Well, after a few days of thinking about this I’m coming to the conclusion that all hope is not lost (yet)…
Doesn’t Apple have a history of discontinuing a product before announcing a replacement? The Addition of both the Mac Mini Server last year and the Mac Pro server config last week tells me that Apple hasn’t abandoned the server market all together. As far as enterprise support, I am hopeful. I see 5 possible outcomes (in order of probability)…
1) Apple leaves it as it is today Mac Mini or Mac Pro Server, basically abandoning the Enterprise market and focusing on the SMB/Home Server markets
2) Apple in January announces a new enclosure design for the Mac Pro which allows for a more modular customization, offering Enterprise grade options such as Rack Mounts, Dual Redundant Power Supplies, LOM compatible network interfaces etc...
3) Apple changes the EULA to allow virtualization of 10.7 Server on non-Apple hardware
4) Apple enters into a agreement with Oracle to build an OSX Server version of the Sun Fire Servers
5) Apple discontinues OSX Server and focuses on the Desktop/iOS market, possibly allowing for server features to be purchased as add in Apps for the standard OS
Personally I’m hopeful that number 2 is the actual outcome. I’d love to have a more modular system on both the Desktop and Server level. And who knows with the coming of Light Peak in the next 12 – 18 months Xsan may be completely unnecessary. (Imagine RAIDs that can be connected to multiple workstations over Light Peak at 100 Gb/sec with no need for MetaData controllers… we can dream right)
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Jason Bracy | SAIC
System Administrator | SAIC Creative
Energy | Environment | National Security | Health | Critical Infrastructure
Please consider the environment before printing this email.
From: fed-talk-bounces+jason.t.bracy=email@hidden [mailto:fed-talk-bounces+jason.t.bracy=email@hidden] On Behalf Of Bracy, Jason T.
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2010 10:46 AM
To: Fed Talk
Subject: RE: [Fed-Talk] Xserve discontinued?
So we run a 60TB SAN with 4 Xserves connected 2 metadata controllers, 1 file server and one Final Cut Server. I regularly use LOM to remotely reboot servers when necessary, and have needed to replace power supplies.
I currently have 5 Promise RAIDs, 6 Xserves, 2 fibre switches, 2 network switches, 3 UPS units, and a Tape Library in one 48U rack with room to spare. With the new system I couldn’t even fit the RAIDs and Xserves in one rack!
This will not go over well next time we need/want to buy an Apple server!
Jason
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Jason Bracy | SAIC
System Administrator | SAIC Creative
Energy | Environment | National Security | Health | Critical Infrastructure
Please consider the environment before printing this email.