Xserve#Xserve G4

{{short description|Apple rack-mounted server}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}}

Image:Xserve cluster NASA.jpg and APC UPS]]

The Xserve is a discontinued series of rack-mounted servers that was manufactured by Apple Inc. between 2002 and 2011. It was Apple's first rack-mounted server,{{Cite web |title=Apple serves up rack-mountable server |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/apple-serves-up-rack-mountable-server/ |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=CNET |language=en}} and could function as a file server, web server or run high-performance computing applications in clusters – a dedicated cluster Xserve, the Xserve Cluster Node, without a video card and optical drives was also available. The first Xserve had a {{nowrap|PowerPC G4}} processor, replaced by a {{nowrap|PowerPC G5}} in 2004, and by Intel Xeon processors in 2006; each was available in single-processor and dual-processor configurations. The Xserve was discontinued in 2011, and replaced with the Mac Pro Server and the Mac Mini Server.{{cite web |url=https://images.apple.com/xserve/pdf/L422277A_Xserve_Guide.pdf |title=Xserve Transition Guide |date=November 5, 2010 |access-date=November 5, 2010 |archive-date=November 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105222306/http://images.apple.com/xserve/pdf/L422277A_Xserve_Guide.pdf |url-status=live }}

Before the Xserve, Apple's server line included the Apple Workgroup Server, Macintosh Server, and Apple Network Server.

Xserve G4

{{Infobox Computer

|name = Xserve G4

|developer = Apple Inc.

|type = Rackmounted Server

|photo = 230px
The original Xserve G4
Image:Xserve G4 slot.jpg
The second-generation Xserve G4
230px

|caption = The Xserve G4 Cluster Node

|first_release_date = May 14, 2002

|discontinuation_date = January 6, 2004

|predecessor = Apple Workgroup Server and Macintosh Server
Apple Network Server

|processor = Single or dual PowerPC G4,
1 GHz – 1.33 GHz

}}

Apple introduced the Xserve on May 14, 2002 (released in June). Initially, two configuration options were available: a single-processor Xserve at US$2999, and a dual-processor Xserve at US$3999. Xserves sold before August 24, 2002 shipped with Mac OS X v10.1 "Puma" Server, while those sold after shipped with Mac OS X v10.2 "Jaguar" Server.

On February 10, 2003, Apple released an improved and expanded Xserve lineup. Improvements included one or two 1.33 GHz PowerPC G4 processors, faster memory, and higher capacity Ultra ATA/133 hard disk drives. The front plate was redesigned for a slot-loading optical drive. A new model, the Xserve Cluster node was announced at the same price as the single-processor Xserve, featuring two 1.33 GHz processors, no optical drive, a single hard drive bay, no video or Ethernet cards, and a 10-client version of "Jaguar" server.

On April 2, 2003 the Xserve RAID was introduced, providing a much higher capacity and higher throughput disk subsystem for the Xserve.

{{All are obsolete}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:small; text-align:center"

!style="background:#FF9999" | Component

!style="background:#FF9999" | Xserve G4

!style="background:#FF9999" | Xserve G4 (Slot Load)

!style="background:#FF9999" | Xserve G4 Cluster Node

Model identifier

| RackMac1,1 || colspan=2| RackMac1,2

Processor

| 1 GHz or Dual 1 GHz || 1.33 GHz or Dual 1.33 GHz || Dual 1.33 GHz

CPU cache

|colspan=3| 64 KB L1, 256 KB (1:1) L2, 2 MB L3 (Per Processor)

Front side bus

| 133 MHz

| colspan=2| 167 MHz

Memory

| 256 MB of PC2100 DDR SDRAM (1 GHz)
512 MB of PC2100 DDR SDRAM (DP 1 GHz)
Expandable to 2 GB

| 256 MB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM (1.33 GHz)
512 MB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM (DP 1.33 GHz)
Expandable to 2 GB

| 256 MB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM
Expandable to 2 GB

Graphics

| ATI PCI Graphics with 32 MB of DDR SDRAM
Optional ATI Radeon 8500 (AGP 4x)

| ATI PCI Graphics with 32 MB of DDR SDRAM
Optional AGP 4x card with 64 MB of DDR SDRAM

| None

rowspan=2| Hard drive

| 60 or 120 GB 7200-rpm ATA
Up to 4x 120 GB (480 GB)

| 60 GB 7200-rpm ATA
Up to 4x 180 GB (720 GB)

| 60 GB 7200-rpm ATA

Ultra ATA/100 (Optional Ultra 160 SCSI)
Four Internal Bays

|Ultra ATA/133
Four Internal Bays

|Ultra ATA/133

Optical drive

|CD-ROM
Tray-loading || CD-ROM or CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo Drive
Slot-loading || None

Connectivity

| colspan=2 |2x Gigabit Ethernet (One on PCI card)

| 1x Gigabit Ethernet

Expansion

|colspan=2| 2x 64-bit 66 MHz PCI slots
1x 66 MHz PCI/AGP slot (used for Gigabit Ethernet card)

| 2x 64-bit 66 MHz PCI slots

Peripherals

| 2x USB 1.1
3x FireWire 400
1x RS-232 serial

| colspan=2| 2x USB 1.1
1x FireWire 400
2x FireWire 800
1x RS-232 serial

Video out

| VGA || VGA or (VGA, DVI and S-Video) with AGP 4x card || None

Minimum operating system

|colspan=1| Mac OS X Server 10.1.5 Puma

|colspan=2| Mac OS X Server 10.2.4 Jaguar

Latest release operating system

|colspan=3| Mac OS X Server 10.5.8 Leopard

Weight

| colspan=3 |11.8 kg (26 Pounds)

Xserve G5

{{Infobox Computer

|name = Xserve G5

|developer = Apple Inc.

|type = Rackmounted Server

|photo = 230px
The Xserve G5
230px

|caption = The Xserve G5 Cluster Node

|first_release_date = January 6, 2004

|discontinuation_date = November 2006

|processor = Single or dual PowerPC G5,
2 GHz – 2.3 GHz

|website =

}}

On January 6, 2004 Apple introduced the Xserve G5, a redesigned higher-performance Xserve. The 32-bit PowerPC G4s were replaced with one or two 64-bit PowerPC 970 processors running at 2 GHz. Ventilation issues restricted it to three SATA hot-swap drive bays, with the original space for the fourth drive bay used for air vents. The front plate and slot-loading optical drive were retained from the last Xserve G4. The higher memory capacity and bandwidth as well as the stronger floating-point performance of the PowerPC 970 made it more suitable for high-performance computing (HPC) applications. System X is one such cluster computer built with Xserves.

Three configuration options were available: a single-processor model at US$2,999, a dual-processor model at $3,999, and a dual-processor cluster node model (with an unchanged appearance from the G4 cluster node) at US$2,999.

On January 3, 2005, Apple updated the Xserve G5 with faster processors in the dual-processor configurations. 400 GB hard disks were made available for up to 1.2 TB of internal storage. The slot-loading optical drive was upgraded to a combination DVD-ROM/CD-RW standard, DVD-/+RW optional. Soon after, Apple updated the Xserve and Xserve RAID to allow the use of 500 GB Hard Drives.

Xserve G5 models before April 2005 shipped with Mac OS X v10.3 "Panther", after April 2005 shipped with Mac OS X v10.4 "Tiger".

{{All are obsolete}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:small; text-align:center"

! style="background:#FF9999" | Component

! style="background:#FF9999" | Xserve G5

! style="background:#FF9999" | Xserve G5 Cluster Node

Order Number(s)

| ML/9216A (2.0), ML/9217A (2.0 DP), M9745LL/A (2.3)

| ML/9215A (2.0), M9742LL/A (2.3)

Model identifier

| colspan=2 | RackMac3.1

Processor

| 2 GHz, Dual 2 GHz, or Dual 2.3 GHz
PowerPC 970FX

| Dual 2 GHz or Dual 2.3 GHz
PowerPC 970FX

CPU cache

| colspan=2 | 512 KB L2

Front side bus

| colspan=2 | 1 GHz (2.0 GHz SP or DP)
1.15 GHz (2.3 GHz DP)

Memory

| 512 MB or 1 GB of 400 MHz PC3200 ECC DDR SDRAM
Expandable to 16 GB

| 512 MB of 400 MHz PC3200 ECC DDR SDRAM
Expandable to 16 GB

Graphics

| colspan=2| None
Optional PCI card

rowspan=2 | Hard drive

| colspan=2 | 80 GB
Up to 3x 500 GB (1.5 TB)

colspan=2 | Serial ATA 7200-rpm
Three Internal Bays
Optical drive

| CD-ROM, CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo Drive or DVD-RW SuperDrive
Slot-loading

| None

Connectivity

| colspan=2 | 2x Gigabit Ethernet

Expansion

| colspan=2 | 2x 64-bit PCI-X slots

Peripherals

| colspan=2 | 2x USB 2.0
2x FireWire 800
1x FireWire 400
1x RS-232 serial

Video out

| colspan=2 | None (VGA with optional PCI card)

Minimum operating system

| colspan=2 | Mac OS X Server 10.3 Panther

Latest release operating system

| colspan=2 | Mac OS X Server 10.5.8 Leopard

Weight

| colspan=2 | 15.1 kg (33 Pounds)

Intel Xserve

{{Infobox Computer

|name = Xserve "Xeon"

|developer = Apple Inc.

|type = Rackmounted Server

|photo = 230px

|caption = The Intel Xserve

|first_release_date = 2007

|processor = Single or Dual Intel Xeon Dual or Quad Core CPUs, 2.0 GHz – 3.33 GHz

|Memory =

|website = [https://www.apple.com/xserve/ apple.com/xserve]

|discontinuation_date = January 31, 2011

|successor = Mac Pro Server
Mac Mini Server

}}

The Intel-based Xserves were announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference on August 7, 2006, and are significantly faster compared to the Xserve G5. They use Intel Xeon ('Woodcrest') processors, DDR2 ECC FB-DIMMs, ATI Radeon graphics, a maximum storage capacity of 2.25 TB when used with three 750 GB drives, optional redundant power supplies and a 1U rack form factor. The Intel Xserves now had on board video, freeing up an expansion slot.

On January 8, 2008 Xserve was updated with Intel Xeon ('Harpertown') processors, faster memory, and a maximum storage capacity of 3 TB when used with three 1 TB drives. The front-mounted FireWire 400 port featured in previous models was also replaced with a USB 2.0 port. The Xserve RAID was discontinued on February 19, 2008.

On April 7, 2009 Xserve was updated to use Intel Xeon ('Gainestown') processors, DDR3 memory, and NVIDIA graphics with Mini DisplayPort output. The update also saw an increase to the maximum storage capacity, bringing it to 6 TB when used with three 2 TB drives. An option to add a SSD boot-drive that does not occupy a drive bay was also implemented. The addition of the SSD boot drive allows all drives to be swapped whilst the server remains online. It is also Apple's first Xserve to use PVC-free internal cables and components and contain no brominated flame retardants.

On August 28, 2009 Xserve was updated to ship standard with Mac OS X Server 10.6 Unlimited Client Server. In addition to improved functionality Mac OS X 10.6 Server added support for up to 96 GB of RAM.{{Cite web|url=https://support.apple.com/kb/sp511?locale=en_GB|title=Xserve (2009) - Technical Specifications|website=support.apple.com|access-date=September 12, 2022|archive-date=September 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912040802/https://support.apple.com/kb/sp511?locale=en_GB|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://everymac.com/systems/apple/xserve/specs/xserve-intel-nehalem-xeon-2.93-2009-eight-core-specs.html |title=Apple Xserve Xeon Nehalem 2.93 "Eight Core" Specs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927140009/https://everymac.com/systems/apple/xserve/specs/xserve-intel-nehalem-xeon-2.93-2009-eight-core-specs.html |archive-date=2022-09-27}}

On November 5, 2010, Apple announced that it would not be developing a future version of Xserve. While accepting orders for the current model until January 31, 2011, and "honoring" all Xserve warranties and extended support programs, the company suggested users switch to Mac Pro Server or Mac Mini Server.

After the Xserve's discontinuation, an annoyed customer emailed Steve Jobs, who responded that "hardly anyone was buying them".{{Cite web |last=Furno |first=Nicolas |date=2010-11-08 |title=Xserve : "Pour ainsi dire, personne ne les achetait" (Steve Jobs) |url=https://www.macg.co/news/voir/175852/xserve-pour-ainsi-dire-personne-ne-les-achetait-steve-jobs |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=MacGeneration |language=fr}}

{{All are obsolete}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:small; text-align:center"
style="background:#FF9999" | Component

! style="background:#FF9999" | Late 2006

! style="background:#FF9999" | Early 2008

! style="background:#FF9999" | Early 2009 {{Cite web|url=https://support.apple.com/kb/SP511?locale=en_US|title=Xserve (2009) - Technical Specifications|website=support.apple.com|access-date=September 16, 2020|archive-date=April 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426185019/https://support.apple.com/kb/SP511?locale=en_US|url-status=live}}

Release date

| August 7, 2006 {{cite web |title=Apple Introduces Xserve with Quad 64-bit Xeon Processors |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2006/08/07Apple-Introduces-Xserve-with-Quad-64-bit-Xeon-Processors/ |website=Apple Inc. |access-date=23 June 2020 |date=7 August 2006 |archive-date=December 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207034347/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2006/08/07Apple-Introduces-Xserve-with-Quad-64-bit-Xeon-Processors/ |url-status=live }}

| January 8, 2008 {{cite web |title=Apple Introduces New Xserve—Most Powerful Apple Server Ever |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2008/01/08Apple-Introduces-New-Xserve-Most-Powerful-Apple-Server-Ever/ |website=Apple Inc. |access-date=23 June 2020 |date=8 January 2008 |archive-date=April 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417225716/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2008/01/08Apple-Introduces-New-Xserve-Most-Powerful-Apple-Server-Ever/ |url-status=live }}

| April 7, 2009 {{cite web |title=Apple Updates Xserve with Twice the Performance |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2009/04/07Apple-Updates-Xserve-with-Twice-the-Performance/ |website=Apple Inc. |access-date=23 June 2020 |date=7 April 2009 |archive-date=May 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507203753/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2009/04/07Apple-Updates-Xserve-with-Twice-the-Performance/ |url-status=live }}

Model identifier

| Xserve1,1

| Xserve2,1

| Xserve3,1

Processor

| Dual 2 GHz, Dual 2.66 GHz, or Dual 3 GHz
Dual-Core Intel Xeon 5100 ("Woodcrest")

| 2.8 GHz, Dual 2.8 GHz, or Dual 3 GHz
Quad-Core Intel Xeon 5400 ("Harpertown")

| 2.26 GHz, Dual 2.26 GHz, Dual 2.66 GHz, or Dual 2.93 GHz
Quad-Core Intel Xeon 5500 ("Gainestown")

CPU cache

| 1 MB L2 (Per Processor)

| 2 MB L2 (Per Processor)

| 4x 256 KB L2; 8 MB L3 (Per Processor)

System bus

| 1333 MHz Front side bus (Per Processor)

| 1600 MHz Front side bus (Per Processor)

| QPI

Memory

| 1 GB of 667 MHz PC2-5300 Fully Buffered ECC DDR2 SDRAM
Expandable to 32 GB

| 2 GB of 800 MHz PC2-6400 Fully Buffered ECC DDR2 SDRAM
Expandable to 32 GB

| 3 GB of 1066 MHz PC3-8500 ECC DDR3 SDRAM
Expandable to 24 GB (Quad Core) or 48 GB (Eight Core)

Graphics

| ATI Radeon X1300 with 64 MB of GDDR3 SDRAM
Optional ATI Radeon X1300 with 256 MB of DDR2 SDRAM

| ATI Radeon X1300 with 64 MB of GDDR3 SDRAM

| NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 256 MB of GDDR3 SDRAM

rowspan=2 | Hard drive

| 80 GB SATA
SATA: Up to 3x 750 GB (2.25 TB)
SAS: Up to 3x 300 GB (900 GB)

| 80 GB SATA
SATA: Up to 3x 1 TB (3 TB)
SAS: Up to 3x 450 GB (1.35 TB)

| 160 GB SATA
SATA: Up to 3x 2 TB (6 TB)
SAS: Up to 3x 450 GB (1.35 TB)

colspan=2 | Serial ATA 5400-rpm or SAS 15000-rpm
Three Internal Bays

| Serial ATA 7200-rpm or SAS 15000-rpm
Optional 128 GB SSD Boot Drive
Three Internal Bays

Optical drive
Slot loading

| CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo Drive or DVD-RW DL SuperDrive

| colspan=2 | DVD-RW DL SuperDrive

Connectivity

| colspan=3 | 2x Gigabit Ethernet

Expansion

| 1x PCIe ×8
1x configurable slot (PCIe ×8 or 133 MHz PCI-X)

| 1x PCIe 2.0 ×16
1x configurable slot (PCIe 2.0 ×8 or 133 MHz PCI-X)

| 2x PCIe 2.0 ×16 (1x 6.6" length and 1x 9.25" length)

Peripherals

| 2x USB 2.0
2x FireWire 800
1x FireWire 400
1x RS-232 serial

| colspan=2 | 3x USB 2.0
2x FireWire 800
1x RS-232 serial

Video out

| colspan=2 | Mini-DVI (VGA with adapter)
Dual-Link DVI with optional ATI video card

| Mini DisplayPort

Minimum operating system

| Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger

| colspan=2 |Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard

Latest release operating system

| colspan=2 | Mac OS X 10.7 Lion & Mac OS X Server

| OS X 10.11 El Capitan & macOS Server

Weight

| colspan=2 | 14.4 kg (31.7 Pounds)

| 14 kg (30.86 Pounds)

Supported operating systems

class="wikitable" style="font-size:small"
rowspan="3" |macOS release

! colspan="2" | Xserve G4

! Xserve G5

! colspan="3" | Xserve Xeon

colspan="1" |Original

!Slot Load/Cluster Node

!All

! colspan="1" |Late 2006

! colspan="1" |Early 2008

! colspan="1" |Early 2009

colspan="1" |RackMac1,1

!RackMac1,2

!RackMac3,1

! colspan="1" |Xserve1,1

! colspan="1" |Xserve2,1

! colspan="1" |Xserve3,1

10.1 Puma Server

| {{Ya|text=10.1.5}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}}

10.2 Jaguar Server

| {{ya}} || {{Ya|text=10.2.4}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}}

10.3 Panther Server

| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}}

10.4 Tiger Server

| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya|text=10.4.8}} || {{na}} || {{na}}

10.5 Leopard Server

| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}

10.6 Snow Leopard Server

| {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}

10.7 Lion and Mac OS X Server

| {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}

10.8 Mountain Lion and OS X Server

| {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{Partial|patch}} || {{Partial|patch}} || {{ya}}

10.9 Mavericks and OS X Server

| {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{Partial|patch}} || {{Partial|patch}} || {{ya}}

10.10 Yosemite and OS X Server

| {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{Partial|patch, upgraded GPU}} || {{Partial|patch, upgraded GPU}} || {{ya}}

10.11 El Capitan and OS X Server

| {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{Partial|patch, upgraded GPU}} || {{Partial|patch, upgraded GPU}} || {{ya}}

10.12 Sierra and macOS Server

| {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{Partial|patch, upgraded GPU}} || {{Partial|patch}}

10.13 High Sierra and macOS Server

| {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{Partial|patch, upgraded GPU}} || {{Partial|patch}}

10.14 Mojave and macOS Server

| {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{Partial|patch, upgraded GPU}} || {{Partial|patch}}

10.15 Catalina and macOS Server

| {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{Partial|patch, upgraded GPU}} || {{Partial|patch}}

11 Big Sur and macOS Server

| {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{Partial|patch, upgraded GPU}} || {{Partial|patch}}

12 Monterey and macOS Server

| {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{Partial|patch, upgraded GPU}} || {{Partial|patch}}

13 Ventura

| {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{Partial|patch, upgraded GPU}} || {{Partial|patch}}

14 Sonoma

| {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{Partial|patch, upgraded GPU}} || {{Partial|patch}}

15 Sequoia

| {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}} || {{Partial|patch, upgraded GPU}} || {{Partial|patch}}

{{Timeline of Macintosh servers}}

Notes

{{Notelist}}

References

{{reflist}}