OS X Server services on OS X client?

[RMo]

Greetings,

I recently bought an old Mac mini on eBay with OS X 10.6 client. I am actually planning to use it as a server. I have three options:

• Install Windows Server 2003 R2 or 2008 (I have licenses for both and am currently using neither)
• Install Ubuntu server (or even desktop)
• Keep OS X client

There exists the fourth option of buying OS X Server, but I really would prefer not to do that. I am familiar with Windows severs from work, but I would prefer not do to do that, especially since I use Macs at home. I am familiar with setting up servers (especially Web servers, SSH, and ... well, not a whole not more) on Linux, as well, which is why I point it out as an option.

However, I would really like to keep OS X on the machine and add what I need to make it a better server. (Most things that run on Linux can be run on OS X, and several are even included in the client version--Apache, for example.) Does anyone have tips on this?

Off the top of my head, the only two things I would like that aren't included are something like iCal Server (especially the Web interface of iCal Server 2 if something like that exists) and iChat server (is this just an XMPP server?). Mail would also be nice, but if nothing else, I'm sure I can get the tools I use on Linux to run on OS X.

I know I can do Web and file serving already, as well as some of the other features OS X server supports (although perhaps not as elegantly), like wiki serving. I'm also curious what the "mobile access server" is or if there exists anything similar for OS X client. (I'm also considering running Ubuntu in a virtual machine and keeping OS X for...I'm not exactly sure what, other than to be a host OS. But, again, I'd like to stick with OS X as much as I can, especially since I know even the client version includes some things I like.)

If anyone has tips, that would be great. Thanks!

 

[RMo]

Basically, I'm looking for something like this, but updated for [Snow] Leopard: http://lowendmac.com/crews/05/1128.html

 

[myjay610]

You can do CalDAV and CardDAV by following this: http://www.ronregev.com/misc/pim_server_tutorial/

Note that the process has changed because the repositories have both protocols bundled together now so it should be one big setup instead of two. The author hasn't released an updated version yet, although he said he would (see comments on bottom)

 

[RMo]

Thanks for the info. I was looking at Darwin Calendar and Contacts server myself. I wonder if it includes the web-based interface in iCal Server 2...

Thanks again!