Q: conundrum - upgrade client to server
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Feb 15, 2014 5:33 AMby Antonio Rocco,IIRC you could install 10.6 server over the top of the client OS without losing anything or changing the OS version it's currently on. You don't need to re-boot from the DVD as it should allow you to do an in-place installation. It may reboot normally once installed? Run Software Update immediately afterwards.
If my memory is not what it used to be or the above does not work why not try virtualizion? Virtual Box (free), Parallels or VMFusionWare all work well in my experience. Makes sense especially if you don't want to lose the client settings you currently have?
Beyond that you could attach an externally connected drive to hardware that does support booting from the server installer disk. You may have to purchase additional hardware? MacTracker is a useful resource for determining the hardware that would support booting from that version of the Server. For MacMinis anything from mid-2010 to early-2006 models would do.
Not sure if any of the above is clever enough for you though?
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Feb 15, 2014 5:50 AMby Grant Lenahan,I'm not following. The problem is that the installer refuses to install the older (from DVD) system over the newer (updated 10.6.8) system. Its not an issue with what i boot from. It simply refuses to perform the installation.
I have lots of bootable external disks - but that's nto the issue. It is booted from the DVD and says "you cant upgrade this version of OSX because a newer version (10.6.8) is installed"
Am i missing your suggestion?
Grant
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Feb 15, 2014 6:09 AMby Antonio Rocco,HelpfulMaybe?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3479
I remember using this on a MacPro where the minimum OS was 10.6.4 and the Server Installer was 10.6.3. It worked for me then. I offered it as a long-shot suggestion. Maybe the hardware you're using is simply too new?
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Feb 15, 2014 6:15 AMby Grant Lenahan,Thank you, i'll give it a try. I was planing to look for some kind of record of install, btu it seemed like a needle in the haystack. I just dont knwo whay Apple makes these arbitrary decisions - a warning is one thing, but refusal to install? Ho would one repair corruption etc. Sheesh.
Grant
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Feb 15, 2014 10:17 AMby MrHoffman,Are you starting from OS X already booted, or are you trying to boot from and install from the DVD?
The latter won't work — you cannot boot the DVD in this case, you must insert the server DVD and start the install with OS X (client) already booted and running.
This all assuming this is a retail (black) DVD and not a (grey) DVD for some specificsort of Mac.
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Feb 15, 2014 6:21 PMby Grant Lenahan,I'm a bti confused by your comment.
I have a machine working on 10.6.8 client.
I inserted the DVD (full reatial, picture of cat, unlimited client, Server license). Opened DVD and clicked install.
Program had me reboto so i was booted from DVD (duh, can t install from disk you are about to install to), and it found a later/newer version of 10.6.8, but client. Error messgae ( read, above quoted, it will not install an older version over a new version - but i WANT IT TO. I want the server, then i'll install the patches.
effing dumb, but i'm in a catch-22.
Not sure what alternative you re suggesting, please come back if i missed something.
The problem seems pretty straightforward and well clarified by the error message. Clear, yet wrong.
Grant
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Feb 16, 2014 7:15 AMby MrHoffman,The path I've used: boot OS X client, insert the retail, black OS X Server 10.6 DVD disk, poke whichever button the installer offers, then boot whichever disk it tells me to reboot from — either from the DVD disk, or from the existing and now "tweaked" boot disk — and then allow the installer to continue with the installation.
Given your description of the versions involved, I'd expect the installer to tell me to boot from the (tweaked) boot disk and not from the DVD disk.
Microsoft calls this scheme sideloading, but I don't immediately recall what Apple called this 10.6 sequence.
FWIW, some related documentation: Archived - Mac OS X Server 10.6: Installing Mac OS X Server on a Mac OS X computer and the rest of the Snow Leopard Server manuals
If that's not it, what particular Mac is involved here? Which version of OS X Server 10.6? (If it helps, here is a list of minimum versions of Intel Mac systems.
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Feb 16, 2014 7:30 AMby Grant Lenahan,This has nothing to do with booting. It simply will nto overwrite newer files with older files, regardless of what i am booted from.
OIncidentally, not sure what you mena by "black" DVDs. They have the picture of a Snow Leopard on a white background. Unlimited clients, 10.6.3.
Grant
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Feb 16, 2014 7:51 AMby Grant Lenahan,Thanks for the documents, but i do have all those.
Just for fun i tried booting from yet a 3rd source - by external clone.
It makes no difference: int he install sequence step #1 is to restart so it boots from the DVD. So no matter what you are booted from, it immediately reboots to DVD.
G
