OS X Usability in the REAL WORLD.

[mholloway]

I love OS X. I really really do. Depsite some minor quirks, it's fantastic.

If I were to start consulting for people, I would imagine it's a hard sell to convinve a shop or enterprise to run Mac file servers in a Windows environment. Correct? Where does the System/Network Mac Consultant (on OS X) fit into the picture? It seems very niche.

On the contrary, if I were running my own ISP I would seriously consider using OS X for standard system services like DNS, Sendmail, Apache and so on. I'm going to start learning Webobjects soon, so who knows what it will spawn into.

Any words of wisdom from you guys?

Regards,
Mark

[Craig R. Arko]

That would be me. I probably wouldn't try to convince any of my Windows customers to use OS X Server unless there was a truly compelling reason for it. For example, I've put Quadras running Eudora Internet Mail Server into a couple of PC shops, because it was both less expensive and easier to setup and maintain than the comparable NT or DOS servers. When .Net Server ships later this year it might become cost effective to replace NT/2K Server with OS X Server instead of upgrading. That remains to be seen, I guess.

Mostly I'm not too thrilled with Apple's server hardware, or I'd push it harder. They need to make a true server box once again. For much the same reason, as an ISP I'd probably go with a FreeBSD system, with an OS X Server if needed to deploy WebObjects.

Now in the Mac sites I service, I can see moving from ASIP to OS X Server down the road. And in crossplatform sites, I can see having both kinds of server around (that's what I do for myself) for specific purposes.

Words of wisdom: don't tie yourself to a single platform; because you will have to deal with all of them at some point or other.

[mholloway]

ASIP to OS X? What is ASIP?

I happened to stumble across someone on ebay selling a sealed copy of OS X Server 10.1 (10 user), which includes the Web Objects 5.1 CD, for $229. I picked it up instantly and will install it on my Mac home network. I also have a Windows 2000 Advanced Server machine running Exchange 2000. I'm going to practice some cross-platform integration in my "home-lab" environment and see how it goes. Practice makes perfect, right? :cool:

The last two jobs I've had were "Network Administration" and never called for me to work the servers. The jobs were in enterprise companies and they both heavily seperated the roles and responsibilities of "Network" vs. "System" administration. They were seperate Unix, Windows, and Network admins.. As a network admin my functions included routing, switching, VPN, Firewall, and RAS. I never touched the Windows Backoffice, HP 9000, or DEC Alpha servers. After getting laid off earlier this year, I'm founding most small to mid companies need a network administrator who has good (intermediate or better) experience with Windows 2000 and Exchange 2000 - which is why I have them running at home in the lab. Personally, I love OS X. So, I'm finding the synergy between cross-platform integration and maybe I'll carve out a niche for myself. heh

Regards,
Mark

[Craig R. Arko]

ASIP = AppleShare IP, Apple's previous generation of server software.

Don't even ask me for my opinion of Exchange. We bleep those kind of words here.

[macubergeek]

Essentially when you're running X you are essentially running FreeBSD...the only divergence being NetInfo Database, which for a stand-alone server is a pain (imho).

Given the fact that macos X consumer has Sendmail and Apache already installed (you just have to turn it on)...I myself see no reason to shell out the bucks for X Server....