get the chance.

FYI ESXi 5.0.0 is not out yet. Wait a couple of months, and see if it comes out during or right after VMWorld.

I do not work for VMWare 😝

Aug 29, 2011 1:22 PM in response to InGen

I'm confused:

I would _love_ to virtualize my OS/X servers as guests within my vmware ESXi 5.0 and supposedly this may now be done, BUT:

http://partnerweb.vmware.com/GOSIG/MacOSX_10_6.html

states specifically: “You must have an Apple-labeled computer to install Mac OS X Server in a virtual machine.”

Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any supported Apple labeled host that is on the VMWARE ESXi host compatibility list...

Can *anyone* tell me how I can do this in a legal and supportable way?

(I do not work for Vmware or for Apple)

InGen

Level 1

5 points

Aug 29, 2011 1:31 PM in response to jdcoleman

ESXi 5.0 will install on Mac Pro, XServe, and MacBook Pro. I'm sad that they left out Mac Mini servers. I haven't tried installing it on one yet, but if I get one, I'll let you know how it goes. It also will not support OS X 10.7. Just 10.6 I'm not sure how it would react to 10.7, and I can't really give even a rough idea as VMWare ESXi and OS X have no history together officially until now.

jdcoleman Your options are:

Mac Pro (Mac Pro Server)

XServe (discontinued, but latest models will work)

and testing it out by installing on MacBook Pro

You can only use OS X 10.6 Server. Installing 10.6 Client gives an error telling you to use Server edition. (according to a friend who tried)

I hope support comes for Mac Mini Server, and Lion soon. That is the combo I can afford, and am willing to use.

Aug 30, 2011 7:31 AM in response to InGen

Don't misunderstand me - I can make OS X work in all sorts of scenarios. What I am looking for is a legal and supported method. When I search the compatibility guide on vmware's selecting partner name of "Apple" and

"OS Use" of "Host", I only see Fusion as a supported product. If I make the "OS Use" of "Guest", I see that both Fusion and ESXi 5 are supported, with ESXi 5 supporting versions 10.6 through 10.6.8. In the footnotes for ESX 5 support, the installation instructions contain the caveat:

“You must have an Apple-labeled computer to install Mac OS X Server in a virtual machine.”

I thought that someone here could clarify what Apple might say is supportable hardware for the ESXi 5 product... I am quite happy to use Apple recommended hardware to gain the benefits of VMWare's virtualization platform for the OS X environment.

Thanks for any help you can lend in supporting this.

InGen

Level 1

5 points

Aug 30, 2011 7:56 AM in response to jdcoleman

A VMWare rep told me that they support XServe, Mac Pro, and MacBook Pro as supported hardware to install ESXi 5 on. Any idea how to get 10.7 to work in a VM on a Dell PowerEdge T100? (referencing "Don't misunderstand me - I can make OS X work in all sorts of scenarios.")

hylas

Level 1

100 points

Sep 4, 2011 6:42 AM in response to beatle20359

Quote:

" http://images.apple.com/xserve/pdf/L422277AXserveGuide.pdf

Personally I'm not the least bit happy about this.. I don't want a rack full of MacPro's or a shelf full of under powered mac mini's... I utilise the LOM card.. I run 2 power supplies and want the ability to quickly and easily hot swap parts.... I know this is not the place for writing such things but I am disappointed to see the end of a great product with no true replacement available for it.

Many thanks Beatle"

--------------------------

I don't understand why you all should take away something that was working for our offices - we're not going to put ANY of our stuff on the "CLOUD", it invites trouble.

And the whole question that I wondered about (hardware) as well has been answered several ways

Earlier:

http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2010/07/21/the-technology-inside-app les-new-idatacenter/

And today:

http://apple.slashdot.org/story/11/09/04/0051209/Apples-iCloud-Runs-On-Microsoft -Azure

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/02/icloud_runs_on_microsoft_azure_and_amazo n/

Which, then answers the question below:

If Xserve is Discontinued What Server is Apple Using for North Carolina?

It seems they're using what ever Amazon AWS, Microsoft AZURE are using.

SO WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL THEN?

Can we have our Xserves back now - huh?

I DON'T WANT A PC IU MACHINE.

How about it Tim Cook? Be a Pal, be a good friend, we like our little Xserves, throw us a bone.

:-)

~hylas

A Sad day.. Xserve discontinued...