There are minimal minimal performance enhancements, so it is not necessary to install this update when running Mac OS X Server.
The G3 Firmware Updater requires Mac OS 8.5.x or later installed on a read/write Mac OS Extended format volume. If Mac OS 8.5.x or later is installed on a Mac OS Extended format (HFS Plus) partition of your Power Macintosh G3 or Macintosh Server G3, it will be necessary to start up into it to install the firmware update.
Note: Macintosh Server G3 computers shipping from the factory with Mac OS X Server, do not include a Mac OS 8.5.x or Mac OS 8.6 System Sofware installer. A System Folder capable of starting up your computer may be found on your Mac OS format volume after installing Mac OS X Server.
Starting up into Mac OS 8.5.x can be performed by holding down the Option key at startup. Having started up into the Mac OS it will be necessary to decompress the downloaded updater file with Stuffit Expander or a similar MacBinary decompression tool. Once the file has been decompressed, proceed through the following instructions:
1. Double-click the Power Macintosh G3 Firmware Updater icon and follow the on-screen instructions.
2. Click the Shut Down button when a message appears telling you to shut down your computer.
Perform these steps after the computer has been shut down.
3. Hold down the Programmer's button on the front of the computer. (For more information, see the manual "Setting Up Your Power Macintosh G3" that came with your computer.)
Figure 1 Location of Programmer's button
4. Press the Power button on your computer or on the Apple USB keyboard while continuing to hold down the Programmer's button.
The computer starts up.
5. Release the Programmer's button when you no longer hear the tone.
A progress bar appears at the bottom of the screen.
6. After your computer starts up, if the update process was successful, a message appears saying the firmware is up-to-date. Click OK.
If a message appears saying the update was not completed successfully, go back to step 1 and begin the update process again.
If the Macintosh Server G3 or Power Macintosh G3 does not have an existing Mac OS 8 installation on a Mac OS Extended format partition, download the firmware update to a Mac OS Extended format partition. The following steps may be used to start up into Mac OS 8.5.x or later to apply the Firmware Update:
1. Start up from either the System Restore or Mac OS X Server Install discs that came with your Power Macintosh G3 or Macintosh Server G3 (Blue and White) computer.
2. Open your Mac OS format volume and locate the directory named *_NBS, where * is your Mac OS volume name.
3. Open the SharedImages folder and double-click on NetBoot HD.img.
4. After the NetBoot HD.img has appered on the desktop, copy the System Folder to the root level of your Mac OS Extended partition.
5. Remove the MM Client Startup Extension from the newly copied System Folder and set the volume as the startup disk in the Startup Disk control panel.
6. Decompress the downloaded updater file with Stuffit Expander or another suitable decompression utility, and proceed through the process described above for running the G3 Firmware Updater.
Notes:
Because the firmware update requires booting into the Mac OS, refer to article 60217: "Mac OS X Server: Choosing the Startup OS"
If you are having difficulty starting up into Mac OS 8.5.x refer to article 60153: "Mac OS X Server: Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White) Won't Start Up With Mac OS 8.x"
You should move the Mac OS System Folder on the Mac OS Extended format partition after completing the firmware update process.