How to Set Up a Powermac G4 as a Server

Mac OS X Server software is a robust, server-level software package that is easy to configure and extremely immune to viruses, as most viruses target Windows machines. Used extensively in Mac-oriented environments such as creative work groups, Mac OS X Server can be accessed by other computers on the network regardless of platform. Setting up a G4 as a Mac OS X Server is far simpler than setting up its Windows counterpart, and it is easier to configure and maintain as well.

Things You'll Need

• Apple OS X Server Software
• Internal Hard Drive

Instructions

1. 

   Back up any data that is on the computer before doing anything else. Because you will be reformatting the drive or installing a new internal hard drive when you install the OS X Server software, any data on the drive will be destroyed.

2. 

   Check out the vital stats of your G4 by going under the apple in the upper left of the screen and selecting "About This Mac." Select "More Info" to see the size and configuration of the installed RAM and the capacity of the internal hard drive. For both the RAM and the hard drive, you will want to install the largest amount possible.

3. 

   You will probably want to install a new internal hard drive (or two), as well as fill all the RAM slots. Different models of G4s have different configurations for RAM as well as hard drive capacity, so find out what your Mac is capable of handling before spending any money. A site like lowendmac.com is a great place to find the specs of any Mac.

4. Insert the OS X Server DVD, and click on the "Install" icon. You will be prompted for the administrator's name and password. If you don't have the password or have installed a new hard drive, reboot the Mac holding down the "C" key, which forces the computer to boot using the installation DVD.

5. 

   Reboot the Mac upon completion of the installation, and follow the prompts for registration, which is virtually identical to the registration process on any OS X Mac. Here you will create an administrator's name and password. Record this information in a safe place, because losing track of this information will cause you grief down the road. Having the G4 connected to the network (and Internet) at this point will allow you to download the latest updates from Apple. This is accomplished by selecting "Software Update" under the apple in the upper left of the screen.

6. 

   After the G4 reboots and the Workgroup Manager software launches, click on "Accounts," enter the appropriate information (user name and password) and configure the settings (read, read/write) using the tabs in the window. You can create any number of directories (folders) on the server by selecting "New Folder" under the File menu in the finder, or be using the keystrokes shift-apple-N.

Tips & Warnings

• Make each user responsible for his or her password.

• Use caution when allowing users outside the firewall to be able to access files on the server.

Resources

• Low End Mac: Mac Profiles
• Apple