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kymikai · May 3, 2003, 12:22 AM

Hi,
I am thinking of making a file and print server so that all my data is centrally stored. I can use a old pc box or and old mac box for this, however, I am trying to make the box as simple and space saving as possible. From past experience using PC, it seems that I have to have a monitor and keyboard to boot the box, otherwise it will not boot. Is it possible to run OSX server with monitor and keyboard? Is there any OS (Linux / XP / W2k, etc.) that will support this or is this a BIOs level testing?
Thanks

BkueKanoodle · May 3, 2003, 01:37 AM

I can'r speak for the mac. But most pc box's let you disable this at the bios level. I don't think the mac will care regardless.

On the pc You have to boot into the bios with a keyboard once. Usually you will see a section on the first screen that says something like this"

Halt on errors: All

or

Halt on errors: Keyboard only

Change this to say none and you should be good to go.

Rainy Day · May 3, 2003, 11:03 AM

The Mac doesn't care. I had a headless server running on a Mac II years ago. It didn't even have a video card! I should think that MacOS X wouldn't care either, but haven't tested it.

mmurray · May 5, 2003, 12:46 AM

Originally posted by Rainy Day:
The Mac doesn't care. I had a headless server running on a Mac II years ago. It didn't even have a video card! I should think that MacOS X wouldn't care either, but haven't tested it.

Somethings don' t work. I have a G4 2 x 1 gig.
If I boot it without a monitor and ssh in I cannot launch VNC. The advice on Apple's web page for these machines is too boot and then pull out the monitor cable. If I do that it works fine.

Michael

Angus_D · May 5, 2003, 06:03 AM

I think the only mac so far to fully support headless operation is the xserve.

starman · May 5, 2003, 11:06 PM

I'm running OS X Server now and during the boot sequence I see something like:

"Preparing headless configurarion"

or something to that effect. It's running on a TiBook at the moment.

Mike

gatorparrots · May 6, 2003, 10:02 AM

Originally posted by mmurray:
Somethings don' t work. I have a G4 2 x 1 gig.
If I boot it without a monitor and ssh in I cannot launch VNC. The advice on Apple's web page for these machines is too boot and then pull out the monitor cable. If I do that it works fine.

I have a headless 7300/233 running OS X 10.1.5. It has no monitor or keyboard attached, also. Rather than bother with plugging in a monitor at the infrequent reboots, I just plugged in an old DB15->VGA adapter to the built-in video port. This fools the onboard into believing there is a monitor attached. VNC works fine with this solution.

Griffin also makes such a device which will also do the trick:
http://www.griffintechnology.com/pro...ers/index.html

Rainy Day · May 6, 2003, 12:39 PM

Somethings don' t work. I have a G4 2 x 1 gig.
If I boot it without a monitor and ssh in I cannot launch VNC. The advice on Apple's web page for these machines is too boot and then pull out the monitor cable. If I do that it works fine.

Not that you said anything to the contrary, but clearly the Mac booted and the OS and ssh are running, ergo this machine, by definition, can run as a headless server (i.e. there are no hardware, ROM nor OS limitations on running without a monitor or keyboard).

The fact that VNC is balking at it is really an issue which is independent of the Mac platform, ROM's and OS, even if this is a peculiarity of VNC on the Mac platform. In fact, it should be reported as a bug in VNC.