OS X Lion Server - What types of businesses use it (and Mac in general)

[Bending Pixels]

This is more of a general question, and partially relates to some potential career path goals.

What types of businesses are adopting OS X Server (and Mac in general). A related question would be what types of businesses are purposely making the switch away from that "other" (inferior ) OS to Mac? I'm currently working on the ACSP 10.7 certifciation (mostly for my own personal knowledge), and am considering purchasing Lion Server and perhaps taking the ACTC 10.7 certfiication. Just wondering what the overall demand is for people knowledgable in both OS X client and server admin and troubleshooting.

Thanks for your help and input.

[assembled]

Not many are, I see more moving away from Apple Servers.

I tend to only see companies that are at least 100 seats, so my sample may be distorted.

[Mattie Num Nums]

Originally Posted by Bending Pixels

This is more of a general question, and partially relates to some potential career path goals.

What types of businesses are adopting OS X Server (and Mac in general). A related question would be what types of businesses are purposely making the switch away from that "other" (inferior ) OS to Mac? I'm currently working on the ACSP 10.7 certifciation (mostly for my own personal knowledge), and am considering purchasing Lion Server and perhaps taking the ACTC 10.7 certfiication. Just wondering what the overall demand is for people knowledgable in both OS X client and server admin and troubleshooting.

Thanks for your help and input.

Mostly media and entertainment. A lot of places are looking for alternatives though since the Server line was killed and Lion Server is very wattered down. With that said, a lot of media companies still use Mac Pros for things like XSAN and in my case we use JAMF Caser and host AFP services via Mac Pro's + SSD's.

[JesseDegenerate]

my os x server runs the following services for me: (not all require server, most don't, but it's easy admin tools your paying for)

Email
Address book
Calendar
VPN
AFP / SMB File shares
Profile Manager
SiriProxy
Plex
TeamSpeak
iCam

there is nothing "watered down" from 10.6 samba is different, but feels basically the same. (or it's replacement does). It only add's services (such as profile server)

[Mr-Stabby]

Our Creative Arts department (Technical Media courses and general arts) with 250 users are on Snow Leopard Server running Open Directory exclusively. I'm currently looking at Lion Server.

Although when you first look at it, it appears very watered down, i see why Apple have done what they've done, and everything that you need is there if you know where to look. When i first saw 'Lion Server' i was annoyed at little things like proper permission settings for AFP weren't there, but they are there, just in a different place.

I'm not kidding myself though, there is a lot of work to do on the server. I'm hoping that Apple continue to develop it and that the really cheap pricetag is not just to get whatever money they can out of it before they drop it.

[Abacab]

My last two work places were 100 % Mac. From Servers to the Phones.
Apple really has abandoned enterprise which to me is suprising in the fact that you save money on licencing and virus malware software. You need less people to support. And honestly after testing Lion Server is not something I would run.
The trend is most executives have Macbook pro's or Airs, along with I=Pads and phones and incorporating those into a Windows or Linux server environment.
The Mini or Mac Pro running server software is great for a small business that needs the power of a server, but doesn't have the space or resouces to support a Winblows envirnment.
I was lucky enough to work at all Mac offices, but the writing is on the wall and a MSCS cert is in the works.
Anybody else have some stories they would like to share?

[JesseDegenerate]

Originally Posted by Abacab

The Mini or Mac Pro running server software is great for a small business that needs the power of a server, but doesn't have the space or resouces to support a Winblows envirnment.
I was lucky enough to work at all Mac offices, but the writing is on the wall and a MSCS cert is in the works.
Anybody else have some stories they would like to share?

this is entirely untrue, and i've been in this situation. What makes you comment when you don't know?

windows is much much easier when you get to multiple sites, when you need multiple servers with load balancing etc, but OS X server is amazing for small business.

[DustinT]

Originally Posted by Abacab

My last two work places were 100 % Mac. From Servers to the Phones.
Apple really has abandoned enterprise which to me is suprising in the fact that you save money on licencing and virus malware software. You need less people to support. And honestly after testing Lion Server is not something I would run.
The trend is most executives have Macbook pro's or Airs, along with I=Pads and phones and incorporating those into a Windows or Linux server environment.
The Mini or Mac Pro running server software is great for a small business that needs the power of a server, but doesn't have the space or resouces to support a Winblows envirnment.
I was lucky enough to work at all Mac offices, but the writing is on the wall and a MSCS cert is in the works.
Anybody else have some stories they would like to share?

Yup, that what I'm seeing too.

[hakuryuu]

We have an increasing number of Macs at my office (we are mostly Windows and good bit of Linux) but despite my time spent working on it I cannot currently justify Lion Server (Snow Leopard Server was great!) in any production role. We have a few Xserves and I was given one for testing Lion and so far the one item we really wanted to work well was Profile Manager and it has crashed and burned pretty hard so far. Apple has at least offered to help me work through my issues but I haven't heard anything back since I sent them some logs about a month ago.

Lets just say that when I heard they were officially killing the Xserve I cried a little inside and stopped studying Apple certs after I got my ACTC. I've switched gears a bit and have been focusing on Infosec and Linux administration (i'll do just about anything to spend only as much time as is required in Windows, im just tired of it).

[durruti]

I too, am interested in this question. I've been a serious mac user since about 2004 with the ibook G4, but am also familiar with windows iterations.

I will be googling that certification for Mac side.

I really want to avoid windows server software but my organization uses windows server 2003+2008. Looks like I will have to hit my head against the Microsoft brick wall and get familiar with NT Server iterations.

Mac Minis with Lion Server are on my list of things I want to understand. I know there is google, but are there any simple, to the point, sites or guides any of you out there recommend for an entry level network IT person like me?