More than two decades after its introduction, Apple has quietly announced that macOS Server, has been discontinued. The end of macOS server comes just over 23 years after its introduction on March 16, 1999. The final version of macOS Server is 5.12.2.
During the latter part of macOS Server’s run, Apple incorporated many of its features into macOS as part of a phasing out of the software. For example, the File Server, Caching Server, and Time Machine Server were included in macOS High Sierra. The command-line tools to manage Xsan (Apple’s storage garage network/clustered file system) were included in macOS Big Sur. Apple outlines which services and features are available through a support document announcing the discontinuation.
There was a time when the software was an inexpensive way to set up a home server with a Mac mini, Apple had been removing many features starting with version 5.71, and its support document lists alternatives to the removed features if they are not in macOS. The remaining feature that administrators will have to replace with the end of macOS Server is Profile Manager for mobile device management (MDM), and Apple has a document to help choose an MDM solution.
Author: Roman Loyola, Senior Editor
Roman has covered technology since the early 1990s. His career started at MacUser, and he's worked for MacAddict, Mac|Life, and TechTV.