Xserve: Server Assistant does not accept Xserve serial number for remote installation

If Server Assistant will not accept your Xserve serial number for remote installation, follow the steps outlined in this document.

Symptom

When remotely installing or setting up Mac OS X Server, Server Assistant does not accept the Xserve computer's serial number as the password.

Note: Server Assistant normally requires the first eight characters of the Xserve serial number. If the Xserve computer's logic board has been replaced and the steps in this document do not help, contact the Apple Authorized Service Provider who replaced the logic board for further assistance.

Solution

1. Be sure you're using the server's built-in Ethernet port.

2. Use Network Utility to ping the Xserve to verify your connection.

3. Be sure the remote administration computer is on the same subnet as the server. The IP address the server has obtained appears in the Server Assistant window.

4. At the remote administration computer, be sure to log in as an Admin user. You may also try the root user.

5. Be sure the Admin has read-write access to the folder /System/Library/ServerSetup and the contents of this folder on the remote administration computer.