Apple Xserve review

The standard choice loads file sharing, mail, web and IM services plus backup and remote access tools and the third option augments these with directory services and clustering plus disk imaging and server management utilities. Next, you run through registering user details, setting up the network and lights-out management ports and securing remote management access.

You can manage the server remotely using the bundled Server Monitor software which only supports MAC OS X. It allows you to manage multiple Xserve servers and provides a tidy interface from where you can keep an eye on critical components. It gathers information from the motherboard sensors and the IPMI 2.0 controller and presents them as a summary of colour-coded icons that provide at-a-glance fault identification.

There's no denying the Xserve is a beautifully built system that's designed to last and pricewise it's now looking far better value than its predecessors. Businesses that are already Apple-oriented are unlikely to go elsewhere and there's no reason why they should, but the Xserve does come up short on features when compared with Dell's new PowerEdge, and larger sites with multiple racks of servers won't be impressed with its hunger for power.

Author: Dave Mitchell