macOS Server software alternatives: supported in AppStore?

None of the services mentioned by Apple have been deprecated yet. Over time they will be, but nothing says those who run servers with High Sierra and macOS Server 5.4 can't continue running 5.4 when newer versions of macOS Server become available. Just don't upgrade to those server versions with deprecated Services.

I personally don't use High Sierra on my server. I'm still running Sierra with macOS Server 5.2 and will continue to regardless what Apple decides to do with the server software.

Fwiw, this will be my approach too. We are a 2-person company and can't justify the cost of Kerio or equivalents, don't want to use Google or other cloud-based services for security and privacy, and don't have the knowledge or the time to attempt Linux (or similar) based alternatives.

MacOS Server, for all its limitations, is the ideal solution for us, and we'll continue to use it for as long as we can get hardware to support Sierra.

To answer the original questions:

1) Some of the alternative software recommended by Apple requires the use of Linux. You can install it on a Mac, but not on a Mac running macOS natively. You could run one or more Virtual Machines on top of macOS containing other operating systems, however.

2) macOS Server provides features that become effective for all user accounts of a Mac, or require reconfiguration of running operating system services.

Apps with such capabilities are strictly prohibited in the Mac App Store and must not be published. This means any application capable of replacing some or all features of macOS Server can only be offered outside the App Store.

What is with OpenDirectory (OD) and hosting of userdirectories (OD master)?

We have around 1200 pupils and 200 Macs in our network in school.

Will OD be continued/supported in the future?

In my opinion a correct working DNS is recommended for running OD...???

We thought to buy some of the announced Macs in 2018 to replace our xserves. This idea dies with the announcement of discontinuing the server.app. - Is this the right way, Apple?

I already knew the Apple statement. But for me it is not really clear what will happen to OD and Filesharing and hosting user home-directories. To setup an extern DNS is not too much work. To switch to AD and setup a linux-machine is much more uncomfortable.

MrHoffman wrote:

I and others will looking at options and alternatives, and we'll all be interested to learn what (else) might be announced with the Spring update to Server.app.

This is what I'm doing too. I hope, Apple would think over their decision... ;-)

This is crazy and should be re-thought. For us, the use of profile manager has always be inferior to other products out there. But our business calendar, email and file server has always worked great... now Apple is going to take a good product and reduce it down to what what? Profile manager? Crazy - I say leave things that work alone. Just my two cents.

On this basis my next batch of macs will be PCs running Linux.

Saddened that Apple does not care about SME webpublishing and web developers.

Sad that Apple doesn't care much about SW developers period unless you are an app developer.

Apple even burns the faithful in it's traditional strong areas - graphic professionals are exiting in droves.

The writing is on the wall and it says APPLE ONLY CARES ABOUT MEDIA PROFITS and is no longer a computer company. The rot has well and truly set in and is evidenced by the last 4 OS releases - all seriously flaky and the QA is missing.

And, of course this server decision will not be revoked. They never are.

Sad. Just keep burning the faithful Apple.

I'm currently expecting to age out the existing servers, and to migrate most (all?) of those off of macOS.

Synology has various packages either integrated or available for many of the services that local macOS Server.app server boxes are providing, including directory services, DNS, SMTP mail and Apache web services. Or to Linux or BSD servers (or guests), for specific cases.

Yes, I know, this approach is not integrated with the Mac App Store... But I'm not at all certain that any app store app can even provide what server was providing folks, either. So it'd have to be a direct download from the developer, or a migration.

Synology seems the most turn-key approach available, of what I've encountered.

Peter Borbonus wrote:

What is with OpenDirectory (OD) and hosting of userdirectories (OD master)?

We have around 1200 pupils and 200 Macs in our network in school.

Will OD be continued/supported in the future?...

If you've not encountered it already, here is the Apple statement: Prepare for changes to macOS Server

What Apple might plan or intend past that statement is not known. Not to anyone that's in a position to comment further here.

It does appear that Server.app is becoming something closer to a dedicated MDM and resource server. Which will certainly be useful to some folks. Possibly to your organization and others, certainly.

What's remaining in the upcoming Server.app won't be enough for local requirements, unfortunately. The changes and the deprecations remove locally-necessary network services, meaning that either additional boxes will be needed to provide those functions in addition to macOS with Server.app, or there'll be a wholesale migration and consolidation to other hardware and software platform(s) that can provide the those services.

I and others will looking at options and alternatives, and we'll all be interested to learn what (else) might be announced with the Spring update to Server.app.