Apple Previews Mac OS X Server Leopard

Innovative New Setup Has Leopard Server Up and Running With Just a Few Clicks of a Mouse

WWDC 2006, SAN FRANCISCO — August 7, 2006 — Apple® today previewed Mac OS® X Server version 10.5 Leopard, the next major release of Apple’s award-winning UNIX® server operating system. Leopard Server, scheduled to ship in spring 2007, builds on Apple’s legendary ease of use with new Server Assistant and Server Preference features that make it easy for even non-technical users to setup and manage a server with just a few clicks of a mouse. For the first time, Apple is delivering native 64-bit server applications that take advantage of the increased processing power of 64-bit computing. Other new features include iCal® Server, the easiest way to share calendars, schedule meetings and plan events; a wiki server that makes it simple for teams to share and communicate; Spotlight™ Server, the fastest way to find content on servers; and Podcast Producer, the ideal way to automate Podcast production.

“Leopard Server brings a new level of 64-bit power together with Apple’s legendary ease of use in one server operating system,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Leopard Server is our best Mac OS X Server release yet and includes many new innovative features, such as iCal Server, a wiki server and Spotlight Server, making it ideal for education, small businesses and large enterprises alike, and a great alternative to Windows and Linux servers.”

Leopard Server enables small businesses and workgroups to take full advantage of the benefits of a server without an IT department. Leopard Server features a new setup interface with built-in Network Health Check, a new Server Preferences administration interface and automatic client setup support that automatically configures Mac OS X version 10.5 Leopard clients to use the server for all essential services, including file and printer sharing, Mail, iCal, iChat, Address Book and backup.

The core services in Leopard Server, including Apache 2, MySQL 5, Postfix, Cyrus, iChat Server and QuickTime® Streaming Server, are now 64-bit, allowing users to take full advantage of their 64-bit hardware’s performance and processing power, and to work with larger data sets. Since Leopard Server is fully 32-bit compatible, users can run 32-bit and 64-bit applications natively side-by-side.

For the first time, Mac OS X Server will include a calendar server for users and groups to coordinate events, schedule meetings, reserve resources and use time more effectively. iCal Server uses the open CalDAV standard for integration with leading calendar programs, including iCal 3 in Leopard, Mozilla’s Sunbird, OSAF’s Chandler and Microsoft Outlook. Leopard Server also includes a wiki server to make it easy for teams to create and share information through their own shared website and provides web-based access to shared resources such as team calendars, weblogs and Podcasts. Spotlight Server is the fastest way to search and find content on servers within a network. Designed for workgroups with shared documents, projects and file archives, Spotlight Server works with Leopard clients to deliver quick, lightning fast searches of content stored on mounted volumes across the entire network.

With Podcast Producer, anyone can record content, automatically upload it to the server and convert it into a Podcast. Using Xgrid®, Podcast Producer can leverage any Mac® on the network to encode the video. The Podcast can then be delivered over the Internet or even to multimedia enabled cell phones over high speed wireless networks using QuickTime Streaming Server.

Other new features in Leopard Server include:

* Mail Clustering for higher availability and reliability when used with Xsan®, Apple’s clustered file system for storage area networks*;
* iChat Server 2 with instant message federation that lets users communicate with GoogleTalk and other XMPP instant messaging systems;
* QuickTime Streaming Server 6 with support for 3GPP Release 6 bit rate adaptation for smooth streaming when delivering content to mobile phones regardless of network congestion;
* new Adaptive Firewall technology to actively monitor for attacks and proactively block individual hosts from connecting to the server; and
* Xgrid 2 featuring GridAnywhere for distributed computing in environments without dedicated controllers, and Scoreboard for prioritizing job distribution to the fastest available CPU.

*Xsan sold separately.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.


NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple’s PR website, or call Apple’s Media Helpline at (408) 974-2042.

Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, iCal, Spotlight, QuickTime, Xgrid and Xsan are trademarks of Apple. UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group in the US and other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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