TheXserve is a discontinued series ofrack-mountedservers that was manufactured byApple Inc. between 2002 and 2011. It was Apple's first rack-mounted server,[1] and could function as afile server,web server or runhigh-performance computing applications inclusters – a dedicated cluster Xserve, the Xserve Cluster Node, without a video card and optical drives was also available. The first Xserve had aPowerPC G4 processor, replaced by aPowerPC G5 in 2004, and by IntelXeon processors in 2006; each was available in single-processor and dual-processor configurations. The Xserve was discontinued in 2011, and replaced with theMac Pro Server and theMac Mini Server.[2]
Before the Xserve, Apple's server line included theApple Workgroup Server, Macintosh Server, andApple Network Server.
 The original Xserve G4  The second-generation Xserve G4  The Xserve G4 Cluster Node | |
| Developer | Apple Inc. |
|---|---|
| Type | RackmountedServer |
| Release date | May 14, 2002 |
| Discontinued | January 6, 2004 |
| CPU | Single or dualPowerPC G4, 1 GHz – 1.33 GHz |
| Predecessor | Apple Workgroup Server and Macintosh Server Apple Network Server |
Apple introduced the Xserve on May 14, 2002 (released in June). Initially, two configuration options were available: a single-processor Xserve at US$2999, and a dual-processor Xserve at US$3999. Xserves sold before August 24, 2002 shipped withMac OS X v10.1 "Puma" Server, while those sold after shipped withMac OS X v10.2 "Jaguar" Server.
On February 10, 2003, Apple released an improved and expanded Xserve lineup. Improvements included one or two 1.33 GHz PowerPC G4 processors, faster memory, and higher capacity Ultra ATA/133 hard disk drives. The front plate was redesigned for a slot-loading optical drive. A new model, the Xserve Cluster node was announced at the same price as the single-processor Xserve, featuring two 1.33 GHz processors, no optical drive, a single harddrive bay, no video or Ethernet cards, and a 10-client version of "Jaguar" server.
On April 2, 2003 theXserve RAID was introduced, providing a much higher capacity and higher throughput disk subsystem for the Xserve.
According to Apple, all of these models are obsolete.[a][3]
| Component | Xserve G4 | Xserve G4 (Slot Load) | Xserve G4 Cluster Node |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model identifier | RackMac1,1 | RackMac1,2 | |
| Processor | 1 GHz or Dual 1 GHz | 1.33 GHz or Dual 1.33 GHz | Dual 1.33 GHz |
| CPU cache | 64 KB L1, 256 KB (1:1) L2, 2 MB L3 (Per Processor) | ||
| Front side bus | 133 MHz | 167 MHz | |
| Memory | 256 MB of PC2100 DDR SDRAM (1 GHz) 512 MB of PC2100 DDRSDRAM (DP 1 GHz) Expandable to 2 GB | 256 MB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM (1.33 GHz) 512 MB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM (DP 1.33 GHz) Expandable to 2 GB | 256 MB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM Expandable to 2 GB |
| Graphics | ATIPCI Graphics with 32 MB of DDR SDRAM Optional ATI Radeon 8500 (AGP 4x) | ATI PCI Graphics with 32 MB of DDR SDRAM Optional AGP 4x card with 64 MB of DDR SDRAM | None |
| Hard drive | 60 or 120 GB 7200-rpm ATA Up to 4x 120 GB (480 GB) | 60 GB 7200-rpm ATA Up to 4x 180 GB (720 GB) | 60 GB 7200-rpm ATA |
| Ultra ATA/100(Optional Ultra 160 SCSI) Four Internal Bays | Ultra ATA/133 Four Internal Bays | Ultra ATA/133 | |
| Optical drive | CD-ROM Tray-loading | CD-ROM or CD-RW/DVD-ROMCombo Drive Slot-loading | None |
| Connectivity | 2xGigabitEthernet (One on PCI card) | 1x Gigabit Ethernet | |
| Expansion | 2x 64-bit 66 MHzPCI slots 1x 66 MHz PCI/AGP slot (used for Gigabit Ethernet card) | 2x 64-bit 66 MHz PCI slots | |
| Peripherals | 2xUSB 1.1 3xFireWire 400 1xRS-232 serial | 2x USB 1.1 1x FireWire 400 2x FireWire 800 1x RS-232 serial | |
| Video out | VGA | VGA or (VGA,DVI andS-Video) with AGP 4x card | None |
| Minimum operating system | Mac OS X Server 10.1.5 Puma | Mac OS X Server 10.2.4 Jaguar | |
| Latest release operating system | Mac OS X Server 10.5.8 Leopard | ||
| Weight | 11.8 kg (26 Pounds) | ||
 The Xserve G5 The Xserve G5 Cluster Node | |
| Developer | Apple Inc. |
|---|---|
| Type | RackmountedServer |
| Release date | January 6, 2004 |
| Discontinued | November 2006 |
| CPU | Single or dualPowerPC G5, 2 GHz – 2.3 GHz |
On January 6, 2004 Apple introduced the Xserve G5, a redesigned higher-performance Xserve. The 32-bit PowerPC G4s were replaced with one or two 64-bitPowerPC 970 processors running at 2 GHz. Ventilation issues restricted it to threeSATA hot-swap drive bays, with the original space for the fourth drive bay used for air vents. The front plate and slot-loading optical drive were retained from the last Xserve G4. The higher memory capacity and bandwidth as well as the stronger floating-point performance of the PowerPC 970 made it more suitable forhigh-performance computing (HPC) applications.System X is one such cluster computer built with Xserves.
Three configuration options were available: a single-processor model at US$2,999, a dual-processor model at $3,999, and a dual-processor cluster node model (with an unchanged appearance from the G4 cluster node) at US$2,999.
On January 3, 2005, Apple updated the Xserve G5 with faster processors in the dual-processor configurations. 400 GB hard disks were made available for up to 1.2 TB of internal storage. The slot-loading optical drive was upgraded to a combination DVD-ROM/CD-RW standard, DVD-/+RW optional. Soon after, Apple updated the Xserve and Xserve RAID to allow the use of 500 GB Hard Drives.
Xserve G5 models before April 2005 shipped withMac OS X v10.3 "Panther", after April 2005 shipped withMac OS X v10.4 "Tiger".
According to Apple, all of these models are obsolete.[a][3]
| Component | Xserve G5 | Xserve G5 Cluster Node |
|---|---|---|
| Order Number(s) | ML/9216A (2.0), ML/9217A (2.0 DP), M9745LL/A (2.3) | ML/9215A (2.0), M9742LL/A (2.3) |
| Model identifier | RackMac3.1 | |
| Processor | 2 GHz, Dual 2 GHz, or Dual 2.3 GHz PowerPC 970FX | Dual 2 GHz or Dual 2.3 GHz PowerPC 970FX |
| CPU cache | 512 KB L2 | |
| Front side bus | 1 GHz (2.0 GHz SP or DP) 1.15 GHz (2.3 GHz DP) | |
| Memory | 512 MB or 1 GB of 400 MHz PC3200 ECC DDR SDRAM Expandable to 16 GB | 512 MB of 400 MHz PC3200 ECC DDR SDRAM Expandable to 16 GB |
| Graphics | None Optional PCI card | |
| Hard drive | 80 GB Up to 3x 500 GB (1.5 TB) | |
| Serial ATA 7200-rpm Three Internal Bays | ||
| Optical drive | CD-ROM, CD-RW/DVD-ROMCombo Drive or DVD-RWSuperDrive Slot-loading | None |
| Connectivity | 2xGigabitEthernet | |
| Expansion | 2x 64-bitPCI-X slots | |
| Peripherals | 2xUSB 2.0 2xFireWire 800 1x FireWire 400 1xRS-232 serial | |
| Video out | None (VGA with optional PCI card) | |
| Minimum operating system | Mac OS X Server 10.3 Panther | |
| Latest release operating system | Mac OS X Server 10.5.8 Leopard | |
| Weight | 15.1 kg (33 Pounds) | |
The Intel Xserve | |
| Developer | Apple Inc. |
|---|---|
| Type | RackmountedServer |
| Release date | 2007 |
| Discontinued | January 31, 2011 |
| CPU | Single or DualIntelXeon Dual or Quad Core CPUs, 2.0 GHz – 3.33 GHz |
| Successor | Mac Pro Server Mac Mini Server |
| Website | apple.com/xserve |
The Intel-based Xserves were announced at theWorldwide Developers Conference on August 7, 2006, and are significantly faster compared to the Xserve G5. They use Intel Xeon ('Woodcrest') processors,DDR2 ECCFB-DIMMs, ATI Radeon graphics, a maximum storage capacity of 2.25 TB when used with three 750 GB drives, optional redundant power supplies and a 1U rack form factor. The Intel Xserves now had on board video, freeing up an expansion slot.
On January 8, 2008 Xserve was updated with Intel Xeon ('Harpertown') processors, faster memory, and a maximum storage capacity of 3 TB when used with three 1 TB drives. The front-mounted FireWire 400 port featured in previous models was also replaced with a USB 2.0 port. The Xserve RAID was discontinued on February 19, 2008.
On April 7, 2009 Xserve was updated to use Intel Xeon ('Gainestown') processors,DDR3 memory, and NVIDIA graphics with Mini DisplayPort output. The update also saw an increase to the maximum storage capacity, bringing it to 6 TB when used with three 2 TB drives. An option to add aSSD boot-drive that does not occupy a drive bay was also implemented. The addition of the SSD boot drive allows all drives to be swapped whilst the server remains online. It is also Apple's first Xserve to use PVC-free internal cables and components and contain no brominated flame retardants.
On August 28, 2009 Xserve was updated to ship standard withMac OS X Server 10.6 Unlimited Client Server. In addition to improved functionality Mac OS X 10.6 Server added support for up to 96 GB of RAM.[4][5]
On November 5, 2010, Apple announced that it would not be developing a future version of Xserve. While accepting orders for the current model until January 31, 2011, and "honoring" all Xserve warranties and extended support programs, the company suggested users switch toMac Pro Server orMac Mini Server.[2]
After the Xserve's discontinuation, an annoyed customer emailedSteve Jobs, who responded that "hardly anyone was buying them".[6]
According to Apple, all of these models are obsolete.[a][3]
| Component | Late 2006 | Early 2008 | Early 2009[7] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release date | August 7, 2006[8] | January 8, 2008[9] | April 7, 2009[10] |
| Model identifier | Xserve1,1 | Xserve2,1 | Xserve3,1 |
| Processor | Dual 2 GHz, Dual 2.66 GHz, or Dual 3 GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon 5100 ("Woodcrest") | 2.8 GHz, Dual 2.8 GHz, or Dual 3 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon 5400 ("Harpertown") | 2.26 GHz, Dual 2.26 GHz, Dual 2.66 GHz, or Dual 2.93 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon 5500 ("Gainestown") |
| CPU cache | 1 MB L2 (Per Processor) | 2 MB L2 (Per Processor) | 4x 256 KB L2; 8 MB L3 (Per Processor) |
| System bus | 1333 MHzFront side bus (Per Processor) | 1600 MHz Front side bus (Per Processor) | QPI |
| Memory | 1 GB of 667 MHz PC2-5300 Fully Buffered ECC DDR2 SDRAM Expandable to 32 GB | 2 GB of 800 MHz PC2-6400 Fully Buffered ECC DDR2 SDRAM Expandable to 32 GB | 3 GB of 1066 MHz PC3-8500 ECC DDR3 SDRAM Expandable to 24 GB (Quad Core) or 48 GB (Eight Core) |
| Graphics | ATI Radeon X1300 with 64 MB of GDDR3 SDRAM Optional ATI Radeon X1300 with 256 MB of DDR2 SDRAM | ATI Radeon X1300 with 64 MB of GDDR3 SDRAM | NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 256 MB of GDDR3 SDRAM |
| Hard drive | 80 GB SATA SATA: Up to 3x 750 GB (2.25 TB) SAS: Up to 3x 300 GB (900 GB) | 80 GB SATA SATA: Up to 3x 1 TB (3 TB) SAS: Up to 3x 450 GB (1.35 TB) | 160 GB SATA SATA: Up to 3x 2 TB (6 TB) SAS: Up to 3x 450 GB (1.35 TB) |
| Serial ATA 5400-rpm orSAS 15000-rpm Three Internal Bays | Serial ATA 7200-rpm orSAS 15000-rpm Optional 128 GBSSD Boot Drive Three Internal Bays | ||
| Optical drive Slot loading | CD-RW/DVD-ROMCombo Drive or DVD-RW DLSuperDrive | DVD-RW DL SuperDrive | |
| Connectivity | 2xGigabit Ethernet | ||
| Expansion | 1xPCIe ×8 1x configurable slot (PCIe ×8 or 133 MHzPCI-X) | 1x PCIe 2.0 ×16 1x configurable slot (PCIe 2.0 ×8 or 133 MHz PCI-X) | 2x PCIe 2.0 ×16 (1x 6.6" length and 1x 9.25" length) |
| Peripherals | 2xUSB 2.0 2xFireWire 800 1x FireWire 400 1xRS-232 serial | 3x USB 2.0 2x FireWire 800 1x RS-232 serial | |
| Video out | Mini-DVI (VGA with adapter) Dual-LinkDVI with optional ATI video card | Mini DisplayPort | |
| Minimum operating system | Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger | Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard | |
| Latest release operating system | Mac OS X 10.7 Lion &Mac OS X Server | OS X 10.11 El Capitan &macOS Server | |
| Weight | 14.4 kg (31.7 Pounds) | 14 kg (30.86 Pounds) | |
| macOS release | Xserve G4 | Xserve G5 | Xserve Xeon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original | Slot Load/Cluster Node | All | Late 2006 | Early 2008 | Early 2009 | |
| RackMac1,1 | RackMac1,2 | RackMac3,1 | Xserve1,1 | Xserve2,1 | Xserve3,1 | |
| 10.1 Puma Server | 10.1.5 |  | | | | |
| 10.2 Jaguar Server |  | 10.2.4 | | | | |
| 10.3 Panther Server | | | | | | |
| 10.4 Tiger Server | | | | 10.4.8 | | |
| 10.5 Leopard Server | | | | | | |
| 10.6 Snow Leopard Server | | | | | | |
| 10.7 Lion andMac OS X Server | | | | | | |
| 10.8 Mountain Lion andOS X Server | | | | patch | patch | |
| 10.9 Mavericks andOS X Server | | | | patch | patch | |
| 10.10 Yosemite andOS X Server | | | | patch, upgraded GPU | patch, upgraded GPU | |
| 10.11 El Capitan andOS X Server | | | | patch, upgraded GPU | patch, upgraded GPU | |
| 10.12 Sierra andmacOS Server | | | | | patch, upgraded GPU | patch |
| 10.13 High Sierra andmacOS Server | | | | | patch, upgraded GPU | patch |
| 10.14 Mojave andmacOS Server | | | | | patch, upgraded GPU | patch |
| 10.15 Catalina andmacOS Server | | | | | patch, upgraded GPU | patch |
| 11 Big Sur andmacOS Server | | | | | patch, upgraded GPU | patch |
| 12 Monterey andmacOS Server | | | | | patch, upgraded GPU | patch |
| 13 Ventura | | | | | patch, upgraded GPU | patch |
| 14 Sonoma | | | | | patch, upgraded GPU | patch |
| 15 Sequoia | | | | | patch, upgraded GPU | patch |
| 26 Tahoe | | | | | | |
| Timeline of Macintosh servers |
|---|
 See also:List of Mac models |
