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Hi all,
Re: Mac OS question
From: Novagate Systems Admin
Date: Monday, February 8, 1999
Time: 5:24:29 pm
Let's clarify a bit between the upcoming OS X Server which is what Matt
describes below and *MacOS* X, which is the version of MacOS that will be
arriving sometime in late 99 (links to info below). MacOS X is pretty
much a complete redesign of the current Mac OS with some great new APIs.
OS X Server is basically NextStep with a updated BSD 4.4 core like Matt
described. It's meant to be a NT killer and is basically a Mac Unix
Workstation. At $999 for the server software which includes unlimited
clients, i'd say it will take a bite out of NT (no more NT licenses!!!!!!)
Actually, BlueBox is not an 'emulator'. It is the actual MacOS running
directly on the PPC hardware. I have a good friend (wink) that is running
Hera (the FC build for OS X Server) along with BlueBox (which, for the
purposes of this discussion, we'll call 'shapeshifter' - remember that one
kids? ;-) . We have done extensive testing with it and let me tell you it
is truly amazing (revolutionary is putting it lightly). Imagine combining
a *BSD unix workstation with a Mac OS 8.5.1 workstation on the same
hardware running at the same time - that's exactly OS X Server. We
performed a few tests relavent to Optigold and we're extremely excited.
FYI, Hera is running on a new g3/400 and BlueBox/shapeshifter runs just as
fast as the g3/400 sitting next to it running MacOS 8.6a4 and FMP Server.
Matter of fact, shapeshifter boots waaaaay faster than a dedicated
machine. Anyway, we put Filemaker Pro Server on shapeshifter running
MacOS 8.5.1. We then did direct comparisons between FMP Server running on
shapeshifter and the dedicated MacOS machine sitting next to it. FMP
Server in shapeshifter, running Optigold 1.8.1 ran very smoothly with no
troubles with performance just about as fast as the dedicated machine -
however that was only with one connected FM client. Performance under
load is unknown. We even connected with clients across the net with no
problems. On top of that, we loaded up Timbuktu Pro for a really cool
test. We were connected to shapeshifter via Timbuktu at the same time as
telnetting to the OS X server side! Two OSes and their respective apps
running at the same time on the same hardware, not emulated but actually
utilizing the hardware, amazing!
So, here's what I have to say: I will probably be running OS X Server on
our new g3 server as soon as it's released :-) We will run Filemaker Pro
Server in Bluebox and probably use a nice SQL app on the OS X side, not to
mention the full capabilities of Rhapsody/*BSD/NextStep/OS X Server apps.
Of course, if it ain't broke don't fix it. And the standard disclaimer -
YMMV ;-)
Also, here are some good links to info on OS X Sever and MacOS X:
http://www1.macintouch.com/mxssummary.html
http://www.appleinsider.com/macosx.shtml
http://www.maccentral.com/news/9902/03.g3server.shtml
http://www.maccentral.com/news/9902/01.macosxserver.shtml
Hope this helps any migration or upgrade plans!
-Dave Munroe
Novagate
On Mon, 8 Feb 1999, Matt Simerson wrote:
>
> Filemaker Pro is PowerPC optimized and as such runs quite nicely under
> MacOS 8.5(.1). However, MacOS X is not MacOS 8.5. It's a new OS that uses
> the NextStep OS for it's base and then builds on top of that. It runs
> MacOS in a "box" environment, much like running Virtual PC on your MacOS
> machine. So, right off the bat I wouldn't think that even with the new
> G4's that you're going to see any performance increases just going to
> MacOS X. However, you may very well see some stability enhancements.
>
> Matt
>
> On Sun, 7 Feb 1999, Walt's at TeleSouth Network wrote:
>
> > So should we NOT move forward on running Optigold under OS 8.5 then???
> >
> > Shawn Hogan wrote:
> >
> > > Walt's at TeleSouth Network wrote:
> > >
> > > >Running Optigold under Mac OS 8.5 I am wondering if we would have any problem
> > > >moving this system to Mac OSX once we decide to pick up a G3 server. I would
> > > >move to OSX now but we really dont need to make the investment in a G3 as yet
> > > >and I believe that is the minimum processor it will support.
> > >
> > > I wouldn't bother until FileMaker Pro 5.0 (native to the Carbon APIs of
> > > OS X).
> > >
> > > - Shawn
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