SkipHaughay

Q: How to uninstall Lion Server?

I accidentally downloaded Lion Server on my laptop.  I need to uninstall this.  Anyone know how to uninstall?

Posted on Jul 20, 2011 11:45 AM

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Q: How to uninstall Lion Server?

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  • by Josh Biggosh,

    Josh Biggosh Josh Biggosh Aug 18, 2011 4:47 PM in response to SkipHaughay
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 18, 2011 4:47 PM in response to SkipHaughay

    Please excuse my slight derail...I know this is off-topic, and isn't the place, but It's the latest post I saw Gerrit in and wanted him to see this.  I just wanted to say thank you for your the CUPS printer solution in that thread from 8 months ago (it's been archived so I can't add to the post and I don't see an email address for you in your profile).

     

    This was a VERY frustrating issue and I tried several days worth of solutions from other places / people, and while replacing CUPS didn't seem like a good idea, it worked like a charm and for the first time in months, I'm able to print booklets for people here at work without it being a complete nightmare.  I can't thank you enough!

     

    Ok, sorry for that derail everyone, I just HAD to thank Garret!  I felt like I was unfairly stealing his awesome help otherwise!

  • by No_Spin_Zone,

    No_Spin_Zone No_Spin_Zone Aug 19, 2011 4:47 PM in response to Gerrit DeWitt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 19, 2011 4:47 PM in response to Gerrit DeWitt

    Apple really needs to be more honest regarding uninstalling software.  They tell people "just drag to the trash" when in reality there are many things that are left behind.  Apple should just admit that not all software is "just drag to the trash", then work to make uninstalling these applications easier and more complete.  Implementing proper package management, uninstall functionality, and dependency checking in the Mac OS Installer application would be a start.

  • by Josh Hurd,

    Josh Hurd Josh Hurd Aug 22, 2011 8:34 PM in response to SkipHaughay
    Level 1 (85 points)
    Aug 22, 2011 8:34 PM in response to SkipHaughay

    Skip,

     

    This doesn't even come close to uninstalling the Server components.  Check your work before you post here please.

     

    Everyone else,

     

    To list all the files that are installed when you download the Server app use the following command:

    pkgutil --files com.apple.pkg.ServerEssentials

     

    As you can see from this commnad it installs in the neighborhood of about 21600 files.  NONE of which will be uninstalled when you toss the Server app in the trash.

     

    Furthermore following Apple's KB article to disable Lion Server doesn't even come close to actually disabling all the Server compoents.  There are 47 services setup to start (depending on configuration) at system boot via LaunchDaemons.  Disabling everything in Server app then restarting DOES NOT disable all of these.

     

    It's unclear if simply deleting all these files will properly uninstall the Server components nor is it clear if doing this will leave your system in a usable state.  Suffice it to say there is no supported method for actually removing the Server componets installed by the Server app.  This is hugely annoying!  Booh Apple!

     

    I'll be doing work to see if it's possible to remove the files from this list and will report back when I have more answers.

  • by Ivan H,

    Ivan H Ivan H Aug 22, 2011 9:43 PM in response to Josh Hurd
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 22, 2011 9:43 PM in response to Josh Hurd

    Yes, it's annoying that dragging files to trash means only making Lion Server invisible.  It slows down my MacBook Pro Early 2011 a lot, even though it is not running.  Anyway, I downloaded it and reinstalled it again.  There seemed to be an update last week.  And my MBP has re-gained a little (just little) bit speed. 

  • by Josh Hurd,

    Josh Hurd Josh Hurd Aug 22, 2011 10:46 PM in response to Ivan H
    Level 1 (85 points)
    Aug 22, 2011 10:46 PM in response to Ivan H
  • by PuckDucker,

    PuckDucker PuckDucker Aug 29, 2011 10:55 AM in response to jbjoret
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 29, 2011 10:55 AM in response to jbjoret

    This does not work!

    My machine is still running:

    Mac OS X Server Lion 10.7 (11A511)

     

    There once was a post on Apple's site that specifically said that installing Server.app would not turn your workstation into a server.

    Apparently, they've realized that that post was untrue.

     

    Simply downloading and installing Server.app does indeed turn your computer into a server and there is no easy way to "undo" it.

     

    Thanks Apple.

  • by Josh Hurd,

    Josh Hurd Josh Hurd Aug 29, 2011 11:09 AM in response to PuckDucker
    Level 1 (85 points)
    Aug 29, 2011 11:09 AM in response to PuckDucker

    It's true, there is no easy way to remove the Server components.  However I have put together a script that will disable all the Server services so at least they are not using resources.

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3281743

     

    This will not remove or uninstall anything, it merely shuts down the server services.

     

    If you want your computer to report that is is using the standard desktop version of Lion you can run this script then remove the file that identifies it as a Server:

     

    /System/Library/CoreServices/ServerVersion.plist

  • by petvas,

    petvas petvas Aug 31, 2011 2:12 PM in response to Josh Hurd
    Level 2 (275 points)
    Aug 31, 2011 2:12 PM in response to Josh Hurd

    Nice job! I ran the script and deleted the plist file. My Mac Pro has now reverted to the standard Lion version. I have also removed the server.app using Appzapper.

  • by PuckDucker,

    PuckDucker PuckDucker Aug 31, 2011 2:52 PM in response to Josh Hurd
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 31, 2011 2:52 PM in response to Josh Hurd

    Thanks

     

    This worked for me too.

  • by Ivan H,

    Ivan H Ivan H Aug 31, 2011 11:04 PM in response to PuckDucker
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 31, 2011 11:04 PM in response to PuckDucker

    I paid $50 to get the Lion Server.  I believe you pay as well.  Then why do we uninstall it?  I want it work.

  • by PuckDucker,

    PuckDucker PuckDucker Sep 1, 2011 9:23 AM in response to Ivan H
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 1, 2011 9:23 AM in response to Ivan H

    Maybe you didn't understand the post.

    I have a working Lion server.

    I installed Server.app on a different Mac that I wanted to use for remote administration.

    Server.app turned that machine into a server. I did not want that.

    Thus, I needed it removed.

     

    --Pete

  • by AppaHolic,

    AppaHolic AppaHolic Sep 1, 2011 10:45 AM in response to PuckDucker
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 1, 2011 10:45 AM in response to PuckDucker

    Pete,

     

    If you just want to manage a server install the Apple Server Admin tools. They install the server app which allows you to manage any server, but does not installl the core system files that turn your Mac into a server.

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1419

  • by No_Spin_Zone,

    No_Spin_Zone No_Spin_Zone Nov 9, 2011 3:53 PM in response to AppaHolic
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 9, 2011 3:53 PM in response to AppaHolic

    Some settings can only be configured using the "Server" app:

    File Sharing

    Address Book server

    iCal server

    iChat server

    Time Machine server

    VPN server

    Web server

    Wiki server

     

    So if you want to configure these settings on a a remote server, your choices are:

    1) Learn to do all these using command line

    2) Install the "Server" app and turn your other Mac into a server

  • by eljonco,

    eljonco eljonco Nov 19, 2011 5:45 AM in response to No_Spin_Zone
    Level 1 (34 points)
    Nov 19, 2011 5:45 AM in response to No_Spin_Zone

    Neither is necessary, just don't bite when Server.app suggests you install it on the second machine.

    When launching Server app on the second computer (managing your actual server), don't install the server, but instead choose 'connect to server' from the Manage menu of the Server app when the spash screen welcomes you.

  • by mmb63,

    mmb63 mmb63 Feb 6, 2012 6:51 AM in response to SkipHaughay
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 6, 2012 6:51 AM in response to SkipHaughay

    To remove MAC OSX Lion Server completely , follow these steps one by one :

     

    1- Download "TrashMe" and use it instead of native Trash.

    2- Run TrashMe

    3- Drag the "Server" application from application folder to the TrashMe box and delete all items.

    4- Restart yor Mac

         You'll see Server app again but be patient, go to 5th step 

     

    5- Run TrashMe again

    6- Open finder, select your Hard Drive (not user's folder), goto   /Library

    7- Delete the   "Server"   folder again with TrashMe

    8- Open Finder, select your Hard Drive (not user's folder) ,goto   /System/Library/CoreServices

    9- Delete   serverversion.plist   again with TrashMe

    10- Restart yor Mac

    11- Stop the Apache server using Terminal :    sudo apachectl stop

    12- Stop the PostGRESQL database server :

         sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/org.postgresql.plist

    13- Stop the Server Performance Logging :

         sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.ServerPerfLog.plist

     

    14- Restart your Mac again and wait for your MAC OSX Lion to boot up completely

    15- Check everything to work properly and then restart your Mac again and hold "option" to go to boot menu

    16- select Recovery Disk and then use Disk Utility to verify/repair for both Permissions and Disk

     

    Now, everything have rolled back to the state before installing Lion Server App

    Enjoy your originals.

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