Test: Apple Xserve

Apple's new Xserve is fast and well equipped for network use.

What doesn't come from Advanced Micro Devices, Intel or Sun; is based on open source practices; provides comparatively fast services for Windows, Mac, Linux and BSD clients; holds up to 720G bytes of stored disk data; and is just 1.75 inches tall? It's Apple's Xserve 1U server platform - now in its second iteration.

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What doesn't come from Advanced Micro Devices, Intel or Sun; is based on open source practices; provides comparatively fast services for Windows, Mac, Linux and BSD clients; holds up to 720G bytes of stored disk data; and is just 1.75 inches tall? It's Apple's Xserve 1U server platform - now in its second iteration.

Xserve is based on the PowerPC CPU running at a minimum of 1.3 GHz with up to two of these CPUs fitting into the 1U Xserve form factor. Instead of one disk channel, there are three ATA-133 channels and up to 720G bytes of disk in the server.

Apple's operating system on this platform - OS X Server 10.2.5 - is built on the Darwin Branch of BSD, and is covered under the Apple Public Source License, which varies from the Open Source license that underlies Linux. The BSD heritage of Darwin means that users familiar with Unix, Linux and especially xBSD will feel at home, although there are many Darwin-specific GUI-driven applications that control traditional command-line administration applications.

Xserve is not a plain vanilla server that tries to compete on price/performance. Its extra features (such as independent disk channels, FireWire 800 and high-tech-touch hard drive bays) carry a high price tag. To its benefit, it has no user-license fee, connects a variety of operating-system client types, and delivers strong Web performance.

Performance

We subjected Xserve's Apache Web server to the same suite of tests using Spirent Communications' WebAvalanche software that we used to stress Windows 2003 Enterprise Edition with Microsoft's Internet Information Server (see Windows Server 2003 review) and found performance was quite strong (see graphic).

The ATA-133 disk interfaces and drives in Xserve were comparatively fast in our testing, although internal RAID configurations seemed to take up excessive CPU time. A RAID Level 1 configuration slowed disk writes by as much as 5%, with 3% being typical. We also connected our Lexmark printer as an Unix Line Printer device and printed through Xserve with Apple, Linux/BSD or Windows clients with ease. (See How we did it ).

Setup

Xserve comes with a front bezel that is removed for rack installation, which can be done via a supporting frame,as we used, or a midchassis/double-rail installation. Xserve contains quite a bit of densely packed hardware, and therefore generates a lot of heat, and associated fan noise can be high.

There are two methods of initially activating Xserve's software - via an Apple client networked to it ("headless") or by outfitting the Xserve with monitor, keyboard and mouse. There is no HTTP interface for installation, so an Apple running OS X Server 10.2 or a USB keyboard/mouse and monitor is required. Secure Shell can be used for command-line-based applications but not for installation purposes.

The unlimited user license ships with Xserve at no additional charge. Xserve uses common Unix-derivative applications such as Samba and Common Unix Printing System, and these applications are controlled by Xserve server administration applications.