Apple Updates OS X Server, Adds Caching to Speed Distribution of Mac App Store Updates - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Updates OS X Server, Adds Caching to Speed Distribution of Mac App Store Updates

by

Apple has updated OS X Server, the application that runs on top of OS X Mountain Lion to expand the system's server feature set.

The most notable change in this update appears to be a new caching server for Mac App Store updates. Presumably, the server now downloads updates for things like iPhoto and OS X itself to prevent an organization from needing to download large updates multiple times for one workgroup.

NewImage

What's New in Version 2.2

• Caching Server to speed up download of software distributed by Apple through the Mac App Store.
• Time Machine service monitoring of which computers have backed up, when they last backed up and size of backup.
• Wiki Server support for MacBook Pro with Retina display.
• Fix for deleting apps uploaded to Profile Manager.
• Ability to use Active Directory groups within Profile Manager.
• Centralized Certificate management interface.

OS X Server is available for $19.99 on the Mac App Store. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

MagnusVonMagnum Avatar
MagnusVonMagnum
180 months ago
How about restoring things like NFS shares with a simple click instead of having to use the freaking Shell to set it up?

WTF is the point of the Mac as "It just works" if they keep making it more difficult to use instead of easier? (i.e. NFS used to be just a button click). And my WebDav sharing setting hasn't worked right yet when I tried it with XBMC (I had to install Samba3 to get SMB to work properly with it since XBMC doesn't work right with AFP, tending to crash after about a half hour of watching something and NFS is a PITA to set up via script).
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
D
Dirtfarmer
180 months ago
THIS IS WHY BUSINESS IGNORES APPLE.

A server is not an "app". Try bolting something on to your Caravan to make it into a Ferrari.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
D
Dirtfarmer
180 months ago
Ignoring the enterprise means that their market share remains a rounding error.

Yes it can blip during a consumer fad, but like iOS it will wax and wane depending on the fickle herd mentality of the average dummy in the street.

To really take hold they need to get the enterprise, and therefore get enterprise apps. So far their strategy has been to tell the enterprise to pound sand.

An interesting tactic.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
D
Dainin
180 months ago
How about restoring things like NFS shares with a simple click instead of having to use the freaking Shell to set it up?

WTF is the point of the Mac as "It just works" if they keep making it more difficult to use instead of easier? (i.e. NFS used to be just a button click). And my WebDav sharing setting hasn't worked right yet when I tried it with XBMC (I had to install Samba3 to get SMB to work properly with it since XBMC doesn't work right with AFP, tending to crash after about a half hour of watching something and NFS is a PITA to set up via script).

Same thing with FTP and other services. I'm having to go to the command line now instead of just ticking a box. Very annoying.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ConCat Avatar
ConCat
180 months ago
THIS IS WHY BUSINESS IGNORES APPLE.

A server is not an "app". Try bolting something on to your Caravan to make it into a Ferrari.

Well, actually, every Mac is a nearly full-functioning server. This isn't a self-contained app as it seems to be. It piggybacks on the many server technologies built into every Mac. It pretty much is like your average Linux server. They too have easily accessible server tools in the client version. The difference is the GUI for interacting with these features.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
J
Johnny Vegas
180 months ago
What Apple doesn't understand is how much IT professionals influence the purchase of computers. I get asked daily by family and co-workers for advice and I used to tell people that paying the little extra for Macs was justified, and their overall experience would be better. (Not to mention fewer calls to me for help...) But my current frustrations over the lock-down style of OSX and iOS have been pushing me away. I have 800+ computers running 10.4 - 10.8, and it is nightmare to manage these using Apple's server software, unless I use a dedicated server for each OS. Well that's just one example, that and the ticking time bomb of your computer after the 3 year warranty if something breaks be prepared to shell out at a minimum the price of a new PC tower.

I dont know... now with the Windows 8 disaster, maybe I'll suggest Linux, or Chrome??
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
Read Full Article • 152 comments
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update — 10 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and...
Read Full Article • 111 comments
Apple iCloud Plus expansion hero

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries

Tuesday September 15, 2026 1:43 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries. In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people....
Read Full Article • 108 comments