Rhapsody In Blue: Apple OS X Delivers

Internet VARs selling Apache, the world's most popular Web-server software, historically have had two choices: gain Unix performance and scalability while suffering through its complexities, or look to Microsoft for the simplicity of Windows NT. Now a third choice has emerged, and it may be the best of both worlds.

Apple Computer Corp. in March released Mac OS X Server, its next-generation server operating system with a Macintosh look and feel. The CRN Test Center reviewed version 1.1 and found Apple's new Unix-based server operating system fast, stable and extremely powerful while deceptively easy to use. OS X Server is a tremendous step for Apple and makes good on the company's long-standing promise to deliver a modern operating system.

OS X Server is built on the Mach 2.5 microkernel, the crown jewel of what was the NeXTstep operating system and one of the building blocks of the now defunct Rhapsody operating system. Also integrated is Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) 4.4 and many POSIX APIs. The result is a server platform based on open standards to which Unix applications, particularly those of BSD origin, easily can be ported. The OS X client version is scheduled for release later this year.

Performance
The Mac OS X Server platform is optimized for the PowerPC G3 processor and supports more than 1,000 simultaneous connections per server and more than 4,000 open files per process, Apple said. Unable to corral enough physical workstations to put those claims to the test, the Test Center resorted to a simulation.

To mimic the load of a busy FTP server and to measure throughput, engineers employed CRN/NSTL LoadRun on four Hewlett-Packard Kayak XUs running Windows NT 4.0 Workstation. For more details, see inset at right.

Workstations were started in succession, and each was allowed to settle for about five minutes before throughput readings were taken. Using Apple Process Viewer and MS Perfmon, server and workstation CPU usage levels were monitored to guard against bottlenecks.

With a single workstation requesting 10 streams of FTP files, the OS X Server delivered 43.44 Mbits per second, with the FTP process occupying around 0.1 percent of server CPU time. When a second workstation was added, average throughput dropped to 32.4 Mbps, a reduction of around 25 percent. At 30 streams, throughput dropped by another 25 percent to 24.24 Mbps. With the addition of a fourth workstation, performance dropped by about 22 percent to 18.88 Mbps. These are respectable numbers considering the absence of RAID.

Engineers concluded the disk subsystem caused the bottleneck. The operating system is compatible with a number of third-party RAID solutions; Apple does not supply one.

Reliability
At the heart of any reliable server operating system reside features designed to prevent system crashes and evenly distribute the server workload. Through use of preemptive multitasking, the latter was clearly demonstrated since server CPU time never exceeded 2 percent for any single FTP process.

The server also incorporates protected memory, a feature long sought after by Apple but never fully implemented in the core operating system until now. Essentially, this feature means if one application bombs, the whole system does not.

While news of the migration to the Mach microkernel has long been on the Apple horizon, integration with Apache (v.1.3.4) should come as welcome news to Internet resellers. Apple simplifies Apache setup and administration through traditional Setup Assistants and control panels, while advanced Apache configuration files will be consistent with those of other platforms.

Ease Of Installation
The Test Center received a bright blue Macintosh G3-400 computer with OS X Server pre-installed and unconfigured, similar to the way a reseller would receive it. Upon first booting, a setup assistant is invoked, and from start to finish, the server was configured and running in about 30 minutes. The assistant guides the selection of IP addresses, domain information, network preferences, user accounts and preferences, and whether the OS X Server should act as a seed router. File services also are selected here, along with configuration settings for the unit's five network interfaces.

WebObjects
Apple OS X Server includes WebObjects 4.0.1 with a 50-transaction-per-minute license. WebObjects is an object-oriented application-development platform which can be used to create network applications accessible through any standard Web browser. WebObjects makes it easy for resellers to create database client/server applications, Unix server applications and customized Web content.

NetBoot
NetBoot makes it possible for Macintosh computers to boot from a network volume. NetBoot clients share the same system folder and applications, which are stored on the NetBoot server and loaded into local memory via TFTP at bootup. Updates to the central system folder take place immediately to all NetBoot clients, greatly easing the job of Mac administration. Shared components are protected from changes by non-administrators. Users have access to applications, data and desktop settings from anywhere on the network. Today, only iMac and newer G3 models contain the necessary hardware and firmware for NetBoot.

For Internet VARs seeking the reliability and performance of Unix that is as easy to implement as a Macintosh, OS X Server is an excellent choice. Along with protected memory, preemptive multitasking and native Pure Java support, its capabilities as a Web server and WebObjects development platform alone make it worth its $4,999 price tag. For Macintosh network administrators, features such as NetBoot are simply icing on the cake.