Apple's recent announcement that macOS Server would be retired was not unexpected. For a long time, Apple has been deprecating and eliminating its core services, while integrating others – such as the Caching Service – into macOS.
But first, let us say our goodbyes and consider what we will do without it.
The history of MacOS Server is extensive. It was released a year before Mac OS X and debuted in 1999. Open Directory, which debuted with Mac OS X Panther Server, was one of its most important features. It was Apple's counterpart to Microsoft's Active Directory, and it was a powerful tool for managing Macs, user accounts, and any other settings on a Mac that was connected to it. It also worked well with Active Directory, making it a viable option for Mac and Windows users.
One of the final remaining services in the macOS Server was Open Directory.
After the Leopard Server version in 2007, which provided a reduced configuration option, it was once a full solution – especially for small and mid-size businesses. In fact, as Apple discontinued key enterprise hardware solutions (such as the Xserve and Xserve RAID), the focus of the macOS Server shifted from large organizations to small businesses, based around a Mac mini server (though any Mac could run macOS Server).
While lower-end Macs could consistently run small enterprises, their hardware hindered their application in larger corporations. Only the Mac Pro remained as a true enterprise server.
What remained to stand
Little of macOS Server survived when Apple withdrew practically all its capabilities in 2018 and suggested several replacements for enterprises still using it (most of those alternatives were open-source versions Apple had integrated into macOS Server). Open Directory and Profile Manager were the only remaining services. And Profile Manager was a limited Apple device manager console compared to rival corporate mobility management (EMM) solutions.
Then what?
Since macOS Server is no longer accessible through the Appstore, the company notes that users who already have it installed can continue to use it. While that concession may be useful in the short term for Mac-based or Mac-centric enterprises, it does not imply that macOS Server will be maintained and users will be able to continue to use it contentedly. This is essentially a life raft or a safety net.
What should you use in place of macOS Server?
The only services which will likely need to be replaced today are Open Directory and Profile Manager, as enterprises have had four years to transition other services, ideally to the cloud.
Using a 3rd-party enterprise mobile management (EMM) provider is the best option for replacing Profile Manager. EMM solutions that can handle iOS devices and Apple TVs can also handle Macs, which is important to remember. JAMF, Kandji, SimpleMDM, and Addigy are solutions for Mac-only or Mac-specific companies.
Apple has produced a free EMM service called Apple Business Essentials for small enterprises; it offers cloud-based Apple device management but is only available to companies with 500 or fewer employees.
Multiplatform and Windows-based networks should explore EMM tools from the primary vendor which is already a part of the enterprise stack (Microsoft, VMWare, Citrix, Ciso, and so on), or use another product if it offers functionalities or user-experience benefits which the primary vendor does not.
S:computerworld.com
