OS X.4 Server Features

[fherbert]

Does anyone have any idea what new/updated features apple will be putting into tiger server? – apart from the known ones already – ie software update server, offline folders, ACLs… and everything else apple list on the web site.

I would like to start a wish list….
Here goes:

* Modify LDAP structure to enable out-of-the-box directory address book. Don’t make me have to run perl script to add/modify entries in the schema that should not have to be – ie cn=99, good one apple. I have checked apples web site, they indicate changes to open directory : [QUOTE]Tiger Server includes significant updates to Directory Services[/QUOTE] but what does that mean exactly??

* Integrated proxy server with ldap authentication. I do enjoy spending 2 or 3 hours manually compiling and modifying source code for this to work, but who pays for that???

Note: I’m very happy to see integration of spam filtering with the mail server.

I’ll add more when I remember them.. meanwhile, anyone else like to add to the list??

[Detrius]

I’ve been hoping for remote graphical login (instead of that wretched Apple Remote Desktop). This is something that OS X can do with X11, and therefore any other Unix can do it. Even MS Windows can do this. Why would Apple *NOT* add this in 10.4? In my opinion, it’s the last big thing that Windows can do that Mac OS X cannot. This would open the door for Apple to release thin clients, which is the BIGGEST thing holding OS X back from overtaking Windows. The company I work for would never consider selling Macs instead of Windows. The lack of this feature makes the Macintosh look pretty crude in comparison to Windows.

Probably the easiest way for Apple to implement this would be to modify the VNC server they added to the latest Apple Remote Desktop such that it does not take over the screen–it acts as a second WindowServer process and shows a loginwindow. Then you can log in and run GUI programs without them ever being seen on the main display.

Apple will HAVE to do this at some point; otherwise they will never be able to compete with Windows Thin Clients/Dumb Terminals.

[jxself]

Maybe I’m being stupid, but isn’t this already available?

You can turn any Mac into a “dumb terminal.” Find a cheap machine somewhere. Pull the drives out & boot over the network. A graphical login screen appears.

All documents, applications, etc. are left on the server — even the operating system — since the local machine has no drive of any kind.

It’s great in the business world because it helps to simply things. Want to update the operating system or applications? You do it in one place. No more pushing software out to loads of machines to keep them up to date.

You can then login from any machine & have all the same stuff, etc.

The really cool thing would be the ability to transfer your login session somewhere else. I saw this once in a Windows environment. Someone was logged into their local Windows box & went to another machine.

They logged in there. They were then able to resume writing their e-mail where they left off.

It took a minute or two to get their session transferred when they logged in, but it was cool.

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