Mac Server?

[TechBoyJK]

What advantages do I have of using a Mac Server over a Nix or Windows server?

 

[Nothinman]

OS X is a unix server.

 

[TechBoyJK]

I realize that. That said, what real benefit is their with using a mac Server over a freebsd server or a linux server? The only benefit I can see is Quick Time Streaming.

 

[TheOmegaCode]

Having the support of Apple would be a big one. You also have an OS that is built, more or less for specific hardware. So you wouldn't have any problems in that area, and to top it all off, as Nothinman already stated, it's a UNIX server, so you have thousands of open-source programs at your disposal..

 

[n0cmonkey]

The biggest advantage I can see is your knowledge of Macintoshes. Of course, if you have never worked with one before this is a disadvantage. Unless its not mission critical and you love learning this stuff.

Isn't the quick time streamer open source?

 

[spyordie007]

Why an Apple server:

Damn Sweet Hardware!

-Spy

 

[Sunner]

Depends on what your needs are.

 

[DeadMilkman]

Advantage over Windows
No per seat/client licenses
Less Viruses Less Hacks Less Updating
Its Unix


Advantage over Unix

The SUPPORTED ability to run SOME ms software if you need to on a unix platform ( Exchange Server is set for later this year...late Summer I believe)

The propriatary hardware is cheaper than most other unix propriatary hardware ( Sun for example ) The cost of company support tends to be less as well. If your supporting it yourself and willing to build a cheap-tel box then forget this.

If neither of the above matter to you then hey do what you want, Just about any other arguement is opinion about liking this or that or maybe Aqua gui is your thing instead of Gnome or KDE...

I'm assuming your not talking labtop...If this is ever something you want to do DEFINATELY Mac OSX since you can dev, test and run light usage servers off one no prob. No other Unix will compare on this front.

Quicktime Server Streaming is freely available to Linux (and Windows and Solaris) http://developer.apple.com/darwin/projects/streaming/

********** not directed at author but anyone stupid enough not to know ************
If you ever consider using OS 9 or lower for a Server you are being STUPID... while I will give the argument that the os will last if "you don't touch it" its not built to handle load...never was.

 

[drag]

It's advantage is that... well it is Apple. Which means easy to use, and compatable with desktop macs if you have a lot of those. Most of the advantages of Unix and most of the advantages of Apple. It's a win win situation, ecxept of course for your pocketbook. But usually it's worth it.

Performance-wise OS X isn't as fast or powerful as a linux or bsd server, but it makes it up for a lot of people by having corporate support. When we were having troubles with a aspect of networking OS X we tried calling apple's tech support, and they couldn't help us, eventually they got thru to the actual guy that was head developer of the specific part that we were having trouble with. I like that kinda service.

Of course if you use linux mailing lists you are usually communicating at least inderectly with the actual developers, and they may read your e-mail if it is good enough question (not answered a dozen times for other people, or by other people, and not in the FAQ or the documentation). But then again you can't get help-on-demand like you can by paying for it on a corporation's tech support.