How to install 10.6 Server, over 10.6.7

Question

Level 1

5 points

How to install 10.6 Server, over 10.6.7

My main Mac is running 10.6.7. I want to upgrade it to a 10.6 Server (followed by upgrading it to 10.6.7 using Software Update).

However, when I try to install the Server system, it says it can't install over the newer version. How do I do this, as I want to maintain all the user accounts, preferences and other settings and files on my existing system?

When installing Server, there's no "archive and install" feature, so I can't do it that way. I tried installing on an external drive and using data migration - that didn't work at all.

I do use Time Machine to back-up data, so I wondered if there was a way to install the Server system, and then use the restore facility to restore my accounts etc.

Any ideas anyone?

Thanks in advance.

Paul C.

iMac 24, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on May 28, 2011 6:00 AM

Reply

Answer 1

MrHoffman

Level 10

146,575 points

May 28, 2011 7:07 AM in response to unicorn27

How are you attempting the installation? Booting from the Mac OS X Server DVD?

If you want to try the upgrade, get a full disk backup first, then boot the 10.6.7 client volume, then load the DVD in the drive, and then run the installer.

For the backup, I'd not use Time Machine here, but rather a full-disk copy using Disk Utility via the Utilities menu from the distribution DVD, out to an external disk.

And FWIW, it's usually better to start with a fresh install on a new disk, rather than trying to pick and choose and migrate forward, with the existing bits and configurations already on the disk. Haul in what you need from the old disk.

Reply

Answer 2

unicorn27 Author

Level 1

5 points

May 28, 2011 7:25 AM in response to MrHoffman

Thanks for your reply.

I've pretty much done what you said - I've (also) backed up to an external Firewire drive using SuperDuper, giving me a bootable copy of my hard drive.

I could do a clean install and bring everything across, but there is such a vast amount of stuff to move across - I've done it before and it's such a time consuming nuisance. If there's any way I could avoid having to do that, I'll try it.

The only thing is that yes, I've booting from the Server install DVD, but there's no option around that, that I can see. Running from the Mac's hard drive, as soon as I run the installer, it reboots the Mac and boots from the DVD.

Reply

Answer 3

MrHoffman

Level 10

146,575 points

May 28, 2011 3:33 PM in response to unicorn27

The only thing is that yes, I've booting from the Server install DVD, but there's no option around that, that I can see. Running from the Mac's hard drive, as soon as I run the installer, it reboots the Mac and boots from the DVD.

If you want to try the upgrade path:

Get a full disk backup of your existing client volume. This is your boot disk on your existing Mac.
boot your existing 10.6.7 client volume. This is your boot disk on your Mac. Not any DVD.
load the Mac OS X Server DVD into the drive
invoke the Mac OS X Server installer.

Reply

Answer 4

unicorn27 Author

Level 1

5 points

May 28, 2011 4:12 PM in response to MrHoffman

If you want to try the upgrade path:

1. Get a full disk backup of your existing client volume. This is your boot disk on your existing Mac.

"I've (also) backed up to an external Firewire drive using SuperDuper, giving me a bootable copy of my hard drive."

So - done.

2. boot your existing 10.6.7 client volume. This is your boot disk on your Mac. Not any DVD.

"Running from the Mac's hard drive..."

Done.

3. load the Mac OS X Server DVD into the drive

4. invoke the Mac OS X Server installer.

"...as soon as I run the installer, it reboots the Mac and boots from the DVD"

Done, and we're back to square one.

So how do I "invoke" the installer, so that it doesn't automatically reboot the mac?

Reply

Answer 5

May 29, 2011 12:27 AM in response to unicorn27

Started from server boot disc with OS X server DVD disc mounted

From Finder try : command + shift + G (go to folder)

Paste this:

/Volumes/Mac OS X Server Install Disc/System/Installation/Packages/

In the resulting folder find and doubleclick : MacOSXServerInstall.mpkg

Should work, but I haven't tried it with SnowLeopard.

Reply

Answer 6

unicorn27 Author

Level 1

5 points

May 29, 2011 8:16 AM in response to Leif Carlsson

Thanks, that worked perfectly!

Reply