AppleInsider Staff
Apple on Monday released a new version of the upcoming OS X 3.1 Server update, with changes limited to general bug fixes and performance improvements.
According to people who have seen the latest OS X Server 3.1 Preview build 13S4122, the beta is much the same as the last release, which brought bug fixes to Server and Profile Manager.
As for Profile Manager, the latest build brings new "My Devices" portal access restrictions and device enrollment restrictions available on Users and Groups, as well as a feature that automatically retrieves an Activation Lock Bypass Code on enrollment of supervised devices.
The addition looks to be aimed at integration with Apple's new mass iOS device deployment management program, which the company revealed in an update to its website at the end of February.
Known issues include an issue where Profile Manager will stop working after an upgrade or migration from OS X Server 2.x. According to Apple, the problem does not affect upgrades or migration from OS X Server 3.0 or later.
Developers can download OS X Server 3.1 Preview build 12S4122 via Software Update or Apple's developer webpage. To test the software, developers must be running OS X Mavericks 10.9.2, which was released last week.
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10 Comments
This is very good, Apple has noticed that larger enterprises and educational institutions can benefit from its many innovative technolgies, and is making a major effort to court these larger organizations with its profile-based management solutions. I expect that by OS X Server 4.0, Open Directory will be removed and will be replaced with profile-based management, clearing the last hurdle to mass adoption of OS X and iOS-based devices by enterprise clients. This has been many years in the making, but it is well worth it. The IT landscape is changed forever!
Now all they need is proper hardware to install this on. Not everything can run off a mac mini and its not always practical installing an iMac or something like that.
MacXpress, I have a feeling that you are 100% correct, and that Apple will indeed release new enterprise hardware to succeed the XServe. You are right, it boggles the mind to think that an enterprise server can run off of a Mac Mini.
MacXpress, I have a feeling that you are 100% correct, and that Apple will indeed release new enterprise hardware to succeed the XServe. You are right, it boggles the mind to think that an enterprise server can run off of a Mac Mini.
I hope so...to me its a little embarrassing to say Apple's only server is basically a consumer mac mini with a Core i7. This is good for a few devices, but once you start getting up into quite a bit devices and Macs it will start to bog down depending on what services are running and what the devices/macs are using.
To be honest, Apple really needs to take their entire enterprise stuff to the next level. Remote Desktop is a completely disaster and doesn't work very well anymore. Server still needs work, but I see good improvement with Server 3. Many of these companies and schools don't use any Apple enterprise tools because they simply suck too much. If they really want to be a player in the enterprise space, they should really invest in software engineers to fix and build better software. This is what Apple does best but on the enterprise end it really sucks.
It does look like Apple is re-engineering its enterprise software. The company created a new IT-centered Web site where devices can be enrolled and certificates can be granted so that software can be installed through the Volume Purchasing Program. New MDM features are going to be released with iOS 7.1, and it appears that the same features may be included with OS X Server 3.1.