I've got Snow Leopard Server, but don't need the server functions. What to do?

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I've got Snow Leopard Server, but don't need the server functions. What to do?

This is somewhat complicated, so please bear with me. My Mac Pro was running OS X 10.5 and required updating. But we have legacy Power PC apps (mainly FreeHand) that we want to continue using, even though Mountain Lion doesn't support them.

As a solution, I'm going to run Snow Leopard Server in emulation on Parallels 8 Desktop. I would rather have used plain old Snow Leopard instead of the server version, but Apple's EULA only allows 10.6 Server to run in emulation.

So, I got Snow Leopard Server and have used it to upgrade 10.5. Eventually, (once I get everything working properly), I'll upgrade that to Mountain Lion and use SL Server in Parallels emulation to run the old Mac apps we can't do without.

But I've run into a problem I didn't anticipate: I don't have a clue about running a server.

I'm having trouble setting it up so the other Mac user in my department can access a shared folder. Also, I want the login window to display the list of users, but that option is grayed out.

What I'd like to do is strip out all the server functions and just run as if 10.6.8 was a standard version of Snow Leopard, which I'm familiar with. If that's not practical, please explain how to get sharing to work since that's the main problem.

I've tried turning off the services listed in the Server Preferences (iCal, Mail, etc.) but that hasn't fixed the problems. I think there may be server functions running that I haven't found preventing me from fixing the problems. Or it could be something else entirely (as I said, no clue).

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8), 2.17 TB storage, 64GB 4G iPod touch

Posted on May 13, 2013 12:09 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

MrHoffman

Community+ 2024

Level 10

116,565 points

May 13, 2013 12:58 PM in response to TopTechWriter.US

With 10.6, there's no downgrade to client, and no way to strip out the server pieces.

Servers don't like DHCP-assigned dynamic IP addresses, so I wouldn't recommend using that.

Set up DNS server for your LAN, if you don't already have DNS services on your LAN. (Referencing your ISP DNS servers doesn't provide DNS services for your LAN.) This requires using Server Admin.app tool, from Applications > Server. Here's a long write up on OS X Server DNS services. If you do have LAN-based DNS servers, then you can ignore this.

Then launch and use Server Admin.app to establish the file shares.

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Answer 2

MlchaelLAX

Level 4

2,286 points

May 13, 2013 2:06 PM in response to TopTechWriter.US

DON'T MAKE A MOUNTAIN (lion?) OUT OF A MOLEHILL!

Several points in response to your post, in chronological order, not necessarily in order of importance:

• It was a common Urban Myth that Snow Leopard (client's) EULA prohibited its virtualization in Lion or Mt. Lion on a Mac! That myth has been largely debunked in the last 18 months.

Here are detailed instructions on how to install Snow Leopard client into Parallels 7 or 8:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1365439

That being said, and being the author of the aforementioned thread, I STRONGLY recommend that, where possible, you use Snow Leopard Server in favor of Snow Leopard client. This will side step some later corruption problems that can arise from the improper use and shutting down of this Parallels partition.

Historically, this thread was written when Apple sold Snow Leopard Server for $499+ or ceased sales altogether. Now, Apple has rendered the (now diminishing) debate over the EULA moot, by its recent release of Snow Leopard Server to the US & Canadian community for $20; leaving those who cannot purchase SLS (or get someone to purchase it for them) to continue to follow the instructions in my thread (or asking me to purchase SLS for them and forward it to them; my preferred course of action!).

• I ALWAYS recommend that data files be stored on the real Mac's HDs and NOT in a virtualized world. This is easy to accomplish and establishes a backup regimine (Time Machine, etc.) that will protect the users data. Lost applications are easily restored from their installer discs.

• In practice I find that using SLS in Parallels 8 is the same as using SL client in Parallels. I have even removed the Server apps from the Dock so as to not be confused by them.

So, your solution is to establish a "shared folder" on the hard drive of the Mac that is hosting Parallels. When in SLS in Parallels you will have access to your shared folder, ironically through Parallels' "Shared Folders" feature that is now present in Mac OS Guest installs on version 8 (see the "Shared Folders" SERVER on the right side of the screenshot, below).

When using Freehand MX or other PowerPC apps, save your data files into your shared folder through access to it by Parallels' Shared Folders. Other users on your network will have access to the SAME data files, through their customary use of file sharing to access your shared folder from your Mac's hard drive.

IGNORE the Server applications in the Applications folder...

Freehand MX running in Snow Leopard Server installed into Parallels 8 for use in Lion or Mt. Lion:

[click on image to enlarge]

Postscript: your post was so easy to follow! 😁

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Answer 3

May 13, 2013 2:38 PM in response to MrHoffman

Thanks for the assist, MrHoffman!

When you say you wouldn't recommend using DHCP-assigned dynamic IP addresses, is it because I'll have big trouble down the line if I do? I ask because I've been using SL Server for a week with DHCP and haven't experienced web access problems.

The advice about using Server Admin did the trick for giving our other Mac user access to a shared folder. One question though, under Access > Services I selected "For all services" and "Allow all users and groups". Given the minimalist requirements I have (i.e., only two Mac users and no need for server functions), are those settings too broad from a security viewpoint?

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Answer 4

May 13, 2013 2:48 PM in response to MlchaelLAX

MichaelLAX!

Hey, this is great, because it's an opportunity to thank you for the stellar work you did in documenting using Snow Leopard in emulation. That's the thread where I read that SL Server was available for 20 bucks.

Actually, I know that the Apple EULA doesn't specifically forbid installing other Mac OS hosts, but from reading that thread, I thought that Parallels wouldn't install regular Snow Leopard unless you were willing to fiddle around with Terminal and such. Since Snow Leopard Server was the same price as the regular version of SL, I figured there wouldn't be a downside in loading it.

I've been using it with FreeHand and CS3 for a week and the emulation is fast and about as reliable as when it was running on OS X 10.5 (not in emulation). Printing works well, so I'm well pleased.

But my orginal post was regarding getting Snow Leopard Server to work outside of Parallels. I'm running it as my main OS until I upgrade to Mountain Lion and am running into problems caused by my ignorance of server software. Anyway, MrHoffman provided the clues I needed so I'm back in business.

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Answer 5

May 13, 2013 5:59 PM in response to TopTechWriter.US

Servers serve clients, and servers generally don't work all that well with dynamic IP addresses. The clients can't find the servers, and the servers themselves tend to get confused.

If you only have two users present on the OS X Server box, then setting the services to allow all users isn't very expansive.

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Answer 6

MlchaelLAX

Level 4

2,286 points

May 13, 2013 10:10 PM in response to TopTechWriter.US

TopTechWriter.US wrote:

...But my orginal post was regarding getting Snow Leopard Server to work outside of Parallels. I'm running it as my main OS until I upgrade to Mountain Lion and am running into problems caused by my ignorance of server software. Anyway, MrHoffman provided the clues I needed so I'm back in business.

I get it now!

Since you were so worried about the Snow Leopard's use in virtualization vis-a-vis its EULA, don't forget to purchae a SECOND copy of Snow Leopard Server when the time comes to run it in Parallels 8! 🙂

TopTechWriter.US wrote:

I've been using it with FreeHand and CS3 for a week and the emulation is fast and about as reliable as when it was running on OS X 10.5 (not in emulation). Printing works well, so I'm well pleased.

You WERE running Freehand in emulation in 10.5. Leopard is pure Intel with an automatic installation of Rosetta to run your PPC apps: see how wonderfully transparent Rosetta is!!!

TopTechWriter.US wrote:

MichaelLAX!

Actually, I know that the Apple EULA doesn't specifically forbid installing other Mac OS hosts, but from reading that thread, I thought that Parallels wouldn't install regular Snow Leopard unless you were willing to fiddle around with Terminal and such. Since Snow Leopard Server was the same price as the regular version of SL, I figured there wouldn't be a downside in loading it.

Parallels lacks certain "social skills" in the regard of "speaking" Snow Leopard client, but it is not polite to discuss their deficiencies in public... 😉

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