Apple releases updated Lion Server

Along with Wednesday's release of OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, Apple released Mountain Lion Server as a $19.99 upgrade on the Mac App Store, while Xcode 4.4 was also provided to developers, and Apple Remote Desktop also received an update, according to Apple Insider.

OS X Server version 2.0 is now available for download on the Mac App Store. It's an application that users can add to Mountain Lion, quickly turning a Mac into a server that can be used for home offices, businesses, schools, and hobbyists.

Instead of selling OS X Server as a stand-alone operating system, Apple chose to make the server features a low-cost bundle users can easily add to their current Mountain Lion installation, writes The Mac Observer.

The server add-on includes File Sharing, a Wiki server, Profile Manager for configuring Macs and iOS devices, TimeMachine hosting, Web server support, server support for email accounts, Calendars, Contacts and Messages, and more.

The Cut of Mac reports that according to Apple's OS X Server upgrade page, if a user upgrading a system running Lion Server to Mountain Lion Server, they'll need to follow the same two-step process.

First, install Mountain Lion and then install Mountain Lion Server. They can also upgrade from Snow Leopard Server to Mountain Lion Server provided they have the latest Snow Leopard Server release, which is 10.6.8.