14 DAY TRIAL // A new version of OS X Server is available for download with new features like Profile Manager support for the Device Enrollment Program, but for customers who already have Server 3.1 installed, there doesn’t seem to be anything new on the table.
On March 17, Apple outed OS X Server 3.1, an important update that spent a great deal of time in development.
When it finally rolled out, the company touted new features and enhancements like Profile Manager support for the Device Enrollment Program, improved Profile Manager scalability, management of Activation Lock on supervised iOS 7.1 devices, enhanced permissions for accessing My Device portal, and management of Fonts, AirPrint, and Wi-Fi Hotspot 2.0 settings.
Hours ago, Apple deployed OS X Server 3.1.1, an incremental update that supersedes the March 17 release but doesn’t seem to bring anything new of its own – the company flashes the same changelog in front of the customer, leaving us scratching our heads as to what this update might contain.
Perhaps Support document TS5395 can shed some light on the purpose of the 3.1.1 update. Titled “OS X Server (Mavericks): Font profiles with payload larger than 2MB cannot be deployed,” the KB article reveals that customers need to avoid creating font payloads that contain fonts larger than 2MB in OS X Server 3.1.
Per the document, Apple specifically states that “OS X Server v3.1 or later allows you to create font payloads using Profile Manager. If you include a font larger than 2MB, the payload may not deploy.”
Dated March 21, the KB article was taken online three days before OS X Server 3.1.1 became available in the Mac App Store. Apple therefore can’t expressly state in the old document that the newer Server update addresses this problem, but it’s likely that it does. Strangely, the company doesn’t offer a new set of release notes to go with the update, so everything stated here is pure speculation on our end.
Existing users can download OS X Server 3.1.1 and update for free, while newcomers can download the same version for $19.99 in the US and €17.99 in Europe.
OS X Server is a standalone application that goes onto a Client OS X installation, such as Mountain Lion or Mavericks. Server 3 requires Mavericks, while Server 3.1.1 requires OS X Mavericks version 10.9.2 specifically.
Server is relatively small in size, taking up just a few hundred megabytes on top of your existing OS X installation. Some features require program enrollment, while others are not available in all countries.