Apple Tiger Server Bridge to Interoperability

Slated for an early 2005 release, Apple will maintain aggressive pricing with an unlimited user version topping out at US$999.

Tom Goguen, director of servers and storage for Apple, said the company also will be pushing Apple's version of software maintenance, an additional $999 for three years of major release updates to the OS X server operating system.

Compatibility Tools

Apple is introducing powerful interoperability functionality as well as new features unique to OS X -- both critical to enterprise appeal. For organizations with older Windows NT/2000 server infrastructures, Tiger includes a migration tool that can capture user and group account information from those legacy systems and populate the OS X directory services to replace servers being retired.

In environments where cross-platform compatibility is essential, Tiger supports Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) Active Directory implementation in Windows 2003 Server and on Windows XP clients. Tiger can then be integrated to become a primary domain controller (PDC) or simply added as an additional network server for users.

Yankee Group senior analyst Laura DiDio said Apple's interoperability movements and low pricing without additional client access license fees should raise some eyebrows.

"The fact that they [Apple] are integrating Tiger with Windows should be a big heads up to Microsoft," she added.

Finally, Apple has built weblog and iChat servers into Tiger, which allows organizations to manage internal blogging tools and encrypted instant messaging within their own namespace (domains) behind the firewall.

SOHO Specs

OS X Tiger Server improves upon the current OS X Panther Server for small office and home office (SOHO) businesses. Of particular interest may be the ability to build a firewall, gateway and virtual private network (VPN) using the Gateway Assistant. A user can connect the server running Tiger to a cable or DSL modem, and also to their network, and a wizard will configure all essential services.

Goguen told MacNewsWorld that OS X Tiger Server will continue to support running on older Apple hardware in addition to supporting the G4/G5 Xserve line.

"In keeping with OS X Panther Server, users can elect to use a G4 or G5 workstation if they do not need the Xserve for a server in their environment," Goguen said.

For mobile users, Tiger's Mobile Home Directories matches convenience while reassuring administrators of data integrity. When mobile users login to Tiger, their user account and Home directories are automatically synchronized to the server as a backup feature.

Additionally, each user's Shared folder will be accessible to all other network users even when a mobile user is offline. Files dropped in these folders while away will be synced to mobile user local machines upon return.

Cycles of Tech History

DiDio said she thinks that things have come full circle in the last 15 years for Apple.

"Apple is dealing with market realities now. They had a large share in their early years and lost it and are now seeking to recapture some of that," she said.

DiDio said she believes that the lawsuit lost against Microsoft in the late 1980s was the kiss of death for Apple. However, she said the company has survived and is reemerging as a force at the enterprise level.

"Apple and Dell (Nasdaq: DELL) are probably the two best marketers in the business," she added. "They have to stay aggressive with pricing as they are known to many in IT as the expensive option," she explained.

DiDio also said that if Mac aficionados exist in an IT department, Tiger may be strong enough to get back on the evaluation radar in the data center .

"It still will probably see most of its installations in specialized departments though," DiDio continued. "I don't think [anyone] think[s] Apple will suddenly have 20 percent market share."