Basic 1U 19-inch rack mountable server. Includes 2 basic models with either 1 G4 CPU or Dual G4 CPU’s. The server is available in 2 basic models and also build to order and is very customizable depending on the customers requirements.
A Star is Born
In the world of corporate servers, there are the haves and the have-nots among manufacturers. Until 14 May 2002, Apple Computer Inc was among those have-nots. This changed with the introduction of the Apple Xserve.
A server in an unusual for Apple, industry standard 19-inch rack mount 1U case, the Xserve introduces a form that is a great standard to follow. Long criticized for not having a server that was useable in the corporate world, the Xserve is according to Steve Jobs, “the result of listening to our customers.”
The Unix based Xserve at first glances is meant to cut into the stranglehold on the corporate world that companies such as Compaq, Dell, IBM, and Sun have. However, there are several aspects of the new Xserve that make the server a viable solution for even the “Mom and Pop” type operations with a limited budget.
Aggressive Pricing
One of the most attractive perspectives of the new Server is the pricing schedule. While most server manufacturers require a customer to purchase an OS and then individual client attachment licenses on top of the machine, Apple has put out the machine, the OS, and an unlimited free licensing for client connections. With the base server costing less than $3000, this puts the entire cost in one shot and allows the customer to get on with the more important task of providing service to their users.
Aggressive Pricing
One of the most attractive perspectives of the new Server is the pricing schedule. While most server manufacturers require a customer to purchase an OS and then individual client attachment licenses on top of the machine, Apple has put out the machine, the OS, and an unlimited free licensing for client connections. With the base server costing less than $3000, this puts the entire cost in one shot and allows the customer to get on with the more important task of providing service to their users.
IT departments in this day and age definitely will find that the Apple Xserve will provide not only an economical relief to their budgets but at the same time will providce them with the environment that they need to provide all of the power and the storage for their users. Even with the top end machine costing almost $8000, this is still generally one-third the base cost for just a bare bones server from the other manufacturers.
This pricing and unlimited licensing is a first in the industry and will most likely force the other manufacturers to follow suit in the long run. However, by the time they catch up with what Apple has come up with, Apple will have conquered an insurmountable portion of the corporate server world. In this world of dot com crashes and companies who have constrained their IT budgets down to a minimum, this server will be a popular one with IT managers.
The Power House
The Xserve will provide a totally unbelievable 15 gigaflops of computing power in a machine size which most manufacturers computers have less than half the power. The dual G4’s with 2mb of L3 cache per CPU insure that the Xserve will be all the power you will ever need. A 42U rack full of Xserve machines will provide a whopping 20 plus terabytes of storage and an incredible 630 gigaflops of power.
Easy Access, Easy Repair
The one area that Apple has really improved upon with this machine is the accessibility to the inside of the machine. With Hot Swappable drives also comes thumbscrew openers which are easy to open and for the most part gives instant access for almost any section of the server. With dual hotplug fans, the server also provides plenty of cooling to its CPUs and is easily replaced in the case of a hardware failure.
The server software also provides access security features which notify you when a machine has been opened. It also provides information on the server components with real time monitoring of the machine and warnings of any impending hardware failures. The features that are provided with the Xserve’s operating system are not only top of the line but unusual to be included with the OS. Most servers available today require separate monitoring systems.
Expansion and Included Items
Expandability and accessibility have also been clearly thought out with this server. The Xserve comes with three built in firewire ports, one serial port, two USB ports and one gigabit auto-sensing Ethernet port on the main logic board with an expansion port included for adding a second port for redundancy. This high level of standard accessibility ports gives the machine not only connectivity for standard corporate networking items but also provides connectivity for items such as printers, cameras and other items which might be used in the smaller environments.
Included in the operating system is support for almost any client commercially used today as well as support for many different networking protocols and tools. The remote management tools provided are clean and professional and most of all, they are easy to use even for the rank beginner.
Models of Xserve
The Xserve is available in two basic server models as well as a made to order model. The basic models are based on the CPU’s required by the customer.
The low-end model is $2995 and comes with a single G4 1 Ghz CPU while the 2nd basic model comes with dual G4 1Ghz CPUs for $3995. Both of the basic models come standard with a 60gb IDE hard disk drive.
The higher-end models, which are all made to order, have the same basic layout as the 2nd model with the exception of the included items. Any items included are based on the customer’s requirements and can be chosen through the online spec system that allows you to set up the machine exactly how you want it.
Conclusion
While Apple is new to the server game, we feel that they definitely have come up with a winning combination by eliminating the problems that are faced by most other server owners:
- Cost. This is the biggest factor that will make the Xserve an easy choice.
- High learning curves for putting a server into use within a corporate environment.
This new server has all the potential power needed by almost anyone and is a definite 5 thumbs up in our book.
Apple Computer Inc.
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, Ca. 95014
408-996-1010
www.apple.com/xserve
