Help Convince Client to go OS X Server

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mindbend

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I may have a shot at getting a massive project for Chicago. It's basically a tourism piece that will have loads of video. I would like to have a QuickTime workflow and obviously a QuickTime streaming solution.

For my own workflow reasons, I'm convinced an OS X Server solution would be great. However, I don't know enough about other things like database performance in OS X (probably PHP, MySQL or maybe grow into a Java-based back end). Traffic will be light at first, but may grow into huge numbers. It's impossible to say. We'll need something that can expand to fill demand (video streaming mostly as well as simultaneous users on a database). We're looking into numbers now for how many users we can expect.

I'm looking for price, performance, technological, workflow arguments. I'll need to express not just why a X Server would be good, but why it woul dbe better than a Windows, Linux or other server.

Any anecdotal evidence would work, but I'd also like perhaps links to existing projects using this workflow, contacts, reviews, etc. Certainly I'll look on my own, but I figured you guys might already have some.

Thanks for any help.
 
Simply put the operating system and speed of machine are your best arguments for getting an XServe. The core of OSX is based in UNIX (as you know)... which means you have all the open source (and free) solutions, such as Apache, MySQL, PHP... which are easy to install and use.

Out of the box -- the XServe allows for scaleability. You can use it as a mail, SMTP or FTP server in addition to being a web server. This fits well with a growing website. Because as traffic increases, you can just start taking away services like mail, or ftp to dedicate the machine's resources to http.

The administration tools that come with XServe add value as well. You can have XServe do drive failure predictions, email you when your site goes down and give you a clear, easy-to-use user interface. Having an XServe means that anyone who can use their OSX machine can also administrate / configure their server.

Showing, turning on or turing off active services is point-and-click easy.

Speed wise, the machine holds its own. It's as good as any server in its class. The server also offers hot-swappable drive bays, which is a real plus if you want to do a backup without having to restart the entire machine.

Also, don't forget security. UNIX is far more secure then Windows.

The main argument I make is that if you want a personal computer, it's an expectable sin to have a PC, but PCs don't make great servers.

Having an XServer means you're machine can operate in a multi-platform environment with UNIX, LINUX, Mac OS AND Windows... heck you can even set up the server to be a windows printer server if you so desire.

The downside is initial investment. You're going to spend more money upfront... but I believe you make it up in licensing fees, and software costs to bring a LINUX / Window's server up to par.

Hope this helps...
 
Thanks evildan for the response. I have a follow up if you'll indulge me.

1. Do you know of any resources for showing actual performance information (not from Apple, which will clearly be biased)? I have looked around a bit on the internet and only come up with tidbits. Specifically, I would like to know how many simultaneous users could view streamed QuickTime content (medium quality and size) per server box. I have no idea what I can expect. I mean, if I start with one dual G5 server loaded with RAM and a RAID, can I expect 20, 50, 100 users to be able to stream a 320x240 MPEG-4 video simultaneously? I literally have no idea. Same for other site access like page loading, Flash loading, hits, etc.

2. Do you know if using WebObjects versus PHP or other will perform faster or is it just easier to set up?

3. Have you personally worked with XServers? I've read many reports similar to yours, but I haven't talked directly with anyone who is actually running an XServe.

4. Do you know of any XServe ISPs? I found this one on the internet, but I don't know anything about them. http://www.xpowerhosting.com/

Thanks!
 
To add to that, going with a OS X would be the safer way right now than a Linux machince. With SCO going nuts on trying to sue all these Linux users, it just makes sense to avoid the potential problem in a business sense.
 
mindbend said:
Thanks evildan for the response. I have a follow up if you'll indulge me.

1. Do you know of any resources for showing actual performance information....
Click to expand...

I do... but be advised -- despite it's independence, these numbers tend to be debatable. Speed, it seems, is relative. Pure computer calculation is important, but what's more important is an efficiently coded program. You could have the fastest computer in the world, but put a slow OS and slow program on it, and you'll see slow response times.

Do a Google search for XServer Benchmarks and you'll get tons of independent data on the subject. Try this one and of course you can go to the source Apple

2. Do you know if using WebObjects versus PHP or other will perform faster or is it just easier to set up?
Click to expand...

WebObjects is designed for Java Server Applications and PHP is a scripting language. So I would say they are two different components. I don't use WebObjects, as most of the websites I do are mid-size to large. The components we sell can quickly be developed in PHP (or ASP, etc). WebObjects would be a bit of an overkill for me.

I can say that setting up PHP is a snap. Go to Marc's site Entropy, download and install. Simple as that. I use Complete MySQL as my MySQL installer. I like the UI on that installer.

3. Have you personally worked with XServers?
Click to expand...

Yup, sure have. I had one at my old office and I'm going to purchase one for the company I'm working for now. It's a great machine. My only grip with it was it's a bit loud. Not overly loud, especially if you have it in a server room... it's no louder then an air-conditioning unit.

4. Do you know of any XServe ISPs?
Click to expand...

Nope, not off the top of my head. A local ISP co-locates an XServer if I'm not mistaken, but I'm pretty ignorant to what other ISPs are running in the lines of hardware. I can tell you that most are primarily UNIX based machines, as it means they don't have to pay a per-site license to M$.

I hope this helps.
 
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