Analysis & Commentary:

WILL MAC SERVERS EVER RUN THE ENTERPRISE?

As reported by Robyn Weisman, The arrival of Apple's new Xserve line of rack-optimized servers has caused industry watchers to pose a serious question that would have drawn only snickers in the past: Can Mac servers run the enterprise?

From a purely technological standpoint, there can be little doubt about the answer. Apple has designed a server that offers a multitude of features and options in a 1U design, including -- except in the low-end model -- dual G4 processors that supply maximum CPU power with a minimum of heat.

In addition, UNIX-based OS X server software provides the same plug-and-play ease of use for which Apple desktop PCs have been noted.

Software Advantages

IDC analyst Jean Bozman said the server version of Apple's OS X takes advantage of the same UNIX networking standards and protocols that are commonly used in designing networks.

In addition to using the core UNIX technology with which most system administrators are familiar, Apple's server software is said to be as easy to set up, manage and monitor as the consumer desktop version. Apple also has provided a number of software tools, including the ability to monitor server hardware remotely.

Another major advantage for enterprises is Apple's pricing scheme. Unlike rival Microsoft, Apple does not force companies buying its server software to pay per-user license fees -- the software can be implemented for an unlimited number of users.

We Do Windows

Perhaps the most important aspect of Apple's server operating system, in terms of integrating it into Windows-centric networks, stems from its adoption of open standards. According to Apple, Xserve's OS X offers out-of-the-box support for one or a combination of the major server and desktop operating systems, including Linux and Windows.

Brian Croll, director of software product marketing at Apple, said, "We support all the major industry standards, so that we can connect with the infrastructure that is already in place."

Croll said that, in particular, Apple ensured its connection to the Windows environment would be smooth.

When Size Matters

IDC analyst Bozman said that one of Xserve's main selling points is its 1U form factor, otherwise known as a "thin server." 1U indicates a small case form factor and footprint, measuring 1.75 inches high, for convenient deployment in standard racks.

As many as 40 Xserve servers can fit into an industry-standard rack, making the Xserve an efficient means of managing network information, Bozman said.

Before rack-mount servers became readily available, "enterprises had to figure out ahead of time what capacity they needed and pay accordingly," said Bozman. "The thin rack-optimized idea means [enterprises] can buy four, eight or 12 servers, and later add another 12 as they need them."

When Size Does Not Matter

Although the Xserve is small, its ability to direct network traffic is said to rival that of larger servers. The US$4,000 midrange model comes with dual 1 GHz PowerPC G4 processors with 256K L2 cache and 2 MB L3 cache per processor; 512MB of DDR SDRAM at 266 MHz; dual Gigabit Ethernet; and an ATI graphics card.

The 60 GB Apple Drive Module that is standard with the low- and mid-range models has three additional drive bays that can accept either 60 GB or 120 GB drive modules. Three PCI card slots allow for more customization options.

The Xserve also comes with two USB (universal serial bus) ports, three FireWire ports and a CD-ROM drive.

Customer Demand

Alex Grossman, Apple's director of servers and storage hardware product marketing, said Apple's installed base of customers had been calling for dedicated server hardware.

Grossman said that some customers had fabricated rack-mounts for Apple's older tower servers and had lobbied Apple to manufacture rack-mount servers even as Apple was developing the Xserve.

"Our customers wanted very high density and good serviceability, and we felt the 1U was the best compromise," Grossman said. "We decided to use the talent Apple has in package design to build a 1U system."

Evasive Goals

However, it is unlikely that in building and marketing the Xserve, Apple had only its present customer base in mind. The more products its present customers buy, the more profitable Apple is likely to be -- but that will not necessarily help the company achieve its goal of building market share.

Face it: Apple's technology, in general, has nearly always been better than that produced by the sometimes rag-tag members of the Wintel camp. But that has not been enough to push Apple through the 5 percent market share barrier.

On the other hand, with its UNIX-based operating system, Apple is now in a position to achieve the one goal that has always escaped it: respect in the enterprise IT world.

The company has a long way to go before it threatens any other server manufacturer; but given the Xserve as a starting point, if Apple plays its marketing cards right, it just might get there -- and sooner rather than later.