Xserve(1st Generation)

Background

The Xserve marked Apple's first major push into the server market since its ill-fated Network Servers. While Apple had sold server versions of various Power Macs, the Xserve was the first Apple machine specifically designed for the server market in years. The most remarkable feature of the Xserve was its rackmount case. Just 1U (1.75") thick, The Xserve case was a remarkable feat of engineering. The four drive bays were accessible via the front panel, as was one of the firewire ports, and the CD-ROM drive. Multicolored display lights on the front panel showed drive access, processor load, and ethernet link status. The Xserve was targeted at the Enterprise and Educational server markets, and was available in two configurations. The low-end model, with a single 1.0 GHz processor, a 60 GB hard drive, and 256 MB of RAM was $2999 U.S. The high-end model, with dual 1.0 GHz processors, 512 MB of RAM, and a 60 GB hard drive was $3999 U.S.