Re: Xserve G4 (Tray Load) video card (and other) questions

2009-09-05 Thread Ian

It would but the tray-load xServe has no media drive. :)
I'm going to try installing 10.4/10.5 client on an ADM in the slot
load then transfer it into the tray load and see if it boots, anyone
know if this will work?
Slot load is a 2*1.33 G4, tray load is a 2*1.0 G4.

On Sep 5, 1:07 am, Clark Martin  wrote:
> Ian Prickett wrote:
> > Hi
> > I'm building/rebuilding a tray load Xserve G4 to use as a headless  
> > home server and I had a few questions:
> > 1) I'm planning on installing 10.4 or 10.5 via Firewire Target mode  
> > from my other xServe G4 (slot load), is this the best way or should I  
> > install the o/s onto a spare ADM and the transfer from one xServe to  
> > the other?
> > 2) Compatibility question, does any one know if the video cards for  
> > these were specific, can I use a card from a Powermac G4 QS (at least  
> > to get it up and running) after that I want to use screen sharing to  
> > manage it?
> > 3) Does anyone know of a good source for xServe G4 parts other than  
> > eBay?
> > 4) Any other gotcha's I should be looking out for?
> > Thanks
>
> Wouldn't it be better to set it up using the installer disk?  You can do
> that if you are installing OSXServer.  If you do you can do the install
> and set up without needing a video card in the XServe.  The button(s) on
> the front panel control booting from the optical drive and you then use
> ARD (or Screen Sharing should work too) to set it up.
>
> Otherwise you could do it using Firewire TDM to either install from the
> CD/DVD or clone it from another computer.  You can then boot from the
> XServe disk via TDM and configure it from the computer you did the
> install from.
>
> I once did the install and configure from an iBook with the XServe's HD
> mounted via FW TDM.  It worked real well and I had no trouble after I
> had the XServe boot normally.
>
> --
> Clark Martin
> Redwood City, CA, USA
> Macintosh / Internet Consulting
>
> "I'm a designated driver on the Information Super Highway"
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Re: Xserve G4 (Tray Load) video card (and other) questions

2009-09-05 Thread Kyle Hansen

On 9/4/09 6:10 PM, "Ian Prickett"  Broadcast into
the ether:

> 2) Compatibility question, does any one know if the video cards for
> these were specific, can I use a card from a Powermac G4 QS (at least
> to get it up and running) after that I want to use screen sharing to
> manage it?

I manage over 30 of those xServes and they will only take up to a 9200
series.  But if I were you I would get a copy of ARD and manage it from your
desktop's screen.
===
Kyle H. Hansen
Apple Certified Desktop Technician (ACDT)
Apple Certified Portable Technician (ACPT)
Apple Certified System Administrator (ACSA)
MCSE Certified Technician
CCIE, CCNA, CCSP Certified Technician
k...@hansen-technical.com
www.hansen-technical.com
===



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Re: Xserve G4 (Tray Load) video card (and other) questions

2009-09-05 Thread Clark Martin

Ian Prickett wrote:
> Hi
> I'm building/rebuilding a tray load Xserve G4 to use as a headless  
> home server and I had a few questions:
> 1) I'm planning on installing 10.4 or 10.5 via Firewire Target mode  
> from my other xServe G4 (slot load), is this the best way or should I  
> install the o/s onto a spare ADM and the transfer from one xServe to  
> the other?
> 2) Compatibility question, does any one know if the video cards for  
> these were specific, can I use a card from a Powermac G4 QS (at least  
> to get it up and running) after that I want to use screen sharing to  
> manage it?
> 3) Does anyone know of a good source for xServe G4 parts other than  
> eBay?
> 4) Any other gotcha's I should be looking out for?
> Thanks

Wouldn't it be better to set it up using the installer disk?  You can do 
that if you are installing OSXServer.  If you do you can do the install 
and set up without needing a video card in the XServe.  The button(s) on 
the front panel control booting from the optical drive and you then use 
ARD (or Screen Sharing should work too) to set it up.

Otherwise you could do it using Firewire TDM to either install from the 
CD/DVD or clone it from another computer.  You can then boot from the 
XServe disk via TDM and configure it from the computer you did the 
install from.

I once did the install and configure from an iBook with the XServe's HD 
mounted via FW TDM.  It worked real well and I had no trouble after I 
had the XServe boot normally.


-- 
Clark Martin
Redwood City, CA, USA
Macintosh / Internet Consulting

"I'm a designated driver on the Information Super Highway"

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Re: Xserve G4 (Tray Load) video card (and other) questions

2009-09-04 Thread John Niven

Ian,

I might be one of the few here with Xserve experience! I have a closet next to 
my hobby room. I installed a plastic pipe joining the two spaces big enough to 
pass cabling through. I got a used open four post 19" rack and put it in the 
closet. Somehow I started filling the rack :-) I figured that would be neater 
than having desktop Macs everywhere!

My cable internet modem is hooked to an G5 Xserve, which runs Tiger server and 
does DNS, DHCP, and routing via a 16 port switch and a Linksys wireless access 
point. 

At some point I was going to set up a cluster, but then realized that I didn't 
have anything to run on it! Oh well, I brought most of my Xserve back from the 
dead.

See comments embedded below:

--- On Fri, 9/4/09, Ian Prickett  wrote:

> From: Ian Prickett 
> Subject: Xserve G4 (Tray Load) video card (and other) questions
> To: "g3-5-list@googlegroups.com" 
> Date: Friday, September 4, 2009, 8:10 PM
> 
> Hi
> I'm building/rebuilding a tray load Xserve G4 to use as a
> headless  
> home server and I had a few questions:
> 1) I'm planning on installing 10.4 or 10.5 via Firewire
> Target mode  
> from my other xServe G4 (slot load), is this the best way
> or should I  
> install the o/s onto a spare ADM and the transfer from one
> xServe to  
> the other?

Are you going to use the "Server" versions of tiger or leopard or the standard 
ones? If the server version, you should know that a serial number is needed, 
and I believe, is checked via the internet back with Apple. The server software 
allows remote control of a headless unit. The Admin tools are free to download. 
I've not done a remote install, because all my Xserve have video cards and I 
simply plugged in a monitor to get them setup. After that I use remote desktop 
and server admin to play with them.

Since you have a second Xserve, I think installing and then transferring over 
an ATM is easier if you are just using the standard OS.

> 2) Compatibility question, does any one know if the video
> cards for these were specific, can I use a card from a Powermac G4 QS
> (at least to get it up and running) after that I want to use screen
> sharing to manage it?

The tray load (1st generation Xserve), and slot load (2nd generation) are quite 
similar in having a pair of pci slots via a small riser board, and a separate 
third one, that in standard configuration comes with a Gigabit ethernet card 
(adding to the built-in one). The standard video card was an ATI Radeon 7000 
32Mb PCI unit. It came with only a single VGA connector. You can also use the 
older ATI PCI cards from B&W or yikes. The BEST I've tried is a ATI Radeon 9250 
with 128Mb :-) The problem is it's only PCI and so your choice is limited (heck 
it's supposed to be a server)!

There is one other little known option. If you are NOT using it as a server, 
then you only need one Ethernet port, so you can remove the Gigabit card, and 
the standard 32bit PCI riser, replacing it with an AGP riser (a BTO Apple item 
- I got one from SmallDog). Then you can install a faster AGP video card, and 
still have two PCI slots free. I use an ATI Radeon 9250 AGP card in this 
machine (a dual G4 1.33GHz slot loader).

> 3) Does anyone know of a good source for xServe G4 parts other than  
> eBay?

No. I've gone a little Xserve nuts over the last year so I do have some spare 
parts. Most came from eBay. Contact me off-list. I have seen some bits on the 
LEM swap list but you have to remember that these are rare, and "looked after" 
by "pros" who have little respect for an Apples beauty :-)

> 4) Any other gotcha's I should be looking out for? Thanks

It sounds like you already have experience with a slot load Xserve, but if you 
haven't powered up the tray load then you are in for a shock. You will not want 
to be in the same room as it!! The later models are fine (if not wisper quiet).

One other point. There is no sound section on an Xserve. If you miss that (i.e. 
using it as a workstation) use a Griffin iMic usb unit plugged into your 
keyboard. Works great on a pair of headphones or an external amp.





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Re: Xserve G4 (Tray Load) video card (and other) questions

2009-09-04 Thread Charles Lenington

Ian Prickett wrote:
> Hi
> I'm building/rebuilding a tray load Xserve G4 to use as a headless  
> home server and I had a few questions:
> 1) I'm planning on installing 10.4 or 10.5 via Firewire Target mode  
> from my other xServe G4 (slot load), is this the best way or should I  
> install the o/s onto a spare ADM and the transfer from one xServe to  
> the other?
> 2) Compatibility question, does any one know if the video cards for  
> these were specific, can I use a card from a Powermac G4 QS (at least  
> to get it up and running) after that I want to use screen sharing to  
> manage it?
> 3) Does anyone know of a good source for xServe G4 parts other than  
> eBay?
>   

LEM swap, especially Chris Stierman and ? Bullock in Missouri
> 4) Any other gotcha's I should be looking out for?
> Thanks
>
>   


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Xserve G4 (Tray Load) video card (and other) questions

2009-09-04 Thread Ian Prickett

Hi
I'm building/rebuilding a tray load Xserve G4 to use as a headless  
home server and I had a few questions:
1) I'm planning on installing 10.4 or 10.5 via Firewire Target mode  
from my other xServe G4 (slot load), is this the best way or should I  
install the o/s onto a spare ADM and the transfer from one xServe to  
the other?
2) Compatibility question, does any one know if the video cards for  
these were specific, can I use a card from a Powermac G4 QS (at least  
to get it up and running) after that I want to use screen sharing to  
manage it?
3) Does anyone know of a good source for xServe G4 parts other than  
eBay?
4) Any other gotcha's I should be looking out for?
Thanks

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