Small Business Server Questions...

hi all, i'm long time mac user have absolutely no experience osx server.
run small staffing agency , expanding.
looking @ taking on new staff member , have few questions best way work collaboratively.
until myself , colleague have been working off macbooks , have imac delegated new employee use.
have few questions.
1/. setting osx server 5 make our numbers document sharing more collaborative. had sorts of problems sharing on icloud loads of versions, administrator selecting correct doc e.t.c moved file box. seem have issues too, multiple files again. if doc stored on osx server solve these issues. there way enable real time editing multiple parties @ once?
2/. new employee using imac, dont want grant admin rights employee, server able run in background? can login administrator on macbook , make necessary changes whilst employee still using imac?
3/. able access computer remotely? in office? i.e able access numbers doc remote location?
4/. can use time capsule, plugged in imac backup computers using server? dont want use imac backup device backup portable should change imac in future.
5/. other benefits running server?

considering post.
lb

 

first, congrats on expanding business!

wanting do, don't think os x server going right solution, or may part of solution. server's collaboration features limited mail/contacts/calendars wiki server, , jabber based chat server. none of them particularly cutting edge.

os x server's core features come play in environment many macs , ios devices , users need deployed , centrally managed. think overkill describing 3 user/3 mac environment.

have noticed, icloud, consumer platform, not right choice smbs looking basics of collaboration , cloud services , apple doesn't have on market does.

current solution email , cloud? suggestion consider platform google apps work or microsoft office 365. these services built around enterprise class productivity services , colaboration features looking do. offer great value , integrate on mac. each has pros , cons, need research, but, as hate it, both more robust apple offers.

google apps $5 per user per month. o365 varies, $10 per user per month, subscription includes full office suite macs, pcs , mobile devices. when consider costs , hassle of maintaining onsite server, these costs minimal.

answer questions directly:

1. no. collaborative document editing in way describe not feature of os x server.

2. yes. if install server on imac, services run in background when non-admin logged in, , can run server application on other mac on network , remotely administer server without disrupting anything.

3. if looking iwork icloud/box/google drive style online document editing , live collaboration, no, not server can do. can basic file sharing, limited single person making edits file @ time.

4. yes, there time machine server built os x server, but, if have time capsule, redundant. key benefit of able backup macs on network hard drive attached server. it's no different backing time capsule directly.

5. benefits running os x server, business not large enough to realize yet imo. if had 6 employees running around company owned macbooks , ipads/iphones, device , user management features of server might worth look.

use case , features looking for, best option cloud services provider.

 

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