main page   Information briefs • macos x server • macos x (client) • darwin • netboot   Installation reports • PHP 3 • PHP 4 (Zend) • MySQL • Python (coming soon)   Special Reports • Apple Media Event 10/99 new iMacs and MacOS 9 • 1999 wwdc keynote • Quick and Dirty MacOS X Server Installaion Guide   Articles   News Archive • 1999 • 1998 • RhapNet (coming soon)   Advertising info   Contact Us   About Us   Links   The Tweak List			Installing MacOS X Server on Unsupported Hardware With the addition of a little box in the MacOS X Server installation process, you can now install the new operating system onto systems which are not PowerMac G3s. There are a number of caveats, of course, that go along with installing this software onto an unsupported machine. Of the reports coming into the Xclave there have definitely been some problems. A user here and there with a 8x00/9x00 which didn't quite work or messed slightly with an HFS partition. Other users who have to perform physical motherboard resets following attempts to install onto certain models. Other problems of consequence have popped up as well, and you should not just install MacOS X Server onto an unsupported machine without thinking about it. Apple isn't joking when they say that the installation process could corrupt your hard drive's partitions, and wipe out your drive, or a number of other problems. You should definitely keep this in mind when you go to install MacOS X Server on unsupported hardware, because Apple won't take pity on you when something goes wrong. If you have any reports, please let us know how your experience with the MacOS X Server installation and usage The following models are all possibilities for installation. If we have received a report, there is a note next to the model. If there is no note next to the model, we have received no external confirmation as to whether or not the software will install, much less work. Some general notes which will help with installation of this software: • Upgrade your iMac's firmware to the latest version. This includes the new Firmware Update 1.2, as well as any other iMac related updates. These upgrades will bring your iMac up to date in all of its software. These updates should be considered as requisite installations for computers running MacOS and/or MacOS X Server. • Use the stock CD-ROM drive that came with your Macintosh or clone. Apple has not gone to the greatest lengths to ensure hardware compatibility for all types of drives, and the installer will check for a supported drive. This is a sticking point for many failed installations. • Apple will not support any of these installations, so just remember that you're solely to blame if something should go wrong. • As many have noted, the installation process seems to go completely quiet for long stretches. As has been noted in an Apple TIL file, the installer's progress bar shows how many files have been transferred as opposed to how much data has been transferred. That is - let's say you are installting a MacOS X Server package which has but three files. One is 10 MB in size. One is 8 MB in size. One is 2 MB in size. The progress bar will complete 1/3 of the bar after each file is transferred, whereas logic would dictate that the bar should be half filled after the first file is transferred, and 90% after the first two.

 

			Apple desktop CPU models Power Macintosh 7200 Numerous readers have said that the installer will not install onto the 7200. The reader's notes did not say why the installation was unsuccessful. Power Macintosh 7300 A reader has reported that he successfully installed onto a 7300/200 with a stock Apple-branded CD drive, but noted that problems with a second non-Apple video driver in one of the PCI slots prevented installation numerous times. Removing the PCI video card solved the problem. Another reader has reported a successful installation onto a 7300/180, but the noted a pretty severe problem: Installation went fine and I explored the system for a while, but after logging out and trying to restart, I had problems. The startup procedure hangs at "configuring remote files". I'm not sure why. Power Macintosh 7500 A reader has reported that he successfully installed onto a 7500/200, with an Ultimate Rez video card. The software functions properly, but the reader noted "The only oddities I have found is that a 'verbose' boot does not finish, and I spent a day stuck in 800x600 until more options somehow became available." Other readers report that they have successfullly installed onto 7500's with various types of G3 upgrade cards. But watch our for some weird clocking issues. In some cases, the computer will try to adjust your hardwired cache settings and will crash the machine. Power Macintosh 7600 A reader has noted that he has successfully installed onto a 7600/132. Power Macintosh 8500 We have received numerous reports that installing on a stock Power Macintosh 8500 works just fine, as long as you use an Apple-branded CD drive to install on. Other CD drives end up being either unrecognized or cause mysterious crashes. One reader reports, however, some troubles: I haven't been able to install OS X Server on my 8500 at all. It always fails on the reboot into UNIX running off the CD...I get a hardware error. I've tried swapping out processor cards, resetting the motherboard, changing hard drives, etc. with no luck. Another reader reports success with an 8500/120 upgraded with an xlr8 233 G3 Upgrade card: I was able to install only after setting the card to 210Mhz. I installed it onto an external Jaz drive and have no problems since. The only negative is that it is SLOW!! There currently is no software to enable the backside cache on the card. Power Macintosh 8600 A number of readers report that installing on a stock Power Macintosh 8600 works just fine, as long as you use an Apple-branded CD drive to install on. Other CD drives end up being either unrecognized or cause mysterious crashes. Power Macintosh 9500 A number of readers report that installing on a stock Power Macintosh 9500 works just fine, as long as you use an Apple-branded CD drive to install on. Other CD drives end up being either unrecognized or cause mysterious crashes. Power Macintosh 9600 A number of readers report that installing on a stock Power Macintosh 9600 works just fine, as long as you use an Apple-branded CD drive to install on. Other CD drives end up being either unrecognized or cause mysterious crashes. iMac A number of readers have reported that installation onto an iMac is as simple as any other machine. It is unsupported, but it isn't unusable. Readers have also noted that disk throughput on the iMac is higher in many cases than the stock ATA hard drive in PowerMac G3s. Oh…and updated all of your firmware! 20th Anniversary Macintosh Installation was successful, according to a reader, but the usage of MacOS X Server on the machine was flaky, and degraded over time. Other reports claim that you cannot install onto a 20th Anniversary machine under any condition, and you will have to (perhaps repeatedly) zap your PRAM to get the computer to shape up after the installtion attempt. PowerMacintosh G3 Yes, yes, we know it's supported. But we'd like to pass along any news we can. A reader has reported that he was unable to use a USB keyboard or mouse on his Blue-and-White G3/350 with a 21" AppleStudio Display attached. However, using an ADB keyboard worked just fine. This probably has everything to do with how the USB was designed to work under MacOS X Server. Apple Workgroup Server 8500 A reader reports successful and fruitful installation onto a WGS 8500. The only caveat is that you must use the stock CD-ROM drive, which is but a 2X speed. So, it takes a lot of time to install, but the installation works well.

 

			Apple portable models PowerBook (non-G3) PowerBook 3400 A reader wrote in to say that he successfully installed MacOS X Server onto a PB 3400 with an external SCSI drive. But, he also noted, that his PowerBook had only 32 MB RAM, and that when loaded, MacOS X Server would not open MacOS.app, but did run Apache and file services. Others No reports as yet… PowerBook G3 It works, but: MacOS X Server is a server, and as such does not have any dedicated power management software included. As such, using MacOS X Server on PowerBook hardware could be a possible risk for the machine. You should only attempt to use MacOS X Server on a PowerBook G3 which is plugged into an AC power source. Otherwise, you run the risk of severely hurting your PowerBook. If something happens to your computer during installation or use, don't call Apple. They don't care. "Unsupported" is unsupported, no matter your personal infuriation.

 

			Power Computing CPU models PowerTower Pro A reader has informed us that installation onto a Power Computing Power Tower Pro is possible and plenty usable. Another reader has said that he can install onto a Power Tower Pro 250, but cannot get past the initial bootup screen. The disk icon spins, but nothing else happens. Another reader reports a flawless installation onto a Power Tower Pro 225, but then notes that the computers acts awkwardly when booted into the MacOS. PowerCenter Pro A reader has informed us that it is not possible to install onto a Power Center Pro. PowerBase Installing MacOS X Server onto a Power Base model will not only fail, but will cause the motherboard to need a full logic board reset. Without resetting the motherboard, the computer will not boot up into any operating system following the failed attempt. PowerWave Installing MacOS X Server onto a Power Wave model will not only fail, but will cause the motherboard to need a full logic board reset. Without resetting the motherboard, the computer will not boot up into any operating system following the failed attempt. PowerCenter A reader has informed us that he was able to install MacOS X Server onto a Power Center 120, but was not able to then boot off of the MacOS X partition. Upon bootup, the computer chugged on it, but always ended up giving up on MacOS X Server and booted off of the MacOS partition.

 

			UMAX desktop CPU models Umax S900 A reader has chimed in to say that MacOS X Server is installable onto a Umax S900. Umax C-series machines Readers have chimed in to say that MacOS X Server is not installable onto these machines.

 

			Current Time: January 07, 2009 • 4:15 PM EST

 

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