System Requirements

The system requirements for Mac OS X Server 10.4 aren't much different from those of Mac OS X Client 10.4. The reason is that Mac OS X Server is Mac OS X Client, with four extra packages:

• QuickTimeStreamingServer.pkg

• ServerAdminTools.pkg

• ServerEssentials.pkg

• ServerSetup.pkg

You can download and install the QuickTime Streaming Server from Apple's Web site on your Mac OS X Client Macintosh. Called the Darwin Streaming Server, it's identical to QuickTime Streaming Server without the trademark name QuickTime.

You can also install the Server Administration Software package on your client machine. It contains the Mac OS X Server Administration Tools discussed in Chapter 2, "Server Tools." The Server Administration Software package also installs the Server Setup package, which contains the executables used when managing any Mac OS X Server(s) remotely.

That leaves one package. ServerEssentials.pkg is all that separates Mac OS X Client and Mac OS X Server. Inside that package, what makes Mac OS X Server tick?

• Apache 2.0 (in case you want to use it instead of Apache 1.x)

• Eight extra Apache modules

• AppleShareIP Migration, RAID Admin, and Fibre Channel tools

• Cyrus (POP and IMAP mail server)

• FTP Server Directory

• Jabber (iChat server) files

• Mailman (mailing list manager)

• MySQL Admin tool and associated files

• QTSS template files

• Server Manager Daemon files

• SPAM Assassin and CLAM AV

• Squirrel Mail (Web-based email interface)

• A few migration files

• Additional Startup items: NAT, IPFilter, IPFailover, IPAliases, Mailman, Watchdog, MySQL, Samba, Headless Startup, Serial Terminal Support, and Software Update Server

• About 100 additional executables (processes or tools used to manage certain server-based processes)

• About 70 edited configuration files for the new Startup items

As you can see, the only things absolutely necessary to make a Mac OS X Client a Mac OS X Server are the executables, the configuration files (almost all stored in the hidden /private/etc and /private/var directories), and the Startup items. The other items are needed to utilize some of the services that run on Mac OS X Server, but there is little difference between the two.

The hardware requirements for Mac OS X Server are listed in Table 1.2. Keep in mind that although Apple has a set of hardware requirements, this table includes a column of real-world requirements.

Table 1.2. Hardware requirements for Mac OS X Server 10.4

	APPLE REQUIREMENTS	REAL-WORLD REQUIREMENTS
Macintosh type	MacMini, eMac, iMac, PowerMac G3, PowerMac G4, PowerMac G5, Xserve	PowerMac G4, PowerMac G5, or Xserve
Hard disk size	4 GB	80 GB
RAM	128 minimum, 256 high demand	1 GB minimum
Other	Built-in FireWire	Built-in FireWire, Gigabit Ethernet

Apple doesn't support Mac OS X Server on PowerBooks or iBooks, although it works on those machines. If you just want to install Mac OS X Server and test the services with one or two client machines attached to a small network, running the server software on a portable Macintosh works fine. However, don't assume that AppleCare will help you with any of your software problems if you're running on a laptop.

Tip

• Mac OS X Server works more reliably when it's plugged into an active Ethernet connection as opposed to an AirPort or FireWire connection.