Looking at where osx server sits relative to Linux, it just doesn't seem to have the ease of use AND flexibility I expect out of an Apple product. The issue can't just be solved with home-scale hardware. What kind of server applications would you want to run on this box?
The things I can think of that make sense at a home level are possibly:
Web Server
Easy
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Asterisk/Jabber
No need for asterisk in a HOME server given skype, ooma, etc. Jabber is available via ichat and gchat.
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File Server
Easy
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FileMaker Database
Why? MySQL should already be on OSX server. If you want easy you should opt for Bento over FM.
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Home Media Library
Easy.
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If you want cheap hardware, drive redundancy is going to be a challenge-- I would want 4 bays for it to make sense to me, plus enough processing power to do more than just file serving. I know the AppleTV hardware wasn't up to the task. I can't see Jobs going back to the cube form factor.
I think you will see widespread gigabit to the home with cloud "server" features long before Apple produces a home server.
Except the mini server already makes a good home server. The only other thing I wished it had is a estata port option in the back to make this look less fugly:
Comments
Looking at where osx server sits relative to Linux, it just doesn't seem to have the ease of use AND flexibility I expect out of an Apple product. The issue can't just be solved with home-scale hardware. What kind of server applications would you want to run on this box?
The things I can think of that make sense at a home level are possibly:
Easy.
If you want cheap hardware, drive redundancy is going to be a challenge-- I would want 4 bays for it to make sense to me, plus enough processing power to do more than just file serving. I know the AppleTV hardware wasn't up to the task. I can't see Jobs going back to the cube form factor.
I think you will see widespread gigabit to the home with cloud "server" features long before Apple produces a home server.
Except the mini server already makes a good home server. The only other thing I wished it had is a estata port option in the back to make this look less fugly:
http://www.hotblack.co.nz/article.lsd?i=esatamacmini
1 drive to boot from, 4 drive bay for storage. I guess some careful dremelling might make it nicer.