If you’ve been enjoying our Using Apple OS X Lion Server as a Home Server series, then make sure you pick up a copy of the accompanying eBook. You’ll find additional chapters and information on using OS X Lion Server to power your digital home that won’t be available here on the site, and with all of our walkthroughs available in one convenient document (ePub or PDF), it’s far easier to install and configure your server without having to click backward and forwards to the website.
- Introduction
- Choosing Your Hardware
- Features
- Installation
- The Server App
- Storage and Network Configuration
- Users and Groups Configuration
- Profile Manager and Macs [eBook Exclusive]
- Profile Manager and iOS Devices [eBook Exclusive]
- File and Folder Sharing
- Shared Address Book [eBook Exclusive]
- Shared Calendar [eBook Exclusive]
- iChat Server
- Time Machine Backup
- Windows PC Backup [eBook Exclusive]
- VPN Configuration [eBook Exclusive]
- Websites, Blogs and Wikis
Now that we’ve taken a look at a list of desired features, and hardware requirements for our new Apple-flavoured home server project, it’s time to get the software installed. The good news is that compared to other operating system installations you may have suffered in the past, transforming your Mac into an OS X Lion Server isn’t too difficult.
1. Upgrade Your Mac to OS X Lion
Before we work on getting OS X Lion Server on board, we’ll need to ensure that the Mac you’re nominating as the Server is running the latest version of Apple’s client operating system, OS X 10.7 Lion. Yes, client upgrade first (if required), then we’ll load up the server software. No Lion? No Lion Server for you. There are a couple of ways to upgrade your Mac – the simplest being via the App Store. Alternatively, you can pick up a special Lion upgrade USB drive from Apple, which is certainly a more expensive option up front, but saves you a large download (especially useful if you’re upgrading multiple computers).
If you’re going down the App Store route, hit up the icon in your dock and you’ll be taken directly to the App Store where you can purchase and download OS X Lion.
Once downloaded, run the upgrade and you’ll find there’s very little to do, other than watch a progress bar and a reboot.
Pop back in 15-20 minutes or so, and your upgraded Mac running OS X Lion should be ready for the next step.
2. Download OS X Lion Server
It’s back to the App Store where, if you drop the phrase that pays “OS X Lion Server” into the search bar, you’ll find the software available to download.
The software is a 14.5 MB download, which shouldn’t take too long to come down the pipe.
3. Back-up Any Valuable Data
We’re not expecting OS X Lion Server to wipe your hard drive or anything too sinister, but it’s generally just good practice to back up your data before installing software which has the potential to make significant changed to your Operating System… just in case.
4. Start the OS X Lion Server Installation
Once the software downloads from the App Store, the installation wizard will automatically run. Click Continue to get going.
As ever, you’ll be asked to accept the standard terms and conditions, drop in your password and then the installation proceeds automatically. Give it five minutes and you’re done.
Congratulations, you’re now running OS X Lion Server! And… except for a dialog which pops up with your server controls (more on that next tim), you’d be hard pressed to spot the difference at this point. In my installation experience, nothing breaks upfront – apps are working, internet still working – the Mac seems like it always did. Just with a few new features which we’ll be digging into in the next part of our series when we take a detailed look at the Lion Server app.
If you’ve been enjoying our Using Apple OS X Lion Server as a Home Server series, then make sure you pick up a copy of the accompanying eBook. You’ll find additional chapters and information on using OS X Lion Server to power your digital home that won’t be available here on the site, and with all of our walkthroughs available in one convenient document (ePub or PDF), it’s far easier to install and configure your server without having to click backward and forwards to the website.
