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Apple Releases New 'Server' Configuration of Mac Pro to Replace Xserve
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Not feasible
As everyone else has said it's the wrong shape to go in a rack. If Apple want the same underlying product for the Pro and XServe they could do this, but not at 1U. Redesign the Pro case with an optional rack-mount kit,the option for an extra PSU and front-mounted hot-plug HDD bays and you are there. It would be 4U. I know that will make a lot of difference in terms of data centre space but if Apple got off their lazy ....... and implemented virtualisation it would work and keep those customers who've bought into this platform happy. Let's face it if they decide to move their servers, they might look at their desktops too. That's a loss of hardware, software, maintenance and consultancy revenue for Apple.
I honestly think Apple have given up on their server range altogether and don't say Mac Mini. At best it could be used as a NAS, but most QNAP/Synology devices are better and much cheaper as a NAS offering. I know they aren't enterprise level, but a Mac Mini is even further away from this.
As everyone else has said it's the wrong shape to go in a rack. If Apple want the same underlying product for the Pro and XServe they could do this, but not at 1U. Redesign the Pro case with an optional rack-mount kit,the option for an extra PSU and front-mounted hot-plug HDD bays and you are there. It would be 4U. I know that will make a lot of difference in terms of data centre space but if Apple got off their lazy ....... and implemented virtualisation it would work and keep those customers who've bought into this platform happy. Let's face it if they decide to move their servers, they might look at their desktops too. That's a loss of hardware, software, maintenance and consultancy revenue for Apple.
I honestly think Apple have given up on their server range altogether and don't say Mac Mini. At best it could be used as a NAS, but most QNAP/Synology devices are better and much cheaper as a NAS offering. I know they aren't enterprise level, but a Mac Mini is even further away from this.
To answer one question raised here, the SATA drives in my Mac Pro appear to be hot-swappable.
Apart from the OS drive, of course, they've got an "eject" option in their contextual menus and the physical configuration of the connectors ensures that the ground pins connect first and disconnect last.
Apart from the OS drive, of course, they've got an "eject" option in their contextual menus and the physical configuration of the connectors ensures that the ground pins connect first and disconnect last.
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We have an Xserve in our design department with about 10 users. I can see this MacPro Server working for small design teams/ad departments but anything more and you're going to have to move into Linux.
Actually I recently built a new 2U Server, Hackintosh compatible because our Xserve is old and Apple was slow to update.
Looks like we made a good choice.
Actually I recently built a new 2U Server, Hackintosh compatible because our Xserve is old and Apple was slow to update.
Looks like we made a good choice.
ok so Apple decided to offer a server config of the mac pro.
they are still being run by the bean counters who want more margins and ROI on each model line.
which is sad cause they won't offer USB 3, BLU-RAY or what so many people want... a Mythical Midrange Upgradeable Smaller form tower.
Hackintosh is starting to sound alot better to me. wonder if a Sony Viao Laptop with Blu-Ray will run Mac OS fine? (yes off topic, but i dont need a new server right now)
they are still being run by the bean counters who want more margins and ROI on each model line.
which is sad cause they won't offer USB 3, BLU-RAY or what so many people want... a Mythical Midrange Upgradeable Smaller form tower.
Hackintosh is starting to sound alot better to me. wonder if a Sony Viao Laptop with Blu-Ray will run Mac OS fine? (yes off topic, but i dont need a new server right now)
well as a Premium Apple Reseller here in the UK which specialises in business sales and network set-ups this is a huge blow!
The xServe was a great product and ran so smoothly
too bad
I have a 5 years old 41 nodes (82 cpu) xserve cluster that I use for scientific number crunching. Setting it up was relatively easy and it requires almost no maintenance. The CPU are hard are work 24/7 all year long and so far only 2 nodes have died (never fixed them, so don't know why). I used to work in a place with a Linux cluster and it required a full time person to maintain it (ok, that was 7 years ago). I love my xserve cluster.
Too bad, I guess its time to go back to Linux and hours of RTFM.
I have a 5 years old 41 nodes (82 cpu) xserve cluster that I use for scientific number crunching. Setting it up was relatively easy and it requires almost no maintenance. The CPU are hard are work 24/7 all year long and so far only 2 nodes have died (never fixed them, so don't know why). I used to work in a place with a Linux cluster and it required a full time person to maintain it (ok, that was 7 years ago). I love my xserve cluster.
Too bad, I guess its time to go back to Linux and hours of RTFM.
I have a 5 years old 41 nodes (82 cpu) xserve cluster that I use for scientific number crunching. Setting it up was relatively easy and it requires almost no maintenance. The CPU are hard are work 24/7 all year long and so far only 2 nodes have died (never fixed them, so don't know why). I used to work in a place with a Linux cluster and it required a full time person to maintain it (ok, that was 7 years ago). I love my xserve cluster.
Too bad, I guess its time to go back to Linux and hours of RTFM.
Buy now, while you can. You'll get another 5 years out of your new kit and Apple should've come to their senses by then...
So they create a half baked solution to a problem which stemmed from a half-arsed attempt to enter the server market. That in turn was a relative failure.
Obviously this was not one of Steve's little gems otherwise it would have received the care and attention it needed back in 2002 when it was first introduced.
Obviously this was not one of Steve's little gems otherwise it would have received the care and attention it needed back in 2002 when it was first introduced.
Wow, can we please stop saying you can't rack mount a Mac Pro? Took me 1 second to find on Google.
I understand this is hardly a real replacement to the XServe, but let's stick to the real complaints instead of the made-up ones. (Since there are plenty of real reasons!)
This is the heart of it. Add to that the fact that Google is targeting large businesses to use Google apps and it's easy to see that more people are "renting" space online than buying their own systems.
I'm betting Apple's sales on servers have been dropping quickly the last 3 years.
I understand this is hardly a real replacement to the XServe, but let's stick to the real complaints instead of the made-up ones. (Since there are plenty of real reasons!)
This is the heart of it. Add to that the fact that Google is targeting large businesses to use Google apps and it's easy to see that more people are "renting" space online than buying their own systems.
I'm betting Apple's sales on servers have been dropping quickly the last 3 years.
So other than the fact that this is 12U server instead of 1U..
Can someone make ONE point that would warrant purchasing an Xserve instead of a Mac Pro?
Just one.
( this might take a while, looking at the performance/dollar ratio, I don't think there is a single point)
Can someone make ONE point that would warrant purchasing an Xserve instead of a Mac Pro?
Just one.
( this might take a while, looking at the performance/dollar ratio, I don't think there is a single point)
There are a few Xserves around campus, but - unlike with desktop OS X - it's hard to think of a compelling reason why anyone would need an Xserve as opposed to a generic Intel 1U box running RHEL.
The only thing I can think of is if you're convinced HFS+ is superior to ext3/4 - and I don't think you exist.
Heck, with netatalk you can offer AFP connectivity on RHEL, with transparent (to the end user) support for resource forks. I've got a little box under my desk for testing/running various things (openvpn, fileserver, etc.) - netatalk's never given me any trouble.
The only thing I can think of is if you're convinced HFS+ is superior to ext3/4 - and I don't think you exist.
Heck, with netatalk you can offer AFP connectivity on RHEL, with transparent (to the end user) support for resource forks. I've got a little box under my desk for testing/running various things (openvpn, fileserver, etc.) - netatalk's never given me any trouble.
The server farm will almost certainly be based on non-Apple systems. Apple doesn't compete in the enterprise market (and cancelling the XServe removes the only toehold that they had in the server hardware space).
On Apple-branded hardware....which won't help someone who wants to run OSX on ESX on a 24-core ProLiant server.
Interesting thought.... Bandwidth, of course, will be a big issue for some applications.
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Laughable. Sure I have. Most were windows machines. The only Mac ones I've had any part of are Mac Minis. Never even heard of a someone actually using an Xserve.