Mac OS X Server Now Shipping
Apple’s Macintosh Server G3 Fastest Web Server for Under $5000
CUPERTINO, California-March 16, 1999-Apple Computer, Inc. today
announced the availability of Mac OS X Server, the Company’s new
server operating system, which combines the proven strength of UNIX
with the simplicity of Macintosh. Customers can order Mac OS X Server
from Apple Authorized Resellers and The Apple Store (www.apple.com)
for U.S. $499-with an unlimited client license. Mac OS X Server, when
coupled with a new Macintosh Server G3, is the fastest platform for
running Apache for under U.S. $5000-outperforming Linux, Solaris and
Windows NT Server.*
“Our customers are excited about Mac OS X Server, Apple’s first
modern server operating system,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s interim
CEO. “Mac OS X Server is an incredibly powerful web server and by
introducing it at an aggressive price of $499, we’re putting power
into the hands of millions of Macintosh customers in education and
business.”
Mac OS X Server is built on a modern, high-performance and reliable
operating system foundation and includes powerful services designed
for Apple’s Internet development, design and publishing, and
education customers. As well as being the fastest Apache web server
platform for under $5000, Mac OS X Server is also faster than Windows
NT Server in high bandwidth file throughput tests.
Other key Mac OS X Server features include: A modern foundation,
based on Mach and BSD 4.4, which provides performance and stability
through full preemptive multitasking, protected memory and advanced
virtual memory. Apache 1.3.4, the HTTP server used by over half the
web sites on the Internet, which scales from workgroups to Internet
sites capable of handling millions of hits per day. Apache leverages
the power of Open Source development to deliver a feature-rich web
serving solution. WebObjects 4.01, Apple’s market-leading application
server platform for development and deployment of high-performance,
large-scale Internet and intranet applications. With major advances
in ease of application development, performance and Java
functionality, WebObjects 4 is a milestone release, and now supports
Macintosh Server G3 systems in addition to UNIX and Windows NT
platforms.
NetBoot, a new feature which allows a network of Macs to be booted
and configured from a single server, making network administration as
easy as running a single Mac. With NetBoot, all Macs on a network
share the same base system and applications stored on the server.
NetBoot enables full control of user access, allowing users to
securely access their own applications, documents and personal
desktop preferences from any Macintosh on the network. Scalable Apple
file services, capable of supporting over 1,000 users and thousands
of open files. Users can access files from any AppleShare client over
TCP/IP or AppleTalk network protocols. Additionally, all file server
operations may be managed remotely using web-based remote
administration tools.
Additionally, Apple today announced Darwin – the Open Source release
of the Mac OS X Server operating system foundation. The software will
be available free for developers at (www.apple.com/darwin) in the
next few weeks. With the launch of Darwin, Apple becomes the first
mainstream operating system provider to release its source code to
the public and base its system software strategy on Open Source
technologies. (see separate press release).
System Requirements, Pricing & Availability Mac OS X Server supports
all Power Macintosh G3 or Macintosh Server G3 systems, and is
optimized for Apple’s new line of Power Macintosh G3s. Mac OS X
Server requires 64MB of RAM, 1GB hard drive and a CD-ROM drive.
Mac OS X Server is available today in the United States and Canada,
with worldwide availability expected in the next few months. The
software can be purchased online from The Apple Store (www.apple.com)
and Apple Authorized Resellers for the estimated retail price of U.S.
$499.
Mac OS X Server is also available pre-configured on a Macintosh
Server G3 for U.S. $4999. The Macintosh Server G3 with Mac OS X
Server software includes: PowerPC G3 at 400MHz and 1MB level 2
backside cache; 2 x 9GB Ultra 2 SCSI 10,000rpm hard drives; 24x-speed
CD-ROM drive (maximum); and a 4-port 10/100BASE-T Ethernet controller.
Apple Computer, Inc. ignited the personal computer revolution in the
1970s with the Apple II, and reinvented the personal computer in the
1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is now recommitted to its original
mission to bring the best personal computing products and support to
students, educators, designers, scientists, engineers,
businesspersons and consumers in over 140 countries around the world.
*Based on WebBench benchmark testing performed by ZD Labs on a Dell
PowerEdge 2300 Pentium II 450 MHz running Red Hat Linux, and a Sun
Microsystems Enterprise Ultra 10S Server 333 MHz running Solaris; and
NetBench benchmark testing performed by Apple on a Dell PowerEdge
2300 Pentium II 450 MHz running Windows NT Server, and a 400 MHz
Macintosh Server G3 running Mac OS X Server.