Can You Dual Boot OS X and OS X Server on the Same Powermac G5

The instructions for OSX Server say to only use disk 2 for installing on an existing OSX machine so you don't have to blow away the existing setup.  Worked fine for me.

The official company line from Apple is - no. In practice there can be some problems. Yes OS-X client and Server are built on the same base OS however there are some differences - the largest one being that Client has the ROOT account disabled by default, so when you log out, all processes stop as they are owned by the user. on server, ROOT is enabled and it can own and run deamons in the background even when a user is not logged into the local machine. I have seen this combination cause problems when booting back into the client version of OS-X as there can be some confusion as to whom owns what- if it is just for some casual testing you will probably be able to get away with it but you may experience creeping problems over time especially with sensitive stuff on Server like open directory (I did) You can, however, add server o your existing client install without mucking too much up

please award no pints to anyone for this comment.

it took close to 2 months to get an answer that didn't even help me.

this service is the worst.

i could live with a wekk not 2 months.

bvagnoni

If you had shown that you CARE for the question - you would rceive an answer.

An expert commented at the day you posted the question -- you simply ignored it. A second comment 2 months later - AGAIN ignored. The third a month later was also ignored.

Sorry but EE is based on cooperation. Noone answers a question if the Asker does not show that they care for the question and that they are working with the experts.

how am i suppose to show that i care. there is no clear acknowledgement option that i saw. just a very scattershot web page.

bvagnoni

Answering to the suggestions.... in the same way you answer me..

suggestions what suggestions, all I can do is post a message

bvagnoni

ps i'm off to work i'll pick this up later

ps if it is post, my silenence should have been enough that it wasn't helpful

where is it the rules does it say I have to respond?

if it was helpful I would have hit the accept butyton. you need to have clearer instruction on how to use this web site and what is expected of it's poster and responders

>>where is it the rules does it say I have to respond?
For example:
https://www.experts-exchange.com/help.jsp#hi49 and
https://www.experts-exchange.com/help.jsp#hi51

>>if it is post, my silenence should have been enough that it wasn't helpful
NO. This is not how this site works. You may want to reread the help page. No answer means you do not care

>>you need to have clearer instruction on how to use this web site and what is expected of it's poster and responders
Had you ever read the help page? Especially this part: https://www.experts-exchange.com/help.jsp#hs3
I doubt... It is more than clear.

My answer (installing on separate partitions or disks) is the correct (and recommended) solution.
That is, indeed, how I boot client vs. server installations (as well as developer prereleases) using
open firmware boot.  I answered two hours (not two months) after you posted the question.  
If the answer did not suit your needs, you should clarify your situation rather than remain silent.

i was kinda of looking for a detailed howto., not just posting a hey what if question. i guess i should have been more specific. I hoped for more than just a matter of fact answre on an "EXPERTS EXCHANGE".

my fault.

brian

Amazing.  A simple Google would have got the answer and if that didn't do it, a quick search on the Apple site would.

Since you do not want to blow your disk away, you either need to install on a firewire drive or do an overlay with your existing system.

Setting up OSX Server is one of the easiest installs of any OS I have ever done.  If you need a "How To" for either of those, you have absolutely NO business messing with server software.

You received several good answers for the information you gave related to your question.  As mentioned before, interaction is what this forum is all about.  We are not mind readers.  We are network admins, system admins, lifelong Mac adicts and recent converts.  I, for one, have been messing with computers since the 60's.  Some of these guys know much more than I do.  If I were you, I wouldn't be pissing off such a wealth of knowledge.

EXCUSE ME, First don't ever tell me or anyone else for that matter what or what not there business is. It's extremely rude and comes off as hositile in print on a fourm, with your "experience" l you should know better. If this is the way you respond to people asking for questions than I was right to cancel my subscription. If you can't take people sharing there opinions both postiviely and negatively don't run a forum or particpate in one. I didn't go to Google, or Apple I came here consideriing I was paying money for this service at the time and expected more; like a detailed how to. I recently purchased a MAC a G5 Dual 1.8, but have been running everything from Windows though Solarlis prior to that for years and am less than 6 months away from my IT BS degree from Drexel Univeristy with a 3.8 something average.. At the time I couldn't find anything resembling a how to on the Apple page or Google for that matter now that i thing back about it.

I ended up doing what  brettmjohnson

Date: 11/02/2004 09:45PM PST
 Comment  


Yes, but the client and server versions of OS X must be installed on separate partitions or disks.

In reality, Mac OS X Server is just Mac OS X with some additional services and administrative tools
installed.  The Mac OS X Server installation disk will "upgrade" a standard Mac OS X installation in place,
installing just the additional software, but leaving your existing system configuration largely intact.


But it isn't what I wanted. I wanted instruction on how to make both OS'es coexist on the same machince and never got them in a resonable amout of time you igorant git. = > So that's why I'm refusing to award any points.

Setting up OSX Server is one of the easiest installs of any OS I have ever done. No #$%@ sherlock, I didn't ask for help setting up the server. I asked for helping in make the client and the server OS coexist.

Brian

PS In general I've found that sites like this for all the old timers out here aren't in the spirit of the internet at all. The FREE exchange of ideas and help there about money.
 
 

Even after I've spelled out exactly what I wanted I still haven't gotten it. This is no surprise. I get a little biit from this person a little bit from that person but still no complete answer. Though my writing on this forum is unchecked and unproofed I would still like a well written complete set of instructions on how to do this if someone still wants the points.

Brian

OK Brent if I have only one partition how do I do it. Use the disk utillity and split it up. But that's not possible right without blowing everything away correct?

If I add a second harddrive will I get a boot menu at start up?

I was looking for the little steps considering I'm a total Mac newbie.

Someone once told me and I absolutely believe it. It's not your or mine inability to learn, it's your or mine inability to teach.

Please teach. = >

Brian

By the way the inflamed Joking  respond was to Mr. Procter not anyone else. Just wanted to be clear.

Brian

If I were you, I wouldn't be pissing off such a wealth of knowledge.

Kevin I'm sorry if I piss people oiff by telling them I won't give them the points because they didn't answer my question. I've taken responibility for my mistakes and posted exactly what I'm looking for and need and I still don't have an answer. Instead of making those comments why don't you provide the answer since you know so much. Why are you even posting here except to flame me and try and start something.

The instructions for OSX Server say to only use disk 2 for installing on an existing OSX machine so you don't have to blow away the existing setup.  Worked fine for me.

Do you think that answer is worth points. Paraphasing go read the manual. I couldn't find anything in the 10.3 doc's about it at all. Man I love guys like you go read the manual, dude you are one heck of a scholar, damm you should teach at graduate level., one heck of a an educator you are Kevin make the man dean.

Hell give the points to Kevin he seems to think he deserves them for that brilliant response go read the manual.

=> => * >.

Brian

Kevin do you work for George Bush, didn't he but you in charge of education.

Sorry last post coudn't reist. = >

At least I have a sense of humor.

Brian

Heck if io get the answer to this question the way i want it a detailed how to for 10.4 client & server i'll rejoin as a paying customer.

happy. = >

the other question i asked about not giving quick books users admin permissions on windowx was answered with the response of this is a hard one and quick books still hasn't come up with the answer. but i did get some good detailed suggestions about it, though my company relaxed security against my wishes so it became moot.

Brian

Just so you have my hadrware setup:

OSx 10.4 Server & Client
PowerMac G5 Dual 1.8
2 150gb sata drives
1 Firewire B 160gb

the 2nd hard drive and the firewire drive are setup as a raid 0 partition

Brian

PS Read the manual responses to questions in my experience usually mean 1 of 2 things, either the person doesn't know the answer and wants to the make people thing he does. Or they know and are honestly making you work for it so that you can help yourself in the future, or are just being immature jerks. Being in a free self help forum I feel it's ok to say here's the manaul it's on page xxx go read it, but not in pay for service run by experts/professionals. It's not just experts asking the questions it's everyone from n00bs to elite and everyone in between. When you are on the receiving end of a go read the manul it's hard to see what the intentions behind the response are and you tend to wonder what am I paying for if I can't get my questions answered directly.

I wish I could edit here but don't see the button for it otherwise these would have all been wrapped up into one post.

Sincerely


Brian

Lets go back to the original question with no name calling - is there a way to do dual boot in a way similar to Linux/Windows on a PC - YES
You did get answers to your question, plus more - including anecdotes on how others have done similar things and how it worked fo them as well as a post on Apples official opinion on if it should be done (NO but it can be done) which would explain why you would not have found infor on the Apple website on how to do it as they do not support such a configuration - I think we assumed that your question indicated enough farmiliarity with the concept of dual boot that telling you that it can indeed be done was enough. Later posts indicate that your level of experience with computers in general would have been enough to figure the HOW from the answer to your question CAN I?

Partition your existing drive and install on those partitions or buy a second drive and install one on each - startup disk in system preferences is self explanitory after that.

I think the problem isn't that your question wasn't answered, I think it's that you were expecting a different answer and didn't recognize the one you got.