The long history of the Parallels Server release is moving ever closer to an end: SWsoft (which is changing their name to Parallels) has announced that the product has moved into beta. This thing is the holy grail for Mac server administrators, apparently-- it's supposed to not only be the first virtualization solution to run on Apple hardware, but will also allow admins to run multiple versions of Leopard on one box, and even on Windows or Linux servers. I'm pretty clueless at fine art of administering servers, but even I can see how that would have all the IT guys in a tizzy.It's still a closed beta at this point, so you've got to sign up if you want to experience the magic for yourself. And apparently the Parallels folks work fast, so odds are we're headed for an open beta within a few weeks. Soon, Mac OS Server will be at the mercy of any IT overseers to bend and use at their will.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-09-2008 @ 2:57PM
Zeke said...
So wait.... Am I correct that one feature will be the virtualization of a Leopard OS from a Windows host? Wouldn't that be the first "legit" way to run OS X on generic hardware?
If so, I can see another potential market for this product.... Guys like me with crappy Dells who can't shell out money for a mac right now, but could pay Apple good money for a Leopard license and Parallels for the virtualization software.
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1-09-2008 @ 3:04PM
Joshua Whitver said...
I'm pretty sure the article is incorrect about running Leopard on Linux/Windows.
Apple's license explicitly states it must be run only on Apple-branded hardware, though with Leopard Server they do open the door in the EULA for virtualization (as long as it remains on Apple hardware).
1-09-2008 @ 3:06PM
Alex said...
From the press release:
"Parallels Server's industry-first capability to simultaneously run multiple copies of Mac OS X Server, Windows Server and Linux on the same Xserve
Running Parallels Server on Apple hardware gives users the industry-first option to run Mac OS X Server in a virtual machine"
So, Parallels Server will only allow OS X to run on Apple Hardware, not generic hardware.
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1-09-2008 @ 3:06PM
Ricosuave said...
Does Leo Server run Front Row?
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1-09-2008 @ 3:10PM
Alex said...
Strangely, yes. Leopard Server installs both Front Row and Photo Booth despite the fact that neither the Mac Pro, nor the Xserve, have the hardware to support those programs.
1-10-2008 @ 7:47AM
DagMX said...
Both have hardware that support it apart from the webcam which can be bought. Its better to install it off the disc than having tons of people hogging servers each time they get a webcam
1-09-2008 @ 3:09PM
Joshua Whitver said...
To follow-up: SWsoft's site says it's the first product to run "multiple copies of Mac OS X Server v10.5 Leopard on a single Apple computer" - the next sentence says that Parallels server runs on Windows or Linux, but doesn't say anything about the Guest operating systems that run on those OS's. Since they explicitly stated running multiple instances of Leopard on "a single Apple computer" in the preceding sentence, I'm interpreting that to mean that you can only virtualize Windows/Linux on the Windows and Linux versions.
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1-09-2008 @ 5:07PM
ishcabittle said...
Joshua, I believe you are wrong. Parallels Server is a OS X Server only application, meaning it will only run in OS X Server. Once running, however, you are then able to virtualize OS X, Linux, or Windows server operating systems. Parallels Server is a Mac OS X Server only application, just as Parallels (client) is Mac OS X only.
And while Photo Booth is indeed a little silly to run on a server system, Front Row will run on any Leopard system, whether or not it has a remote/iR receiver.
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1-09-2008 @ 7:03PM
Alex said...
Indeed, since both are installed on any system that supports Leopard, I suppose it would have been more correct to say that the Mac Pro do not have the hardware to take full advantage of Photo Booth and Front Row.
1-09-2008 @ 7:04PM
Codey H. said...
http://www.parallels.com/en/products/workstation/
It's available for Win and Linux also
1-09-2008 @ 7:16PM
Dan Ridley said...
You're wrong — Parallels Server is available for Mac, Windows and Linux hosts. There's also a "bare metal hypervisor," though I don't know the details of that one. The Mac version allows Mac guests; the Windows and Linux versions do not (though whether there are technical limitations or just a matter of licensing isn't clear — if it's just licensing, then Apple could open it up if they wished).
I suspect Parallels Server will run fine in a non-Server version of OS X, as well. You just can't virtualize a non-Server version of OS X due to licensing, so the copy *inside the VM* needs to be Leopard Server.