I have found something new to add to the already amazing apps for OS X Server.
My very own Voice Over Internet Protocol server.

Ventrilo - http://ventrilo.com

They have a release for Mac OS X Server that allows you to have up to 8 people at once, for FREE.
It can be used for all sorts of things, but most people use it for gamers. I use it to talk to friends and family.
It was a snap to set up with their easy to follow instructions (step by step, from download to startup)
I am usually afraid of the command line, but this was easy, even for me. Now I can talk to anyone around the world (with a internet connection) and it doesn’t cost me a penny. It works and sounds great.

There is a prototype Ventrilo client for Mac OS X that allows you to get on the Ventrilo servers with windows users.

Now for the (semi) bad news.
Macs can only use what is known as the “SPEEX” codec. PCs by default use “GSM”
In order to hear, or be heard by anyone else, the server will have to be set for the SPEEX codec.
A very simple task for an admin. Then everyone is happy.

The only other thing I could see as a possible drawback is conversation times.
There is a 3 second delay in conversations.
I spoke to a friend in Southern California, and I am in Portland Oregon. We had a 3 second delay in our conversations, and when someone would attempt to download from my server while we were talking, we would see delays as much as 60 seconds.

Keeping in mind I am using a Mac Mini 1.25Ghz with 512M RAM and an Internet connection of 7.0M downstream and 768K upstream. I am sure that either later releases or tweaking the configurations could probably fix, or at leaset fine tune it. But for now I am very happy that a company decided that PCs are not the only computer users, and we Mac people have the right to enjoy the same benifits that they get. If more companies thought this way, there wouldn’t be arguements about who is better. We would see that Macs are!

Even with the semi-flaws, I find the opportunity to save money without having to pay for anymore long distance calls a big plus.

This OS X Server add-on gets my THUMBS UP!
I can’t wait for the next release.

There is so much info on their website I encourage you to visit and see for youself.
I could probably say more, but I dont want to sound like I am advertising for them

bugsmi - 10 March 2006 06:34 AM

I have a question about Mac Servers,
when people say they have a mac server, mac tiger server mac osx server (powermac)
are they refering to the X-serve ? or are they simply refering to their mac computer
in other words i have a powermac g4 so is that a server ? or just a mac lol
is Mac osx server a software ? a computer ? a hardware ?

We are referring to the Software

There is an XSERVE computer hardware running os x server software (very expensive)
and there is OS X Server software installed on a Powermac. (Much cheaper)

I am personally running OS X Server 10.4.5 on my Mac Mini G4 1.25Ghz
but a year ago I was running OS X Server 10.3 on a Powermac G4 AGP 400Mhz,
and the year before that I was running OS X Server 10.2 on a Powermac G3 266Mhz.

I am done upgrading Hardware,
but I will always update my software to the most updated version
as long as I can afford it. LOL

bugsmi - 10 March 2006 04:49 PM

are you running a hosting service on your computer ?

As a matter of fact I am! Trying to start at least.

Mac OS X Server can be used for many different things, such as,

Setting up a network of computers inside an office or house to share resources.
Resouces being file sharing, internet connection, printer sharing, and many others.
You can even have all your computers in the house or office, start up and run from a
single copy of OS X client that is physically located on OS X Server. (This is what is
called Starting up from a Network Disk)

I believe if you read Tera and Bambi’s posts that you will see that this entire website
including forums is being hosted on a Powermac G5 running OS X Server. (correct me if I am wrong)

I am not going to get into the detailed architechture, but reguardless,
it is a powerhouse of technology that ANYONE can use.

If you still don’t understand some of the things that it can do
you should really checkout http://www.apple.com/server/
Notice how different everything is from the standard OS X Client.
Alot of server configuration are done via the COMMAND LINE terminal window
but Apple has configured a GUI (Graphical User Interface) so that even someone
who knows NOTHING about command line can configure a server.

Saverrio - 10 March 2006 08:46 PM

Mac OS X Server can be used for many different things, such as:
Setting up a network of computers inside an office or house to share resources.
Resouces being file sharing, internet connection, printer sharing, and many others.
You can even have all your computers in the house or office, start up and run from a
single copy of OS X client that is physically located on OS X Server. (This is what is
called Starting up from a Network Disk)

Exactly, and the differences between Mac OS X Tiger and Tiger Server are nominal. Tiger makes a very good and remarkably powerful and inexpensive server platform.

Tiger Server adds a few more server applications and tools (usually Open Source, so you could put many on vanilla Tiger), and a very good Server Administration system.

I believe if you read Tera and Bambi’s posts that you will see that this entire website
including forums is being hosted on a Powermac G5 running OS X Server. (correct me if I am wrong)

Yes, that’s true. The site started out on an iMac G4 (sunflower), moved to an older PowerMac 733, then a PowerMac G5 (with a few months of life on a Linux server).

I am not going to get into the detailed architechture, but reguardless,
it is a powerhouse of technology that ANYONE can use.

That’s an understatement. OS X rocks as an easy to use server.

If you still don’t understand some of the things that it can do you should really checkout http://www.apple.com/server/ Notice how different everything is from the standard OS X Client. Alot of server configuration are done via the COMMAND LINE terminal window but Apple has configured a GUI (Graphical User Interface) so that even someone
who knows NOTHING about command line can configure a server.

I’m very comfortable with CLI, but we seldom use it when managing OS X as a server (whether vanilla Tiger or Tiger Server). For remote access, we’ve had good success just using Apple Remote Desktop.

Tera Patricks - 12 March 2006 07:26 PM

I’m very comfortable with CLI, but we seldom use it when managing OS X as a server (whether vanilla Tiger or Tiger Server). For remote access, we’ve had good success just using Apple Remote Desktop.

I bought Apple Remote Desktop 2 because I used to have 12 computers to do all the fun stuff at the same time.(talk about an electric bill from h***)LOL
Now that I only have 2 Powermacs (macmini 1.25ghz and G5 Dual 2ghz) plus my laptop. I control it all from my laptop.

Apple Remote Desktop 2 ROCKS!!!
Just another great (overpriced) software product that everyone who has more than 1 computer should have.