What are the benefits of using Mac OS X Lion Server, and how easy is it to set up and use?

Transcript of the video:

Mac OS has traditionally had two products: The usual Mac OS X product and then the more expensive Mac OS X Server product (originally $1000, now about $500). Typically OS X Server was the province of systems administrators.

Apple has changed all that with Mac OS X Lion. You can now convert any copy of Mac OS X Lion to Mac OS X Lion server for $50 (it’s an add-on from the Mac App store).

All it does is it adds an application to your computer called Server, and makes a few under-the hood-changes which then allows your computer to host a variety of services, such as:  You could be your own mail host if you wanted to. (We don’t think you should, but you can.)

Most users will not want to do this, but it makes sense for some businesses: You have more fine-grained control over file sharing and what files can be shared by  whom, for example.

Among its features: You can also set up a VPN (virtual private network) for secure remote access to your office network.

Finally, in Lion the Mac OS X Server interface is now really easy. In fact, so easy that it’s disorienting if you’re familiar with the old interface. It does offer less control but with the benefit of being much, much simpler for non-administrators to be able to offer their businesses, and even large homes, much finer control over their server.