Co-lo-what-now?

Scenario 3: Leopard Server on an Xserve in a Co-location Facility

The Internet

Airport	Co-Located XServe
Extreme	or Mac mini

Airport Extreme or Time Capsule

Co-location is an IT industry term used to describe a hosting service where you provide the server, and the facility provides the power, rack space, Internet connection, and 24/7/365 monitoring.

You’re small and you’re agile. Mobility is the name of the game for you, and you need the ability to collaborate from any place at any time. But don’t worry. Leopard Server can be just as nimble as you need.

In this installation, Web services, IM services, Calendars, and Contact management take center stage.

Required Equipment

•Xserve

•Service agreement with a provider of co-location hosting services

•Four or more Macintosh computers running Leopard with broadband Internet connections for your users (including AirPort Extreme wireless routers for any notebook Mac users)

Before you get started, make sure you get your IP address, subnet mask, and gateway address from your hosting service. Have that information handy, as well as the first eight characters of the Xserve’s serial number. (And that’s case-sensitive, don’t forget!) You’ll also need the Admin Tools installed on the Mac you’re using to administer the remote Xserve.

It also assumes that you have a domain name purchased and DNS services configured so that the Primary DNS Name you select below is actually assigned to the numerical IP address that your co-location service has provided you with.