Use Mac OS X Tiger Server as a home computer OS?

[xTRIGGER092x]

So, I was needing a copy of Tiger for an old eMac and over the weekend I talked to an acquaintance who offered to sell me a copy of it (and the official Apple technicians manuals for it and a disc of free apps) for $40, but here's the catch: it's the Server version. He told me I can use it as a desktop OS, but how? I have no intention of using a server, so is there a way to skip that process?

 

[MisterMe]

... is there a way to skip that process?

What process?

 

[seveej]

What process?

I guess what the poster is trying to say is that Tiger Server is basically a desktop-server hybrid. So if you install it, you'll be getting the desktop OS, with the option of activating/deactivating (can't remember the default choice for 10.4 Server) server specific services.

Pekka

 

[foidulus]

So, I was needing a copy of Tiger for an old eMac and over the weekend I talked to an acquaintance who offered to sell me a copy of it (and the official Apple technicians manuals for it and a disc of free apps) for $40, but here's the catch: it's the Server version. He told me I can use it as a desktop OS, but how? I have no intention of using a server, so is there a way to skip that process?

The only major difference you will probably notice is that you have enter a serial number and go through a couple configuration screens upon installing the software, AFAIK there is no way to skip that. Other than that, you will have a couple more apps in your Applications directory and the default dock for a new user will be different, but beyond that it will function just like a normal Tiger machine.

 

[xTRIGGER092x]

The only major difference you will probably notice is that you have enter a serial number and go through a couple configuration screens upon installing the software, AFAIK there is no way to skip that. Other than that, you will have a couple more apps in your Applications directory and the default dock for a new user will be different, but beyond that it will function just like a normal Tiger machine.

If I can't skip the server configuration stuff, what am I supposed to enter in those fields?

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Yup, just don't configure anything in the Server Manager, and you won't notice the difference between it and the "desktop" version.

Although at this point, Tiger is getting a bit long in the tooth, with lots of software no longer supporting it, including the latest versions of Safari and Firefox. Finally, the hardware that can run Tiger is likewise getting a bit long in the tooth, and depending on what you're going to do with it, may be a bit slow for current use. (Obviously, even an early Mac Pro should be fine, but for example an original MacBook Pro is starting to 'feel slow' with modern software.)

For the initial configuration, just tell it you don't want to activate any of the server items, and you'll be good.

 

[foidulus]

If I can't skip the server configuration stuff, what am I supposed to enter in those fields?

It's been a while since I installed Tiger Server, so I cannot tell you exactly what it will ask, but basically it will ask what kind of services you want to configure, just say none and you should be good. Probably the most important question will be whether or not you want to set up open directory, just choose the "standalone server" option and you should be fine.

 

[xTRIGGER092x]

Yup, just don't configure anything in the Server Manager, and you won't notice the difference between it and the "desktop" version.

Although at this point, Tiger is getting a bit long in the tooth, with lots of software no longer supporting it, including the latest versions of Safari and Firefox. Finally, the hardware that can run Tiger is likewise getting a bit long in the tooth, and depending on what you're going to do with it, may be a bit slow for current use. (Obviously, even an early Mac Pro should be fine, but for example an original MacBook Pro is starting to 'feel slow' with modern software.)

For the initial configuration, just tell it you don't want to activate any of the server items, and you'll be good.

I'm very well aware it won't be a speed demon, but I think it should do okay for browsing (and browsing only). I'm gonna max it out with 1GB of RAM and do this upgrade to Tiger, and that should help a lot. Granted, I can't upgrade the 700MHz processor, but RAM has more of an impact on speed than the processor.

And I won't be using Safari or Firefox; there's a browser called TenFourFox which is essentially Firefox 4 for PPC and should be able to load sites fine.

 

[xTRIGGER092x]

It's been a while since I installed Tiger Server, so I cannot tell you exactly what it will ask, but basically it will ask what kind of services you want to configure, just say none and you should be good. Probably the most important question will be whether or not you want to set up open directory, just choose the "standalone server" option and you should be fine.

Alright, thanks. But if I choose this standalone server option, would a server actually be running in the background, eating up my resources? Considering I'll only have 1GB of RAM and the min. requirements is 512MB, it worries me if that's the case (I don't want to take a performance hit in an already weak system).

 

[MisterMe]

Alright, thanks. But if I choose this standalone server option, would a server actually be running in the background, eating up my resources? Considering I'll only have 1GB of RAM and the min. requirements is 512MB, it worries me if that's the case (I don't want to take a performance hit in an already weak system).

MacOS X Server is MacOS X with extra utilities required to administer and operate a server. It is not a different animal than you are used to.

 

[foidulus]

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It's been a while since I installed Tiger Server, so I cannot tell you exactly what it will ask, but basically it will ask what kind of services you want to configure, just say none and you should be good. Probably the most important question will be whether or not you want to set up open directory, just choose the "standalone server" option and you should be fine.

Alright, thanks. But if I choose this standalone server option, would a server actually be running in the background, eating up my resources? Considering I'll only have 1GB of RAM and the min. requirements is 512MB, it worries me if that's the case (I don't want to take a performance hit in an already weak system).

No, standalone server simply means you won't be configuring open directory. The only server process that will run is the serial number service, and that doesn't eat a lot of resources.

 

[rwwest7]

I'm very well aware it won't be a speed demon, but I think it should do okay for browsing (and browsing only). I'm gonna max it out with 1GB of RAM and do this upgrade to Tiger, and that should help a lot. Granted, I can't upgrade the 700MHz processor, but RAM has more of an impact on speed than the processor.

And I won't be using Safari or Firefox; there's a browser called TenFourFox which is essentially Firefox 4 for PPC and should be able to load sites fine.

Not exactly true, RAM is how many things you can do at once. CPU is how fast you can get something done. A CPU can only do one thing at a time and the faster the Hz the faster it can get that one thing done and move on to the next thing.

 

[Draeconis]

Wouldn't it be better to just get an up-to-date PPC Ubuntu or Linux Mint build? That way you're not stuck using software from 2007 :/

 

[Consultant]

I would backup the drive, erase the drive, and install new.

Yup, just don't configure anything in the Server Manager, and you won't notice the difference between it and the "desktop" version.

Although at this point, Tiger is getting a bit long in the tooth, with lots of software no longer supporting it, including the latest versions of Safari and Firefox. Finally, the hardware that can run Tiger is likewise getting a bit long in the tooth, and depending on what you're going to do with it, may be a bit slow for current use. (Obviously, even an early Mac Pro should be fine, but for example an original MacBook Pro is starting to 'feel slow' with modern software.)

For the initial configuration, just tell it you don't want to activate any of the server items, and you'll be good.

He is using it on an EMAC. Using up to date technology is probably not a priority.