14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has released version 10.5.7 of its Server Admin Tools for Mac OS X, a package the company describes as a “disc” that contains remote administration tools, documentation, and utilities for users to install on a computer other than their server. The hefty 65.62MB software update requires that the user has Mac OS X 10.5.7 installed, and supports several different languages, including Deutsch, English and Français.
“The Server Administration Software installer package contains tools for remote server administration,” Apple's Support section reveals. “These applications require Mac OS X version 10.5 or later. If you received this administration tools disc with an Xserve, the Apple Xserve Diagnostics software is also available for diagnosing certain Xserve hardware issues.”
Apple advises Mac owners to use the Server Assistant application to install or set up Mac OS X Server on a remote computer. According to the company behind the Mac operating system, “Server Assistant is primarily used for the set up of Xserve systems without an attached display. Server Preferences and Server Status widget The Server Preferences application and Server Status widget are for remote administration and monitoring of your server when set up in either the standard or workgroup server configurations.”
As for the Server Admin application, Apple explains it is intended to remotely administer one or more servers, while the tool can be used to manage file share points, as well as to monitor server activity, configure service settings, and provide detailed logging information for each of the running services. Server Monitor, for its part, is used to remotely monitor and manage one or more Xserves.
The package also includes applications such as System Image Utility, Xgrid Admin, QuickTime Broadcaster and, of course, Documentation (onscreen help and a suite of orientation and administrative guides).
Apple also links to a support document, for detailed information on the update, though the piece in question is yet to be updated with the latest 10.5.7 references.