Can I upgrade Lion to Lion Server?

bdz · 06-25-2012, 09:28 AM

I'm currently running Lion 10.7.4, NON-server and I'd like to get Lion Server. However, I don't want to wipe my disk and reinstall everything on my system. If I buy Lion Server from the app store, will it 'upgrade' my current system, leaving my files and settings intact, or will it wipe the disk and give me 'new' system? If the latter, is there another way to upgrade to the server without losing my current system.

thanks

benwiggy · 06-25-2012, 09:40 AM

As I understand it, the Server OS is just some additional files, resources and apps which provide the server capabilities and management.
It should not wipe your disk -- certainly not without warning.

Installing Lion client OS doesn't require wiping your disk either.

But even if it did, you've got a backup to restore everything from, haven't you?

leamanc · 06-25-2012, 10:54 AM

These days, Server is just an app from the App Store that provides GUI access to server-ish stuff already included in the OS. In theory, you could do all this server stuff yourself via the command line and/or other GUI apps that let you manage this stuff.

When I added it to one of my Lion systems, it changed the name in the About This Mac window from "Mac OS X" to "OS X Server", but it has recently gone back to saying "Mac OS X". There's really very little difference anymore between "client" and "server" OS X, and it seems my "Server" can't remember that it's actually running Lion Server these days -- not that it matters, as all of the services are still up and running.

benwiggy · 06-25-2012, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leamanc


	In theory, you could do all this server stuff yourself via the command line and/or other GUI apps that let you manage this stuff.

Hmm. It's not just GUI apps to control software you already have.
It still installs stuff like the Calendar and Contacts servers, the WikiServer software, XSan, the aqueduct and peace.

Some of it is open-sourced and can be downloaded for free, but there are still quite a few other components that are needed.

But it is certainly true that OS X Server is OS X Client + other bits.

bdz · 06-25-2012, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benwiggy


	Hmm. It's not *just* GUI apps to control software you already have. It still installs stuff like the Calendar and Contacts servers, the WikiServer software, XSan, the aqueduct and peace. Some of it is open-sourced and can be downloaded for free, but there are still quite a few other components that are needed. But it is certainly true that OS X Server is OS X Client + other bits.

Yes, the main reason I want OS X Server is to run the calendar server. It's open source and in theory you can build and install it without the server package, but I could not get it to work.

benwiggy · 06-26-2012, 02:40 AM

There are some good instructions somewhere for how to build the CalDAV server. I tried it and it all seemed to work.
http://www.ronregev.com/misc/pim_server_tutorial/

The one thing I would advise is that the URL for the svn command links to an outdated version, so you may want to change that for the current release (3.3 instead of 2.3). More generally, you should use:

Code:

http://svn.calendarserver.org/repository/calendarserver/CalendarServer/trunk/

which will always point to the latest version.

What exactly didn't work?

agentx · 06-26-2012, 10:01 AM

Why not just use iCloud or Google Calendar ?

benwiggy · 06-26-2012, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agentx


	Why not just use iCloud or Google Calendar ?

20th June: apple's icloud and imessage services experiencing significant outage/
For many people, the ability to manage Contacts and Calendars locally across a few devices, without having that data flying off to external servers out of their control, is useful.

agentx · 06-26-2012, 12:55 PM

You will certainly have more downtime and quirks using Lion Server + Time lost when things go wrong(possible professional fees..call me ;-) and APN (Apple Push Notifications) goes off the rails ;-)
i have had the joy of running lots of XServe/Mail/AB/iCal servers so have had a lot of fun over the years.

Anyway each to their own and maybe if we knew what level deployment they want i would be able to help and advise.
1) single user
2) a few users
3) hundreds of users with full collaboration
4) Is this because MobileMe is finishing and have Snow users etc.?

....the list goes on...........

06-25-2012, 09:28 AM	#1
bdz Prospect Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3	Can I upgrade Lion to Lion Server? I'm currently running Lion 10.7.4, NON-server and I'd like to get Lion Server. However, I don't want to wipe my disk and reinstall everything on my system. If I buy Lion Server from the app store, will it 'upgrade' my current system, leaving my files and settings intact, or will it wipe the disk and give me 'new' system? If the latter, is there another way to upgrade to the server without losing my current system. thanks

06-26-2012, 02:40 AM	#6
benwiggy League Commissioner Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5,039	There are some good instructions somewhere for how to build the CalDAV server. I tried it and it all seemed to work. http://www.ronregev.com/misc/pim_server_tutorial/ The one thing I would advise is that the URL for the svn command links to an outdated version, so you may want to change that for the current release (3.3 instead of 2.3). More generally, you should use: Code: http://svn.calendarserver.org/repository/calendarserver/CalendarServer/trunk/ which will always point to the latest version. What exactly didn't work? Last edited by benwiggy; 06-26-2012 at 02:45 AM.

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06-25-2012, 09:40 AM	#2
benwiggy League Commissioner Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5,039	As I understand it, the Server OS is just some additional files, resources and apps which provide the server capabilities and management. It should not wipe your disk -- certainly not without warning. Installing Lion client OS doesn't require wiping your disk either. But even if it did, you've got a backup to restore everything from, haven't you?

06-25-2012, 10:54 AM	#3
leamanc Triple-A Player Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 157	These days, Server is just an app from the App Store that provides GUI access to server-ish stuff already included in the OS. In theory, you could do all this server stuff yourself via the command line and/or other GUI apps that let you manage this stuff. When I added it to one of my Lion systems, it changed the name in the About This Mac window from "Mac OS X" to "OS X Server", but it has recently gone back to saying "Mac OS X". There's really very little difference anymore between "client" and "server" OS X, and it seems my "Server" can't remember that it's actually running Lion Server these days -- not that it matters, as all of the services are still up and running.

06-26-2012, 10:01 AM	#7
agentx Hall of Famer Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 3,806	Why not just use iCloud or Google Calendar ?

06-26-2012, 12:55 PM	#9
agentx Hall of Famer Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 3,806	You will certainly have more downtime and quirks using Lion Server + Time lost when things go wrong(possible professional fees..call me ;-) and APN (Apple Push Notifications) goes off the rails ;-) i have had the joy of running lots of XServe/Mail/AB/iCal servers so have had a lot of fun over the years. Anyway each to their own and maybe if we knew what level deployment they want i would be able to help and advise. 1) single user 2) a few users 3) hundreds of users with full collaboration 4) Is this because MobileMe is finishing and have Snow users etc.? ....the list goes on...........