how to uninstall OS X server

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4827

You don't need to deactivate that

I followed the advice above -- deleted the app, and though it appparently didn't require it, I did a cold start reboot. My computer, foormerly called simple "DCR's iMac," is still albelled with the server's name annd cannot be changed. And I can no longer find the /Library/Server files anywhere, though I haven't deleted them mnaually. How doo I recover from my brief and unsat foray into server-ing?

Since there is no instruction by Apple itself, I struggled for a while with the same problems:

• how to get rid of the server's services
• how to restore the former machine's name

My solution was (and I hope will stay), after deactivating every single service in the overview of server.app,

• change the host name to the former name (ended by ".localhost") in the device pane - there will be some warnings, which you can override
• at last delete the server.app - you will get a notice from OS, that the corresponding services are stopped.

That's it - I hope.

And Apple would do better to provide a hint in it's knowledge base.

Regards

Hans-Olaf

Thanks! I had already deleted the Server App, but I could rename the device, at least, in System Prefs. The suffux ".local" was grayed out and didn't permit a change to ".localhost."

Do you think I should get Server installed again to make that change? When I open the renamed device, it still shows all the outboard drives as the "server" had, listing the inboard Macintosh HD as one of the drives, instead of, say, opening directly to the inboard HD.

Best/DCR

Oh, sorry!

I was wrong with the suffix .localhost - .local is ok.

On my machine, server is buried now and seems to be quiet. As soon as I get a distinct computer for this purpuse, I will exhume and reanimate it. My idea to run it on my working machine was not the best . . .

Best regards

Hans-Olaf

What I did to uninstall server was to go to launchpad, then drag the server app down to the trash icon of your dock. It will then ask you to confirm whether you want to delee server. Click yes and server will be gone for good.

Your instructions and link are for a different (VERY different) version of OSX Server. These instructions are invalid and can't be allplied to Mountain Lion which the OP stated was his OS.

Hi lamawesome997 -

Unfortunately, this isn't true. The Server application is removed, but the data files are all preseved in /Library/Server/. There should be some prompt to completely remove data files, but there isn't. So if you wanted to reinstall, the old settings would be preserved (not sure if that is true for all cases, but for me it was with Web and Mail).

If you are not going to use server, it doesn't matter other than taking up disk space. If you want to start all over from scratch, it *does* matter as the data persists. I've been looking for some authoritative instructions on how to do this, but alas, I've found none. Apple's "Mountain Lion Server Advanced Administration" publication is embarrasing lacking in any information. It's not even Basic Administration much less Advanced.

I'm just going to go in and manually delete the services files under /l/server and see what happens. I'll delete them and immediately re-install server and report back.

I've looked into it and found many ways to uninstall OS X server.

One is to download a dedicated uninstaller like AppZapper.

I personally use AppZapper to uninstall lots of apps and it always finds all of the programs related files.

Another option is to use MacKeeper.

I also use MacKeeper, and it is a great app.

I used its uninstaller feature in it to successfully uninstall server.

I know because no matter what I type into spotlight, nothing regarding server pops up.

There's also a shredder option in MacKeeper that will find any files related to whatever it is you want to delete.

Hope this helps.

Note: I know many people recommend against using MacKeeper, but I can assure you that it is completely safe.

I use it all the time, and not only is it NOT a virus, it actually sped up my Mac by clearing old cache and logs files.

I can assure you that I am in no way affiliated with MacKeeper or its creators; ZeoBit.

Well, none of this worked for me. The Apple instructions are wrong or confused. After thrashing the Server.App, I had to manually destroy the ldap service. Andstill, it is not enough / there are digest-services which I am so far unable to get rid off.

It seems, that the only way would be to format the startup disk, install a fresh copy of ML and then pull in my stuff from backup. Since I have hndreds of free and purchased apps this will be a long run.

I can assure you that I am in no way affiliated with MacKeeper or its creators; ZeoBit.

As reassuring as that is, no credible source that is not a shill would recommend MacKeeper.

I can assure YOU, it is useless crapware at best, and not always safe.

Note: I know many people recommend against using MacKeeper

And those many people have real world experiences dealing with said software, so your "unbiased" promotion of it carries no weight.

Yes, I agree with you on the crapware.

It is equally crap that a ML OS/X Server cannot be unistalled. It is, after all, not some third party piece of junk / it is an OS level software.

I purchased Hazel and it works just fine. It actually caught an app I install *before* I installed Hazel. It's worth it just for the file rules and managfment /admin capabilities.

I'd buy it, install it, *re-install server* and then un-install server and see what hazel does. I've not tried unistalling it, but I'm happy to set up a vm and try it first - but I don't know when I'll get to that. A few days I would think.

Hazel is probably worth the money, though.

t