OS X Server Updated With Update Caching, Bug Fixes, and More

Apple has released a significant update to OS X Server for Mountain Lion, making a number of changes, most notably the addition of a software update caching system. This allows software updates to be cached on the server in advance, allowing clients connecting to that server to download and install updates much faster than they would otherwise be able.

 The server caching feature is expected to automatically download updates to Apple’s apps, as well as updates to OS X, and possibly even device-specific updates for machines that connect to it. This allows organizations to greatly reduce the amount of bandwidth needed to keep all of their Macs updated.

The update also contains  several other new features, as well as a variety of bug fies. Release notes from the Mac App Store are as followsL

What’s New in Version 2.2

• Caching Server to speed up download of software distributed by Apple through the Mac App Store.
• Time Machine service monitoring of which computers have backed up, when they last backed up and size of backup.
• Wiki Server support for MacBook Pro with Retina display.
• Fix for deleting apps uploaded to Profile Manager.
• Ability to use Active Directory groups within Profile Manager.
• Centralized Certificate management interface.

OS X Server 2.2 is available immediately as a $19.99 add-on download from the Mac App Store.

• OS X Server 2.2 (direct link).