AppleInsider StaffThe announcement appeared on Apple's Xserve site Friday, notifying users of the upcoming deadline. It also features a PDF for the "Xserve Transition Guide."
Apple will not be developing a future version of Xserve, leaving customers looking for a Mac-based server option to choose between the Mac Pro with Snow Leopard Server, or the Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server. Both systems will be available for customers looking to upgrade, replace or supplement existing Xserve systems.
Xserve orders will be accepted through Jan. 31, 2011, including the 160GB, 1TB, and 2TB models, and those purchases will be backed by Apple's full one-year warranty.
"Customers can rest assured that Intel-based Xserve systems will continue to provide useful service during and after this transition," Apple's transition guide reads.
The documentation notes that the 12-core Mac Pro with Snow Leopard Server meets or exceeds the performance of the baseline Xserve hardware. The Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server, on the other hand, is significantly outperformed by Xserve, but it has been Apple's most popular server system since its introduction in the fall of 2009.
The Xserve hardware was upgraded to Intel's Nehalem-based Xeon processor in April of 2009. Customers can still buy a 1U rack-optimized system with one quad-core 2.26GHz system starting at $2,999, or a system with two processors starting at $3,599.
In June, Apple updated its Mac mini line, giving the Snow Leopard Server offering a 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor for $999. The new Mac Pro, with up to 12 processing cores, was announced in July and launched in August.
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332 Comments
This decision will polarize people for sure. Let the games begin.
1 less Mac model.
Apple *should* have been able to do well in the server market. There is a lot of complicated crap in there, and a server with the simplicity of a Mac should have taken off.
But OS X Server was never that great of a product. The GUI might have used Cocoa but that's where the Mac-ness/simplicity ended. Also there is a lot of irrational hate of Apple with IT admins, and they need servers with comprehensive support/on-sire repair.
I hope OS X server isn't discontinued, but with Java now deprecated (which is primarily a server side tech these days, on the Mac at least) it makes you wonder is OS X server is not next, and the new Mac Pro server is just temporary placation.
Edit: I think the white Macbook should go next. They don't need 3 lines of laptop.
damnit, what are they thinking? xserve hardware though often a step behind mac pro hardware is far better suited to the comms room than mac pros - I'll have to get a whole new cage when I next upgrade just to house the new machines!
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What rill they use in Apple server farms?
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Well if your not going to produce a rack server then allow Dell or HP to use OS X server in their rack machines .
I have been with you Apple since OS 6.03 and I am tired of the playing, if you want to compete in industry then you need a rack server.
otherwise give up the OS and we will all suffer using linux or cannot bare to say it windows