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angelmb · Jan 1, 2009, 06:38 AM

OK, new year, new fun… So I get a kernel panic every time I try to install OS X Server on a Mac Pro… after some wondering and pondering it was clear that the NVIDIA 8800 GT inside the Mac Pro and OS X Server 10.5.0 are sort of conflicting… given this graphics card requires 10.5.2 to run (client version) I would swear it would be the same with the Server version, may it be so?

Well, I have downloaded the update pondering that my only bet is to install it on an external hard disk attached to an iMac 24" (aluminum enclosure) and then with the help of Disk Utility restore such disk to an internal hard disk of the Mac Pro… since the others Macs I have available here are not going to help:

- a Power Mac G4 MDD 1,25 GHz which wouldn't boot from the USB hard disk, and even so I wouldn't want to deal with different disk format files
- a unibody MBP which wouldn't take any sort of 10.5.0

Are I mistaken or would the "attach the USB hard disk to the iMac, install there; attach the USB to the Mac Pro, restore there" idea work?

Or is there any sort of trick to install 10.5.0 on the Mac Pro and later update to 10.5.x I am not aware of ??

Thanks.

seanc · Jan 1, 2009, 06:58 AM

So is it a case of you can't complete the install or it won't boot after it's installed?

Either using single user mode or the terminal on the installer disc, you should able to install it using these tips: http://atmail.com/kb/2005/installing...-the-terminal/

angelmb · Jan 1, 2009, 08:24 AM

Thanks. I can not even run the installer, once the Mac boots up from the OS X Server DVD media and the cute grey Apple logo screen is shown, I get the kernel panic no matter what… hence I kind of suspect the lack of support for the NVIDIA 8800 is the culprit here.

seanc · Jan 1, 2009, 10:38 AM

I think your best bet would be to install it on the iMac (if it will take 10.5.0), update it and clone it to the Mac Pro.

Alternatively, I read a thread on Apple discussions where you might have luck contacting Apple and asking for an updated installation DVD.

If we really need to I can point you in the direction of a discussion on how we can try to get the 8800 kexts onto the installation DVD - I suspect it's a case of the kexts for the graphics card were implemented with 10.5.2 which is why we need it.

angelmb · Jan 1, 2009, 01:31 PM

Yes, the iMac can take a 10.5.0, I bought it when it was released so it came with 10.4.10. I will try that and report back, but feel free to point me towards that last option… just curious.

seanc · Jan 1, 2009, 02:38 PM

This relies on me being able to find it again

angelmb · Jan 1, 2009, 03:05 PM

OK, don't worry, it may be not worth the hassle.

tooki · Jan 2, 2009, 10:49 AM

Isn't there a way to install the Server components onto a running regular Mac OS X client?

Installing onto the iMac and then cloning is a bad idea, because you can't update until after doing the installation.

Art Vandelay · Jan 2, 2009, 11:51 AM

You can install, update and then clone.

Or you can hook up the Mac Pro to the iMac via TDM. Then you can skip the cloning part since you'll be able to install directly onto the Pro's drive.

angelmb · Jan 2, 2009, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

You can install, update and then clone.

Yes, that is how I have in mind to proceed.

Or you can hook up the Mac Pro to the iMac via TDM. Then you can skip the cloning part since you'll be able to install directly onto the Pro's drive.

I have thought about that, thing is I don't have them side by side, the iMac is in another room while the Mac Pro shares the room with the MDD G4.

tooki · Jan 2, 2009, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

You can install, update and then clone.

Sorry, I should have been more clear... I know you can update and clone, what I was getting at was that moving a configured OS X Server setup to another machine can be problematic, since it doesn't really like to have certain things (like IP address) changed after the fact.

tooki · Jan 2, 2009, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

Or you can hook up the Mac Pro to the iMac via TDM. Then you can skip the cloning part since you'll be able to install directly onto the Pro's drive.

Yes, but then how would you update it to make it bootable on a Mac Pro?

Art Vandelay · Jan 2, 2009, 10:14 PM

The same way as if you installed on the iMac's hard drive.

Also, you can set it up with the final IP address. Further, Leopard is much easier to change IPs on.

tooki · Jan 3, 2009, 03:13 AM

Ideally, you'd avoid doing any setup/config until you're on the Mac Pro, but you can't do Software Update until you've gotten to the desktop.

64stang06 · Jan 3, 2009, 07:56 AM

Something wrong with Target Disk Mode? I didn't see it mentioned here...

Connect your Mac Pro to the iMac via FW. Power on the Mac Pro, holding the T key until you see the FW symbol on the screen. Boot the iMac up from the OS X Server disc and continue with the installer until you get to select the hard drive. Select the FW drive and install. Once the computer restarts, make sure you hold down the option key so you can select the iMac hard drive and not the Mac Pro. When you get to the desktop, download the combo updater for 10.5.6 server. Run the installer, and it should see the FW drive and allow you to update it. Eject the FW drive and restart the Mac Pro.

I've done that before with an old G4 and Tiger when I only had the DVD family pack and was too impatient to wait for CDs to arrive.

angelmb · Jan 3, 2009, 08:07 AM

Thanks you for your input. Target Disk Mode yes, Art Vandelay suggested it (as TDM). So I could get the Server updated even if I haven't firstly ran the setup on the Mac Pro?, sounds cool and what I need.

Art Vandelay · Jan 3, 2009, 12:28 PM

If you set it up with the final IP on the iMac, there is no problem whatsoever moving it to your Mac Pro later. Even if you don't use the same IP, it's not really a problem. You can safely change IPs on Server and it's much easier in Leopard. In Leopard, you just use System Prefs to change IPs.

Yes, you can run system updates on drives that aren't the boot drive. So, the above option of updating via TDM is fine. I didn't mention it before because the OP mentioned that TDM was not convenient to do.