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Apple addresses Lion server issues with new technotes
If you run Lion server and have problems with podcast streaming or want to view local volumes on your server, you'll want to read two new technotes on Apple's support site. Spotted by MacNN, they will tell you how to setup https to serve up podcasts and how you can tweak your settings to view a mounted local volume or a shared folder via SMB. One article (Technote TS4126) addresses podcast streaming and SSL certificates, a problem which arose in OS X server 10.7.2. Unlike earlier versions, this version of Lion server streams podcasts using a secure https connection. In this issue, users visiting your Lion server cannot view podcast thumbnails. When they try to playback content, the thumbnail is missing and only a blank window appears. To fix this issue, server administrators can either purchase a signed security certificate from an established Certificate Authority or use a self-signed certificate. If the admin chooses the self-signed route, users attempting to view a podcast will be presented with a warning about an untrusted certificate. Once the user accepts this certificate as coming from a trusted source, they can gain access to the podcast content. The other technote HT5028 has two command-line tweaks for server administrators. The first will let admins view any volumes mounted locally on the server and the second will let them access shared folders over SMB. Once entered, admins will have to reboot the server to make these changes stick.
OS X Lion bug may affect Windows file sharing
A bug has been discovered in OS X Lion Server that appears when a user tries to share a file with extended attributes with a Windows XP or Windows 7 system. The bug was first discovered by Steve Maser, a senior systems administrator at the University of Michigan's Office of Technology Transfer. In a message posted to the OS X Server list, Maser details the bug: "If a file/folder on your 10.7.x Mac (and this includes Mac OS X Server) has some specific (?) extended attributes on it and you do Windows Sharing for Windows users to access the file/folders -- you won't be able to pull the file down to your Windows desktop. I verified this with Windows 7." The bug has also been verified with Windows XP. According to Steve, the copy process appears to begin, before halting with an error message like, "the file name you specified is not valid or too long," or less frequently, an "Invalid MS-DOS Function" message. Maser also notes a workaround he devised. It's not a fix but it will allow for a file to be copied by removing the attributes from the file's metadata. Apple hasn't acknowledged the bug yet, but per Masers posting, they now know about it and and fix should be added to OS X Lion server in the future.
OS X Lion Server: Making servers accessible to all
One of the amazing things about the Lion announcement a few months ago was OS X Lion Server, which Apple said would be available for $49.99. That's the lowest cost for any version of Mac OS X Server by a wide margin, and a price point that might make some people think twice about whether they'd be better served (pun intended) with the Server version of 10.7. Starting several weeks ago, I installed Lion Server on a test Mac while researching a chapter for my upcoming Lion book. What I found was a powerful, yet extremely easy-to-use server operating system that makes a server available to anyone who wants one. Rather than an expensive (Snow Leopard Server was $499) and distinct version of the Mac operating system, which was the traditional OS X Server approach, Lion Server is an app that is purchased and downloaded from the Mac App Store. Once installed, users are gently guided through the steps that they'll need to set up a local server. Note that if you're planning on having your server be Internet-connected (i.e., using it as a mail or web server), you will also want to have a good working knowledge of DNS and also install the free Server Admin Tools 10.7. As you can see in the image below, Lion Server does a very good job of explaining the differences in network configuration to server novices. To say that I was impressed with the ease of use of Lion Server is an understatement. In the past, even setting up a local server for use in a workgroup could be frustrating without experienced guidance. With the help of Lion Server's "Next Steps" capability (see below) and excellent built-in documentation, I was able to configure the server, set up test users and groups, and get services set up and running easily. The Server App (below) is somewhat like Server Admin "Lite." It's a friendly-looking app that is logically laid out and has a lot of good help available. When services are up and running, a small green dot indicates at a glance that all is well with the world. The Server App can also be used to provide administration of certain functions of a network-attached AirPort Extreme or Time Capsule. Probably the most exciting piece of the server software wasn't when I connected a Mac to it, but when I was using iOS devices to access calendars, address books, and shared folders. Using CalDAV, CardDAV, and WebDAV for these three services made connecting my iPhone and iPad to the server a piece of cake. Any iOS app that supports WebDAV can be made to work with shared folders on the server (below), which should make businesses that are deploying iPads and iPhones very happy. Performance of Lion Server seems improved versus 10.6, although I haven't benchmarked it. I had my test server set up on a MacBook Air, and even with numerous services enabled it never seemed to slow down the Air or tax its processor. As in previous versions of OS X Server, Web and Wiki server are nicely paired services that can be set up almost instantaneously to create a small business intranet. The Wiki tool is easy to use from Safari, and users can even set up a personal blog in seconds (below). The Server Admin Tools will seem very familiar to existing Mac OS X Server administrators and don't really appear to have changed all that much. For setting up more advanced network services like DHCP, DNS, NAT, Open Directory, Xgrid, or Software Update Server, you'll want to have Server Admin Tools installed (unless you feel like configuring them from the OS X command line). Who is Apple's target market for Lion Server? Well, it will definitely continue to get the organizations that use Mac OS X Server, and I think administrators will like the fact that they can leverage their existing experience. But Lion Server also puts more small businesses and homes into the potential market for server. The "Next Steps" function in the Server app is so good about answering questions users will have during set up that it makes it very simple to set up a local server. For those more sophisticated setups, however, you'll want to have a certified Apple professional helping you out. Even hobbyists who are curious about Lion Server can now afford to purchase and install the app. Apple has really opened the doors of the server room to anyone who wants to join in on the fun. Several of the images used in this article are taken from the upcoming Apress book Taking Your OS X Lion to the Max.
Lion Server to be a $50 download from Mac App Store
In the past, if you wanted to set up a Mac OS X-based server, you bought a separate DVD with an expensive license. In the case of Snow Leopard Server, that license was $499 for an unlimited number of users. Now, it appears that Lion Server is going to be a $49.99 set of apps that you'll purchase through the Mac App Store. This is a bit different from what we heard back in February, when Apple's PR department was touting that Lion Server would be bundled for free with every copy of Lion. For those who are currently running the latest version of Mac OS X Server 10.6, updating will be as simple as visiting the Mac App Store once Lion ships in July, then clicking a few times to buy, download, and install the new server OS on your Mac. Your Mac must run an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, or Core i7 processor to run Lion or the server apps, so that old original Core Duo Mac mini won't be able to be upgraded. What does the server app set add to Lion? • A Server App for setting up user accounts, creating groups, checking usage, and managing AirPort devices. There's no word on whether that $50 buys you an unlimited license, but that seems likely as Apple hasn't stated otherwise. • A Profile Manager to set up and remotely manage Lion workstations and iOS devices. • Wireless File Sharing for iPad • Push notifications • Wiki Server 3, iCal Server 3, Mail Server 3 • Xsan Directory services don't seem to be headlined on the Apple page, but I'm sure we'll see more details as Lion gets even closer to release next month. With Lion Server, Apple is making server software easily accessible for anyone, without the huge licensing fees seen in the Windows world.
