I would hope it would be OK to compare options on this list! :-)
Is MacOS X Server a good fit for these needs, or is it not? How
does this product offer advantages over MacOS X Server?
Of course it is valid to compare options here.
if somebody wants to run a dns server only, do it on a client.
if somebody wants to run a web server only, do it on a client.
if somebody wants to run a ftp server only, do it on a client.
if somebody wants to run a mail server only, do it on a client.
if somebody wants to run any combination of the above, do it on a
client.
if somebody wants to share files with another computer, buy osx
server.
that's the message Apple server tech support gave me.
the only things server is for are:
- a fancy user interface to the core functionality already existing
in the client machines
- the ability to share files with other mac computers (something
taken away from client machines with the shift from os9 to osx)
- a watchdog timer that restarts services that were supposed to be
running but for some reason shut down
- the ability to monitor all your servers thanks to admin tools
( admin tools are not just "fancy" ).
- Webobjects (at least for the deployment licence).
- Software update server.
- Oracle Database.
- netboot and network install.
- and the most important: the entreprise support.
