Why Do I Need Macos Server For Sierra

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Jan 29, 2018 As for Caching Server, Time Machine Server, and File Sharing advanced options, Apple already moved those into into ordinary macOS - with the arrival of macOS High Sierra in September 2017. First of all, I'm happy to pay the $19.99 for the Mac OS Server app from the app store, so that's no problem, it's just that at the moment I only have one specific need - NFS sharing between my macOS sierra host and a virtualbox VM guest running Debian Sarge (don't ask).

Apple used to have a fantastic application called OSX Server (now called MacOS Server) which allowed you to run a full server from any OSX computer. A server can allow you share files, run your own email or web server, remotely connect in to your office etc. OSX server was particularly powerful running on a Mac Mini. With OSX Mojave Apple killed off OSX server, but it is still possible to download an older version from Apple that still works. Here’s how.

You will need access to two Macs to do this.

Firstly you will need a Mac running an older version of OS X. This is the Mac you will run OSX server on. I used El Capitan but any version prior to Mojave will work.

If you try to ‘purchase’ OSX server on this older OS it will say that MacOS Server is not compatible with the older OS. The only way to purchase Server is to be running Mojave. So you will need access to a mac running OSX Mojave to make the actual purchase.

Once you have purchased Server you can then download the older version to your older OSX.

1. Purchase a new version of OSX server.

On the Mojave OSX computer login to the App Store and purchase a new version of OSX Mojave. You don’t need to download it. You can cancel as soon as it starts to download.

2. Download the older version of Server

Tigervnc for mac os x. Now use the computer with the older version of OSX and login to the same iTunes account. In the App Store click on the little tag that says ‘Purchased.’ MacOS Server will now appear and you can download an older version that works with your older OS.

You should now have a working version of OSX server that includes all the features like VPN, FTP, Mail server and everything else that Apple removed from the Mojave version of OSX server.

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Very helpful. Thank you!

ReplyMartysays:July 8, 2019 at 1:41 am

Thanks so much for this article! I wish Apple would make this known to their users. Cheers :)

ReplyPhilsays:July 18, 2019 at 1:33 am

Does not work with Server app 5.6.3 and Mojave 10.14.5 – says “This version is no longer supported on this version of macOS.”

ReplyDFAITsays:

Why Do I Need Macos Server For Sierra Vista

August 15, 2019 at 5:31 am

I believe macOS Server 5.6.1 is the last version that supports Calendar and Contacts services – can someone confirm this?

Can someone also confirm that no Security or other updates to macOS 10.13.6 will make Server 5.6.1 incompatible?

Thanks!

Replyrootsays:

Why Do I Need Macos Server For Sierra Download

August 26, 2019 at 11:01 pm

I’ve upgraded Server from 5.5beta to 5.6.3. I don’t use them but it seems that OS Server 5.6.3 supports Calendar and Contact Services which are in the list of menu bar.

ReplySpencersays:August 29, 2019 at 11:05 pm

Thanks for the sharing. When I follow the advice and login to my iTune account, I cannot find a way to see all the apps which I have purchased and can be downloaded. Only apps for iPhone and iPad…. Any further advice will be grateful. Thx in advance.

ReplyMichael Timpsonsays:September 8, 2019 at 7:51 am

This method does not work anymore! I already tried, after buying and even downloading on my mojave computer, but on two different computers, it says it doesn’t offer the older version anymore, it just says it is incompatible. Please suggest an alternative method. thanks

Why Do I Need Macos Server For Sierra Mac

ReplyWaynesays:September 8, 2019 at 9:44 pm

Just to be clear, you need to download the older version of OSX server onto an older version of OS X, it won’t run on Mojave.

ReplyUltimetersays:December 28, 2019 at 1:07 pm

I couldn’t get it to work either. Says I need 10.15 to complete the purchase although I already purchased it on my Catalina Mac. Doesn’t give me an option to download an older version. Hoping to get this old 2006 MacPro working in my small office as a document server. Bummer

Replymicahsays:March 5, 2020 at 6:17 pm

you might want to try linux instead, there are nice graphical interfaces available today. the old 2006 mac pro is very power hungry but will work. installing linux requires some special tweaks on these old machines because of the non-standard EFI apple set up in them, but luckily lots of poeple have done this so the work’s already there. https://mattgadient.com/linux-dvd-images-and-how-to-for-32-bit-efi-macs-late-2006-models/ – download any of those and install normally, or modify your preferred NAS distro to run on it instead, like XigmaNAS or OpenMediaVault.

Why do i need macos server for sierra download

good luck

Dereksays:March 10, 2020 at 5:36 pm

Just downloaded Server 5.2 (for 10.11.6) today as I am upgrading my XServe from 10.9.5.

Replyjamessays:October 3, 2019 at 1:44 pm

Really needed this. Well done!

ReplySteven Sheungsays:November 22, 2019 at 4:04 pm

This method does not work any more. When you show up as Mac Mojave, it only said you have to be !0.15 to download. That is it.

ReplyHenry S. Kimsays:January 15, 2020 at 3:14 am

Actually, this method DOES work as of 1/15/2020, you just have to change everywhere above that it says Mojave, to Catalina. In other words, find a machine that has Catalina, log into the Mac App Store, buy macOS Server (version 5.9 as of 1/15/2020). Now that your account has a purchased copy of macOS Server, go back to your High Sierra machine and go to the Mac App Store on that machine, log in using the same account you used on the Catalina machine to buy macOS Server 5.9, and search for macOS Server. The buy button will say “INSTALL” (because the Mac App Store acknowledges that you bought it using your account), and click on the INSTALL button. You’ll see a message that says macOS Server is not compatible with your current OS (High Sierra) and then it will say that it will download the most recent version that’s compatible with your OS. It will download macOS Server 5.6.3 to your High Sierra Applications folder and name the app Server. Done! And no, you cannot move this app to a Mojave or Catalina machine. That won’t work. So if you want to use macOS Server 5.6.3, you can’t go any higher than High Sierra. Incidentally, I used an old white MacBook (unibody model MacBook7,1) to install Catalina to do this. Even though it (and many other old machines) don’t officially install Catalina, it’s trivially simple using the unsupported installer found by googling “catalina unsupported” and using the first search result.

ReplyPeter Rowatsays:January 15, 2020 at 5:32 pm

I have Mojave on an iMac, and the App store does not show a Server!
So Apple has taken it off the Store
Is there any other way to get a Server that runs Mail?
Any help apprecited

ReplyPetersays:February 28, 2020 at 12:39 pm

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/macos-server/id883878097?mt=12

ReplyPetersays:February 28, 2020 at 12:42 pm

It would be great if someone might explain what functionality remains possible interacting with the older server OS and Macs with the current OS (Catalina)

ReplyPetersays:February 28, 2020 at 12:54 pm

Before deciding to pursue this, know: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208312

Replytony shiptonsays:March 13, 2020 at 6:40 am

Still works!

ReplyWB huffersays:April 5, 2020 at 3:35 pm

Does anyone know how I can get the Mac server version for 10.7 Lion. I have an old MacPro 1,1 I want to use as a server. Cheers.

ReplyAndrewsays:May 11, 2020 at 1:50 pm

Did you ever find this I’m looking for the exact same thing and can’t find it anywhere?

ReplyNot working on el cap and mojavesays:April 14, 2020 at 5:56 am

this article is outdated. apple says the current server version requires OSX 10.15 to download, which is catalina. I’m unable to download the current server version using Mojave or El Capitan.

ReplyFHU Beatrissays:April 16, 2020 at 11:33 am

Very good post. I’m facing some of these issues as well.

ReplyGCPDetectivesays:April 20, 2020 at 1:40 pm

Just wanted to post this here for anyone having issues. If AFTER purchasing macOS Server on the App Store you still get a message saying that it is incompatible with your version of macOS, try this:

1. Open up the App Store on whichever Mac you are attempting to install macOS Server on. Make sure you are logged into the same account you used to purchase macOS Server.

2. Go to your purchase history. In Mojave this can be done by either going to the Finder/Menu bar and clicking “Store” then “View my Account” or by clicking on your account name in the bottom left corner of the App Store window.

3. Look for the macOS Server app and click on the DOWNLOAD button. Make sure to download straight from your purchase listing as clicking on the app and attempting to install from its product page will most likely not work.

Hope this helps.

ReplyGustafsays:June 18, 2020 at 10:22 am

For me, it worked from Product page as well, but you need to throw your old Server application away in order to get an Install button (and not an Update button). When clicking Install it warns you that the download will not be the most current version but the most current compatible with your current OS X (exactly as you want it)

ReplyJohan

Why Do I Need Macos Server For Sierra Ca

says:May 7, 2020 at 3:39 pm

I purchased the server app prior to the announcement of 5.7 so perhaps this is a bit off topic.

I had been running 5.6.3 successfully on HighSierra and wanted to install 5.6.3 on another machine. I therefore renamed the server app (in order not to overwrite it) but then I could no longer download it from app store, only update it. Although I had 5.6.3 installed (but renamed), the app store wanted to “update” it to 5.1.

Looks like HighSierra without any Server app installed is needed to download from the app store. Does anyone know how to download the app installer only? Downloading MacOS installer without launching is possible.

Why Do I Need Macos Server For Sierra Download

ReplyGustafsays:June 18, 2020 at 10:19 am

Hi,
I had 5.2 and also got only Update, and it was not possible to download except if I threw away the old Server.app.
But when I started it, it used my old settings at least (=migrated)

ReplyA Georgesays:May 17, 2020 at 2:27 pm

Still working. Great tutorial. Thanks.
Folks need to realize that they need to purchase OSX server on the newer Mac, then need to go to the older Mac and make sure they are signed in using the same Apple ID. It will already be in the list of purchases and when you choose Install, it will install the correct version of the server app.

Reply

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