Q: A Sad day.. Xserve discontinued...

We are running 6 VMware ESXi servers and one XServe (with 10.5.8 currently).

Some weeks ago I just thought made a fundamental decision:
1. Will I invest in a Server on Mac OS X base again (buy OS update, buy new hard disks...)
without all the benefits of virtualization
or
2. Will I do a transition of the services the XServe hosts to Linux (including virtualization of course)

Because of the very much developed hard- and software package of the XServe and this very smooth administration features I decided to stay with the Mac in our Server rack. I just started the transition to Snow Leopard and now I receive this message from Steve! This is very sad!

At least the possibilty to still use Mac OS X Server on an ESXi would be the only way for us to keep up with Apple in the rack...

Nicely written Dave, let's hope apple isn't too busy selling itoys to listen.

Excellent letter there, Dave. My God, I hope they license OSX Server for use in virtualised environments.

I apologise if I've upset you in what is an upsetting enough time. My post was influenced by the bitter feeling that I have in this matter. I have a budget meeting tomorrow and I'm going to have to explain this disaster to senior management, again, while trying to find a way to keep our services running and scalable for the future.

“We make sporting goods, but now we are going to drop the ball.” Apple may think they are simply cutting a product line, but instead they are saying to the CIO, "We only do Lady Gaga now."

I predict that Xserve will be contracted out, just as XRaid was to Promise. Be patient beatle20359. The Mac Pro can hold 12 terabytes internally with 3 TB drives plus two spare sata connections at least on the 2008 MA Pro. Xserve can only hold 9 terabyte.

What good is more storage when the host doesn't have high availability?

Agreed, I've heard whispers that Apple and HP will announce certified OS X Server configurations by end of January.

andrewag wrote:
What good is more storage when the host doesn't have high availability?

Agreed, I've heard whispers that Apple and HP will announce certified OS X Server configurations by end of January.

I have difficulties believing this because of the way Apple didn't have this alternative ready before announcing the death of the Xserve. By the end of January, many customers will have already started plans to migrate.

It would be wonderful if it were true, though.

UN-BE-LIEV-A-BLE! What an absolutely thoughtless decision by what I thought was a smart, intelligent and caring company. There are businesses built on this platform, businesses that got you to where you are today. Colleges, Universities, Small Businesses that have invested tens of thousands of dollars into Apple hardware and software. Now you pull the enterprise plug with 60 days notice and NO alternative for your customers. Shame on you Steve! This is not acceptable.

At this point, I am VERY ANGRY with Apple for this seemingly 0-brain-cell decision.

We use TONS of Xserves for what we do. In fact, I am responsible for network structure at a number of different companies.

Mac Pro blows for use in any REAL server environment. We're talking 8 towers or 84 Xserves in the same space. HELLO! STEVE! ARE YOU LISTENING?

Mac Mini is incapable of many things that ANY STANDARD SERVER can do.

I need FAST internal drives. Laptop 2.5" drives don't cut it.
I need multiple network interfaces. Mac Mini doesn't cut it.
I need high density. Your obese Mac Pro doesn't cut it.
I need Fiber, SCSI, hardware RAID, etc. Mac Mini fails to offer ANY expansion slots.
I need redundant power. Everything but the Xserve doesn't cut it.
I need hot-swap drives. Everything but the Xserve doesn't cut it.
I need Lights Out Management. (Are you seeing the trend yet?)

In many of our environments, we rely on a Mac OS X server for a reason.

I have 2 locations where the inability to have a Mac OS X server means thousands of not-Mac-anymore workstations.

Xserver is gone? What next? OS X Server too?

The only way I see out of this is:
- Retract the termination of Xserver
- Open OS X Server to generic PC installation.
- Contract with an outside company (private contract or clone) to make server hardware
- Release a new line thats not going to be called Xserve and for whatever reason, you failed to mention while burying the existing line.

Steve, you're being fickle again or you're showing illness and need to be removed from Apple. Pick one and fix the problem.

The difference is Promise always made the guts of the XRaid, just with a pretty apple enclosure. They also didn't axe it without letting customer know there was a viable alternative. (The promise branded arrays are actually way better) If I had an alternative this is a non issue.

I would like to hedge my bets and anticipate the announcement a new server series that incorporates multiple i7 processors, possibly a blade style server. Why not announce it and avoid all this drama, they over-committed on the existing Xserve build and are looking to thin it out before the announcement. Apple is like any other business, they are looking to clear their inventory of an existing line before cannibalizing their end of year sales numbers with a new server series announcement. Unfortunately this creates a huge problem with Apple IT managers who have to submit their budgets before the end of the year. At present their only option is to quote a system that has been deemed 'end-of-life' by the manufacturer or move to another platform and abandon the Apple enterprise solution for the duration of usable life of the replacement.

If that is the scenario then here is a suggestion; announce the new product (it worked phenomenally for the iPhone), slash the prices on the existing Xserve inventory and rebuild the trust that has been damaged by this decision. I would much rather start the new year with a sense of excitement instead of dread.

I don't think that scenario covers it. They wait for stock to dwindle, then announce it in Jan. No need to announce now. Announcing w/o a replacement just doesn't make sense unless it's a permanent abandonment of the market.

I think if you take how this was done, plus Steve's own attitude towards enterprise (see link), you end up with no other conclusion than they just don't want to bother with the back end anymore. To Apple, OS X Server is about workgroups/intranets that can live off of one or a few Mac Pros happy to sit in some guy's office who's reponsible for running them. That's where I started, and apparently that's how most OS X Server installs get used. If you need more than that, or insist on having systems in a data center, then I'm sure Steve's answer is, "you should probably use Linux or Solaris."

This is why XServe was dumped: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1srU6Z77jfc

I just finished reading all of your responses to this topic. As an 10.6 ACSA certified consultant working with business and education clients the implications are huge. What really troubles me is the questionable future for other great products like OS X Server, Xsan and Final Cut Server. I think it is reprehensible that they have announced the decision to discontinue the Xserve without any explicit statement regarding these other interrelated products.

As a business owner myself who has invested significantly in supporting these technologies and on behalf of my clients who have as well it is a real slap in the face for Apple to discontinue the Xserve without any word on the road map for these other Apple Pro IT products.

... it is a real slap in the face ...

It's more than a slap in the face -- it's a direct kick to the avocados.