TITLE
    Mac OS X Server: General FAQ
Article ID:
Created:
Modified: 		60165
3/18/99
10/31/00
TOPIC
DISCUSSION

    Q. What is Mac OS X Server?

    A. Mac OS X Server is the first in a line of new server software products that demonstrate Apple's commitment to providing servers that meet the needs of its customers. The first release of Mac OS X Server will be available in both software and hardware configurations. It is the first product built on the core technology of Mac OS X, the desktop operating system scheduled for later in 1999. It includes innovative services such as the Apache Web server, WebObjects application server, NetBoot workgroup management technology, and Apple file services.

    Q. When will Mac OS X Server be available?

    A. Mac OS X Server is now available in English in the U.S. and Canada. It is scheduled to be available worldwide in April in English, Japanese, French, and German.

    Q. Who is the target customer for Mac OS X Server?

    A. Mac OS X Server is designed for use by experienced system and network administrators, who typically have had previous experience with configuring and managing at least two of the following:
    • AppleShare IP and At Ease for Workgroups
    • complicated networks, including routing between subnets
    • other UNIX servers, such as Solaris and Linux

    Q. Is Mac OS X Server the same as Mac OS X?

    A. No. The client (end-user) version of the Mac OS X operating system is scheduled to be available at the end of the year. While Mac OS X will include an upgraded version of the Mac OS X Server foundation, the user experience will be optimized for a desktop operating system and will be more familiar to today's Mac OS users. Unlike Mac OS X, Mac OS X Server does not include Carbon, the technology for porting today's Macintosh applications to the new foundation.

    Q. How does Mac OS X Server differ from AppleShare IP?

    A. The two servers offer different types of services. AppleShare IP is a general-purpose server that includes a fully integrated set of services based on the familiar Mac OS 8.5 operating system, delivering high performance and exceptional ease of use. Some key services are unique to AppleShare IP, such as mail servers, SMB support, and firewalls.

    Mac OS X Server provides innovative services such as an Apache Web server, WebObjects network application services, and the revolutionary new NetBoot server software for easily managing numerous Mac systems. Mac OS X Server provides these services through a powerful core operating system, which features advanced capabilities such as preemptive multitasking and protected memory for incredible stability and scalability.

    Q. How does Mac OS X Server provide greater scalability than AppleShare IP?

    A. Mac OS X Server is scalable in three key ways:
    • The core system supports over 1,000 simultaneous user connections.
    • The multithreaded file system can handle over 4,000 open files per process.
    • Advanced networking provides support for multiple 100-megabit-per-second network interface cards, allowing simultaneous full-bandwidth file transfers across multiple subnets.

    Q. Will there be future releases of Mac OS X Server?

    A. Yes. Mac OS X Server lays the foundation for Apple's future server software. Over time, it will incorporate features currently available only in AppleShare IP. Mac OS X Server will evolve into a bundle of services built on top of Mac OS X, similar to the way AppleShare IP currently builds services on top of Mac OS 8.

    Q. Will there be future releases of AppleShare IP?

    A. Yes, but Apple is not announcing specific plans at this time. Over time, Mac OS X Server will incorporate identical or equivalent functionality to AppleShare IP, and will become Apple's sole server operating system product.

    Q. Is Mac OS X Server the same as Rhapsody?

    A. No. Mac OS X Server leverages a number of the technologies formerly called Rhapsody. In addition, it includes some innovative services that were not part of the original Rhapsody project.

Document Information
Product Area: Mac OS System Software
Category: Mac OS X Server
Sub Category: General Topics

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