Mac OS X Server 1.2v3 on iMac G4

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2011, January 10 - 2:37pm

Konpon96

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Joined: 2010 Sep 13

Mac OS X Server 1.2v3 on iMac G4

Is there a possibility to install OSX Server 1.2v3 on Mac, which doesn't boot OS 9.0.4, such an iMac G4 with ability to boot into 9.2.2? I tried to move System Folders from Mac OS 9.2.2 Installation Toast image to OSX Server Installation image, but always I tried to boot it, there was a notification "Sorry, the desktop folder on the startup disk could not be created. Try unlocking the disk". After clicking OK, it reboots. I even created "Desktop Folder" folder under Mac OS X Tiger(which is not viewable under OS9), but it doesn't help. I cannot move OSX installation files to Mac OS 9.2.2 Installation CD, because OSX CD has a special partition, MOSX_Booter.

Anyone tried to install it under Mac which is not capable to run OS 9.0.4?

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2011, January 10 - 4:01pm

Protocol 7

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Joined: 2010 Aug 7

What you're seeing is the very first step of the installation. OS9 is only used to select a destination partition and set up Open Firmware to boot from the OS X Server part of the installation CD.

The hardware compatibility list on Apple's site is pretty much all that is supported. For example, I have a G4 Gigabit Ethernet which needs 1.2v3. 1.2 is supported on the previous model (AGP Graphics) but won't install on my Gigabit Ethernet.

2011, January 10 - 4:32pm

unixphreak

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Joined: 2009 Oct 17

you just need to read this http://support.apple.com/kb/TA28250?viewlocale=en_US and then this http://www.rhapsodyos.org/
the only thing that i can tell you besides what is on those pages is that the mac oem geforce 2mx agp card will work in the AGP and Gigabit Ethernet Powermacs if you have 1.2v3. other wise the Rage 128 Pro is the best you will get for video. Also dual processor systems will be uni processor only.

2011, January 10 - 8:25pm

Konpon96

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Joined: 2010 Sep 13

So... Is there any posibility of installing this(with checking "unsupported installation") on 700 MHz 15" iMac G4 with 1GB RAM(if it's too much, I can swap to 512MB or 256MB) and nVidia GeForce 2 MX(32MB)? There is written that "Mac OS X Server 1.x is not compatible with any computer released in or after January, 2001", but there is that "unsupported installation".

2011, January 10 - 8:41pm

(Reply to #4) #5

unixphreak

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Joined: 2009 Oct 17

you could try but its not listed and nobody has ever written about it. hey nobody mentioned the video card that i was using but if you can't get it installed using the unsupported option it probably will not install. Server can use up to 1.5GB of ram. The fastest processor machine you can install it on is the emac 800mhz with the 2mx video card.i would try that one if you can find one.

2011, January 10 - 9:09pm

bertyboy

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Joined: 2009 Jun 14

So... Is there any posibility of installing this(with checking "unsupported installation") on 700 MHz 15" iMac G4

So did you read the list of limitations on the Apple site link ?

That Mac sounds ideal for AppleShare IP v6.3.3, or Mac OS X Server v10.2.

2011, January 11 - 2:04pm

(Reply to #6) #7

Konpon96

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I read the list of limitations(no Firewire, RAID etc.), but I don't want to use it as a server. I just wanted to try basic functions of it such managing files trough NextStep-like manager, programs made especially for this system and to try this prehistric Classic Environment, BlueBox.

By the way, OSX Jaguar or Panther Server are abandonware?

2011, January 11 - 4:32pm

bertyboy

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By the way, OSX Jaguar or Panther Server are abandonware?

Alas no, but they come up all the time on eBay. Tiger Server goes for about £30 (less than a retail Tiger install DVD on eBay). Panther Server goes for about £10, Jaguar Server for about £3.
But AppleShare IP could be a candidate for abandonware. It's just server software for OS9.2.1, but there is a patch available to allow you to install it for OS 9.2.2.

2011, January 11 - 6:36pm

Konpon96

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Joined: 2010 Sep 13

After you recommended me AppleShare, I downloaded it and tried to install on 9.2.2. Sure, there was a notification that "it cannot be installed". Then I searched again and found here version 1.3: http://www.mediafire.com/?me3gn0d7xitodd9.

Thank you.

2011, January 11 - 9:30pm

#10

unixphreak

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Joined: 2009 Oct 17

actually none of the operating systems are really abandonware. Abandonware is really just a made up name. No company abandons their operating systems, they just provide new features that cold not or for financial reasons they want to put the features in a new release. The new outstrip the old with features but make the older versions no less adequate for what they were made to do.

As for Mac OS X Server 1.x you might just use the Rhapsody DR2 (intel) under VMWare since you do not want to use as a server but just to "play" with the system.

2011, January 11 - 10:04pm

#11

Protocol 7

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If you don't have a compatible Mac, then Intel DR2 is pretty close to OS X Server. The main thing you'll lack is the Blue Box as that was PowerPC only.

2011, January 26 - 11:05am

#12

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Konpon96 said:

"...,but always I tried to boot it, there was a notification "Sorry, the desktop folder on the startup disk could not be created. Try unlocking the disk".

Look here:
http://www.macintoshgarden.org/apps/apple-system-software-recovery-cd-2
for a possible solution:
You may NOT MOUNT the disk image before burning. Instead you have to lock it before burning. If you have only once mounted the image its no good anymore for a boot CD. You then have to decompress a fresh one.

This solution is true only if the disk image contains a desktop folder. If the CD image does not contain a desktop folder, a new image needs to be made with an unmounted CD. If the CD is mounted while burning the desktop folder might vanish.

2011, January 26 - 6:23pm

(Reply to #12) #13

unixphreak

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Joined: 2009 Oct 17

xy,

it does not matter your solution will be futile since the newest mac that 1.2v3 will support is the 800mhz eMac with the geforce2 MX video card. nothing newer!!! no G4 iMacs!!!

2011, February 3 - 5:33pm

#14

ken147

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Joined: 2009 Apr 20

I have OS X Server 1.2 running on my 450 Mhz G4 with 1gb of ram. it should work on your iMac

2011, February 3 - 7:06pm

(Reply to #14) #15

unixphreak

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Joined: 2009 Oct 17

read the specs not lamp shade iMacs ie G4 imacs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! old G3 iMac yes, original eMac yes, just because your power Mac has a G4 does not mean that the G4 iMac will work totally different motherboard components, your G4 is basically a G3 with a G4 upgrade card.

2011, February 3 - 7:38pm

#16

bertyboy

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I have OS X Server 1.2 running on my 450 Mhz G4 with 1gb of ram. it should work on your iMac

LOL, I think what unixphreak is trying to say is

"yeah, we already knew it would work on a 450MHz G4, it'll even work on a GigaBit Ethernet, but it has no hardware support for any iMac, nor any PowerBook, nor any iBook, nor any Cube, nor any Digital Audio or anything after that. Even the SCSI card in some of the supported Macs is not supported. Furthermore, FireWire doean't work on any of them, DVD is not supported (a DVD drive will only read CD-ROM, and only one USB bus is supported".

It's a fantastic piece of software heritage, but I wouldn't bother trying to install and run it, just too many limitations. AppleShare IP 6.3 rocked and OSX Server 10.2 was heaven in comparison.

OSX Server 1.2v3 is just like my old Alfa Romeo T Spark, a beautiful car, a real beast of an engine and great to drive, but nothing worked, the electrics were always faulty, windows, mirrors, alarm, wipers, etc. It drank oil and petrol quicker than my daughter drinks milk.
OSX Server 10.2 (and 10.3 and 10.4) is like the big Toyota 4WD I replaced the Alfa with. Not as beautiful to look at, but everything works, perfectly, all the time.