by , 2:20 PM EDT, May 21st, 2001

At today's World Wide Developers Conference Apple has released the next version of their OS X Server software. Based on OS X 10.0 and the Aqua GUI, OS X Server offers users and system administrators a full array of powerful network management and maintenance tools. Including Apache, WebObjects 5, Samba, and the QuickTime Streaming Server, OS X Server promises to provide a powerful and complete network solution. According to Apple:

Apple Introduces Mac OS X Server

Industrial-Strength Server for File, Print, Mail, Website and Streaming

WWDC 2001, SAN JOSE, California—May 21, 2001—Apple® today introduced the all new, industrial-strength, Mac® OS X Server operating system along with new Macintosh® Server G4 hardware configurations. The new Mac OS X Server is built on top of the latest Mac OS X operating system foundation and combines the power of a UNIX-based server with the ease-of-use of the Macintosh. The new Mac OS X Server integrates powerful server applications such as an Apache web server, Samba for Windows file sharing, WebObjects® 5 application server and QuickTime® Streaming Server 3, to provide advanced industry-standard services to Macintosh, Windows and UNIX clients and networks.

Mac OS X Server features protected memory, preemptive multi-tasking, symmetric multiprocessing, advanced memory management and the latest networking and security standards. To maximize server uptime, Mac OS X Server features fault tolerance systems to automatically detect and recover from failures in system services.

The high-performance Macintosh Server G4 is an industrial-strength server delivering superior performance and reliability at an affordable price. The dual processor configured Macintosh Server G4 takes full advantage of symmetric multiprocessing to automatically allocate tasks and deliver twice the productivity and efficiency. Additionally, Mac OS X Server and the Macintosh Server G4 combination deliver the benefits of Gigabit Ethernet allowing large files to speed across the network.

With Mac OS X Server, administrators have the tools to easily deploy servers that:

• share files and printers with Macintosh, Windows, UNIX and Linux clients;
  
• host Internet web sites with Apache, the world’s most popular web server;
  
• enable collaborative web publishing and remote content management with WebDAV, the new extension to the HTTP protocol;
  
• stream digital media over the Internet using the QuickTime Streaming Server;
  
• deploy scalable network applications with WebObjects 5, Apple’s powerful pure Java application server;
  
• can easily be managed with secure remote administration tools;
  
• support SMTP, IMAP and POP mail protocols and provide anti-spamming services;
  
• protect network resources and dynamically assign IP addresses using advanced networking services such as IP filtering firewall and DHCP;
  
• locate Internet resources and organize IP-based work groups using standards-based protocols DNS and Service Location Protocol (SLP);
  
• provide students and educators with a consistent, personalized and controlled experience by centralizing the method of unifying system configurations with Macintosh Manager and NetBoot; and
  
• share user and group information between servers, utilizing NetInfo and LDAP-based directory services.
  

Training & Certification
To help customers leverage the power of Mac OS X Server, Apple iServices—Apple’s training and professional services organization—will offer a comprehensive set of Mac OS X Server training courses and certification programs for system administrators and technical coordinators. More information about current and upcoming courses and certifications is available at: http://www.apple.com/iservices/technicaltraining.

Pricing & Availability
Mac OS X Server and Macintosh Server G4 can be purchased now through the online Apple Store® (www.apple.com), at Apple’s retail stores and through Apple authorized resellers in the following configurations:

• Mac OS X Server (10-Client Edition), designed for professional web masters and small work groups with simultaneous file sharing to not more than 10 Macintosh clients, for a suggested retail price of $499 (US);
  
• Mac OS X Server (Unlimited-Client Edition), uniquely suited for classroom labs, creative professionals and medium-to-large work groups with high volume file sharing activity, for a suggested retail price of $999 (US);
  
• Mac OS X Server 10-client to Unlimited-Client license upgrade for a suggested retail price of $499 (US);
  
• Macintosh Server G4, single 533 MHz with 256MB SDRAM, 1MB level 2 cache, 60GB Ultra ATA/66 hard drive, 133 MHz system bus, ATI RAGE 128 Pro with 16 MB SDRAM graphics memory, CD-ROM drive, two USB and two FireWire® ports, 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet ready and Mac OS X Server Unlimited-Client Edition for a suggested retail price of $2,999 (US);
  
• Macintosh Server G4, dual 533 MHz with 256MB SDRAM, 1MB level 2 cache per processor, 60GB Ultra ATA/66 hard drive, 133 MHz system bus, ATI RAGE 128 Pro with 16 MB SDRAM graphics memory, CD-ROM drive, two USB and two FireWire ports, four-port 10/100BASE-T Ethernet card, 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet ready and Mac OS X Server Unlimited-Client Edition for a suggested retail price of $3,999 (US).
  

System Requirements
Mac OS X Server is designed to run on Macintosh Server G4, Power Mac™ G4, Power Mac G4 Cube, iMac™, Macintosh Server G3 and Power Macintosh® G3 computers with 128MB RAM and 4GB of available disk space.

You can find more information on Mac OS X Server at the Apple Web site.

The Mac Observer Spin:

OS X Server promises to bring network management and configuration to the common person by offering an intuitive interface and robust underlying technologies. We think OS X Server is going to be a huge success.

Apple