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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
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Apple removes Boot Camp from OSX Server

By | August 26, 2010, 8:49am PDT

Apple has removed the Boot Camp dual-boot utility from its pre-installed Mac OS X Server operating system.

Here’s the knowledge base article:

Boot Camp is not included with Macs that ship with Mac OS X Server pre-installed. This includes all Xserves as well as Mac mini and Mac Pro configurations that include Mac OS X Server.

This is probably not a big deal for the big guys using Xservers, but Apple ships OS X Server on Mac Pro and Mac mini systems, systems aimed at the consumer market. This quiet removal of Boot Camp is unusual and could cause problems for some users.

It’s certainly an unusual move for Apple to remove a feature, especially one so useful.

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Topics

Apple Macintosh, Mac OS X Server, Server, Apple Inc., Apple Mac OS X, Desktops, Apple Mac OS, Operating Systems, Software, Hardware, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

Disclosure

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
DeusXMachina 28th Aug 2010
@Dietich T. Schmitz
"Try installing Windows or Linux on that server of yours--no not in a virtual machine."

It's called Bootcamp, and it works just fine. P.S. it is NOT a virtual machine, it is a boot loader. Try installing Linux on YOUR machine without a boot loader. And FTR, there are numerous other ways to install linux, such as EFI scripts that install Yellow Dog and others. Again, get at least a semblance of a clue before you post.


"Try doing development for their iPhone or iPad. See what your choices are."

First, that is TOTALLY irrelevant to the topic of closed hardware, but nice try. Flounder much?
Second, HTML5. Period.

"If you are recommending going against Apple's EULA by installing a rogue copy of Kaloway then that doesn't count as being legitimate."

You said nothing about being legitimate. You said "can't," as in not possible, You are wrong. Period.

"To the contrary, I know what I am talking about and you too suffer from the Apple reality distortion field."

First, as shown, no you don't. Second, and more importantly, you need to demonstrate what I said that was in error before you start tossing around crap like RDF.

And BTW, I passed the MCSE, and have been using Linux since the first Red Hat version.
Your posts make it quite clear that the person suffering from reality distortion is yourself.
View in thread
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Kinda odd, but hardly surprising.
matthew_maurice 26th Aug 2010
On a server BootCamp doesn't make much sense. If you want to run Windows occasionally a Virtual Machine, particularly with the extra horsepower of an Xserve or Mac Pro, is a far better solution. You're running OS X server for a reason and rebooting that box to be a Windows machine would certainly negates that reason.

That being said, the odd part is putting the development resources into removing that feature. Granted it probably wasn't a ton of effort, but it's not like the OS guys had nothing else to work on.
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
tk_77 Updated - 26th Aug 2010
@matthew_maurice

I agree with the not making much sense on a server. Anyone that pays for the license ($500 for Mac Pro, $1000 base price for Mac Mini) most likely needs to use it, yanno .. as a server. Anyone that wants to run server services on a mac, can easily do so using the "client" version of the OS and installing what they need from Mac Ports or Fink.

In terms of being odd, the minimal development resources put into removing it now free up the need to maintain it under future releases. If no one is using it (for obvious reasons) then why spend the extra development time maintaing software thats not used. Why spend the extra QA time testing it, etc...

As you pointed out, if you need to run Windows or Linux (or whatever) on an OSX Server, you still have Parallels and VMWare.
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Don't forget Virtual Box
use_what_works_4_U 26th Aug 2010
@tk_77
Virtual Box is another great virtualization tool. Plus it's free.
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
tk_77 26th Aug 2010
@macadam

Ah yes, forgot about Virtual Box. Also a pretty good virtualization app.
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who cares
Linux Geek 26th Aug 2010
maybe M$ but not us
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
The Danger is Microsoft 26th Aug 2010
How does Virtual Box compare with Parallels? Which is faster?
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
draymis 26th Aug 2010
@The Danger is Microsoft

I tested all 3 major vm's about a month ago, and Parallels' graphics were def. faster than virtual box, and the app was more stable than vmware running our corp XP apps.
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
kenosha77a 26th Aug 2010
@draymis
My experience as well.
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
BroGnorik 26th Aug 2010
@The Danger is Microsoft I believe Paraellels is better because they have better support for higher 3D graphics, of course this is for the Mac version only at this time.
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
use_what_works_4_U 26th Aug 2010
@The Danger is Microsoft
Well, don't try and play too many games with VirtualBox.
You do get what you pay for to some extent, but VirtualBox is great for most graphically simple tasks.
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
ssj6akshat 26th Aug 2010
@macadam Virtualbox's paid version aimed at the enterprise,so I bet they will ever focus on Graphics.
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
emiliosic 26th Aug 2010
If you need to run Windows on an OSX server; the best solution is to run either Windows virtualized or both OS X and Windows virtualized on top of a vanilla OS X (Server) install.
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
emiliosic 26th Aug 2010
Oh BTW: Apple does remove features that are either little-used or wants to phase out.
For example, it removed the short-lived "Sherlock" App. It removed graphs from its calculator back in Jaguar or so.
It removed bluetooth SMS / Dial from the OS X Address Book before launching the original iPhone (Which they could add back BTW not that iOS is a bit more mature).
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
nix_hed 27th Aug 2010
@emiliosic
Sherlock was awesome (and the best thing in Mac OS 9.x for that matter), but they phased it out because of Spotlight, and Graphs is a separate app located in "/applications/utilities" instead of being built into the calculator app. there was another program called Graphing Calculator made by a couple of guys that used to work for Apple that's no longer included; Google it and you can download it.
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makes perfect sense
anthonymaw 26th Aug 2010
You don't go to KFC for hamburgers and you wouldn't go to McDonald's for fried chicken either.
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
shtromer 26th Aug 2010
@anthonymaw
Are you suggesting I would go to KFC for chicken? Or to McDonald's for hamburgers?
Next thing I know you'll be suggesting I should use Windows 3.1 as my OS.
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
bvonr@... 27th Aug 2010
@anthonymaw Actually here in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada KFC does sell great burgers happy
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Priceless Adrian, Priceless.
Dietrich T. Schmitz, ~ Your Linux Advocate 26th Aug 2010
"It?s certainly an unusual move for Apple to remove a feature, especially one so useful."

Did you think that one through before going to final draft?

Apple is notorious for telling people what they should think and do.

Their entire line is a closed hardware architecture, the developer tools are limited to only what Apple deems appropriate, you can't install the O/S on anything other than their hardware.

Tap tap. Is this mic on?
Apple enthusiasts wake up. Your reality is being distorted and you are not allowed to think for yourself.

Apple is in control of your faculties. Do not attempt to change the channel, do not adjust the horizontal, do not adjust the vertical.

It appears that Adrian is in the thick of the RDF based on this article.

Come over to the Linux camp where you can do whatever you want and be happy and productive.

May I suggest, Ubuntu: the safest operating system on the planet.

I stake my reputation on it.
wink
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
DeusXMachina Updated - 27th Aug 2010
@Dietrich T. Schmitz, Your Linux Advocate
You are a hypocrite in addition to being an idiot.
"Their entire line is a closed hardware architecture"

Um, how so? Macs use industry standard PC expansion ports, USB, Firewire, monitor connections, etc.. In NO way is the hardware "closed."

"the developer tools are limited to only what Apple deems appropriate"

You are just plain wrong. I can use any number of C++ (and any number of other languages) compilers on the mac. Or are you claiming that because XCode is free, that somehow makes these other products self-destruct?

"you can't install the O/S on anything other than their hardware."

Sure I can. Or are you claiming Kalyway does not exist? Or perhaps you mean "may not" as opposed to "can not"?

Very simply, as usual, you have NO idea what you are talking about!!!
"Apple enthusiasts wake up. Your reality is being distorted and you are not allowed to think for yourself."

Wake up yourself, hypocrite!

"I stake my reputation on it."

Your reputation is not worth the hot air you use to voice it.
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
Dietrich T. Schmitz, ~ Your Linux Advocate 27th Aug 2010
@DeusXMachina
Try installing Windows or Linux on that server of yours--no not in a virtual machine.

Try doing development for their iPhone or iPad. See what your choices are.

If you are recommending going against Apple's EULA by installing a rogue copy of Kaloway then that doesn't count as being legitimate.

To the contrary, I know what I am talking about and you too suffer from the Apple reality distortion field.

Step away from the Apple and recover your god given senses.
0 Votes
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
DeusXMachina 28th Aug 2010
@Dietich T. Schmitz
"Try installing Windows or Linux on that server of yours--no not in a virtual machine."

It's called Bootcamp, and it works just fine. P.S. it is NOT a virtual machine, it is a boot loader. Try installing Linux on YOUR machine without a boot loader. And FTR, there are numerous other ways to install linux, such as EFI scripts that install Yellow Dog and others. Again, get at least a semblance of a clue before you post.


"Try doing development for their iPhone or iPad. See what your choices are."

First, that is TOTALLY irrelevant to the topic of closed hardware, but nice try. Flounder much?
Second, HTML5. Period.

"If you are recommending going against Apple's EULA by installing a rogue copy of Kaloway then that doesn't count as being legitimate."

You said nothing about being legitimate. You said "can't," as in not possible, You are wrong. Period.

"To the contrary, I know what I am talking about and you too suffer from the Apple reality distortion field."

First, as shown, no you don't. Second, and more importantly, you need to demonstrate what I said that was in error before you start tossing around crap like RDF.

And BTW, I passed the MCSE, and have been using Linux since the first Red Hat version.
Your posts make it quite clear that the person suffering from reality distortion is yourself.
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
Masari.Jones 26th Aug 2010
I use Boot Camp with Parallels and I'm very disappointed to hear Apple removed Boot Camp from OS X Server. At the very least they should make the utility available for download for users that actually want or need that feature...
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
use_what_works_4_U 26th Aug 2010
@Masari.Jones
Do you actually boot directly to Windows? Because if you are simply using boot camp to create the partition that Parallels runs off of, then you aren't really using boot camp. Parallels doesn't need the boot camp partition and should be able to convert it to an expandable VM, giving you back drive space.
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
DeusXMachina Updated - 27th Aug 2010
@macadam

I suspect Masari Jones is incorrectly thinking that Boot Camp = Windows compatibilty, and that thus, removing Boot Camp will make Parallels fail to operate.

Specifically, I suspect Jones to have no idea what Boot Camp is.
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
stevejg61 27th Aug 2010
maybe they just did it so they could now charge the people for it. it seems all i hear is that people buy macs and then run windows under boot camp - which says a great deal about OSX. I guess their plan was like drug dealers - give it to you free at first, get you hooke, then start charging.
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RE: Apple removed Boot Camp from OSX Server
ssaha 27th Aug 2010
@stevejg61 Then you must be hard of hearing. I've had Windows running in a Parallels VM on my MacBook Pro for about four years now, and have fired it up in earnest (to run a program, as opposed to firing it up just to run Windows Updates) only to run Quicken. Unfortunately, Intuit hasn't put in enough resources into developing the Mac version of Quicken, so the Mac version sucks a$$. Hopefully, when the promised updated Quicken for Mac, I can retire my Windows VM and reclaim the space.

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