TITLE
    Mac OS X Server: Installation on ATA/IDE Slave Drives
Article ID:
Created:
Modified: 		60412
7/2/99
7/11/00
TOPIC

    Mac OS X Server cannot be run from, nor installed upon, any ATA/IDE Slave device. Attempts to install Mac OS X Server on, or run it from, a slave ATA/IDE device will fail, or return error messages.

    1. When I open the Mac OS X Server installer and select my hard disk target partition for installation, it looks like everything works, but when it finishes, I get an error message that reads something like:

      Mac OS X Server Installer had problems setting startup to the Mac OS X Server CD

      [Sorry] button (no cancel or OK)
    If I click Sorry, I get a new dialog with a restart button, but the computer starts up back to Mac OS. What could be wrong?

    2. After running the Mac OS X Server installer, the system failed to restart from the Mac OS X Server UFS partition of the installation disc. It came up in Mac OS instead. When I open the System Disk control panel (an application provided on the Mac OS X Server installation disc), I don't see the disc among the choices of partitions. I see only "Power User - NVRAM" and the other Mac OS and Mac OS Extended format partitions on my hard drive(s). The disc is available, and the Mac OS partition on it shows up on the desktop. What could be wrong?

DISCUSSION

    ATA/IDE drives must be configured (usually with a jumper) as IDE Master devices to start up with Mac OS X Server. Thus, the target partition for an installation must be on an IDE Master device, and so must the Mac OS X Server partition of the Installer disc, so that the installer can properly configure Open Firmware to recognize that partition as the startup partition.

    The System Disk control panel prevents installation on slave devices by displaying only partitions that reside on ATA/IDE Master drives (or any SCSI volume).

    The error message about being unable to configure the Mac OS X Server partition of your disc as the startup device that you received is one of the few hints as to the nature of the difficulty. Because Mac OS X Server cannot start up from an ATA/IDE Slave device, the error is encountered as the installer attempts to save an incompatible configuration.

    Typically, only users who have added slave devices, or otherwise altered their IDE configuration will encounter this sort of difficulty.

    Standard factory and almost all build-to-order configurations of Power Macintosh G3 (both Blue and White and Platinum) computers will accept installation without complaint. Platinum Power Macintosh G3 computers came in several configurations: all SCSI, SCSI drive and IDE CD, and both IDE. The Blue and White G3 computers have IDE CD and hard disk drives, both masters, but on separate IDE channels, server configurations and some BTO workstation systems may have factory-equipped SCSI cards and SCSI hard disks.

    Notes:
      1. Only Apple factory-shipped SCSI cards are compatible with Mac OS X Server at this time. Additional SCSI support for versions of SCSI cards other than those shipped in preconfigured systems by Apple will not accept installation of Mac OS X Server, and will not be available from within the Mac OS X Server environment, until the manufacturers of those cards release Mac OS X Server-compatible drivers. The Apple OEM versions of these SCSI cards are NOT identical to those offered by the original manufacturers, and Apple's drivers are not interoperable with non-Apple versions of these cards.
      2. Once the Installer has been run on the target partition, the target partition will no longer appear in the System Disk control panel application window, as it has been made an intermediate volume type. Completing the installation successfully will change it to a UFS partition, at which point it again becomes available from within the System Disk control panel application.

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

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