Preparing For OS X 10.11 El Capitan Or OS X Server 5

Article ID = 142
Article Title = Preparing For OS X 10.11 El Capitan Or OS X Server 5
Article Author(s) = Graham Needham (BH)
Article Created On = 30th September 2015
Article Last Updated = 4th May 2022
Article URL = https://www.macstrategy.com/article.php?142

Article Brief Description:
A handy check list to do in preparing to install OS X 10.11 El Capitan or El Capitan Server (OS X Server 5)

Preparing for OS X 10.11 El Capitan / OS X Server 5

WARNING: As of September 2018 Apple has gutted macOS Server and removed most/all of the useful Server features!
WARNING: As of 21st April 2022 OS X Server/macOS Server is no longer available as Apple has discontinued it.

Here is a check list to do before installing OS X 10.11 El Capitan / OS X Server 5:

Check whether you have a compatible Mac from this list:
- iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
- MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
- MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
- Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
- Xserve (Early 2009)
NOTE: If you are not sure whether you have a compatible Mac check our El Capitan FAQ before proceeding.
Check you do not need any of the following as El Capitan does not directly include them:

Rosetta for running PowerPC software - Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard users only
Web Sharing - see our El Capitan FAQ for alternatives
Xgrid Sharing - see our El Capitan FAQ for alternatives
X11 - see our El Capitan FAQ for alternatives
Java - see our Java article for more information

If you have a third party SSD installed in your computer check to see if it needs a firmware update before installing El Capitan.
Make sure you are connected to the internet (preferably with a fast connection and with a large or no data cap in place).
Make sure you have an Apple ID (use the iTunes or App Store application to create one if necessary e.g. Go to Macintosh HD > Applications > App Store > Store menu > "Create Account…" to get started if you don't have an Apple ID).
Consider whether you want the Mac App Store Apple ID to be the same for services such as iCloud, iTunes, etc if you are going to use them.
Make sure your that Apple ID "account" has enough credit on it or has a credit card on file (with enough credit on it).

OS X 10.11 El Capitan = FREE
OS X Server 5 = NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO BUY

Check you have enough disk space (at least 15GB+ free).
Go to Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility:

Select the volume under the disk you are going to use for El Capitan on the left, then on the right of the window click "Verify Disk" - if problems are found you will need to repair your disk.
Select the volume under the disk you are going to use for El Capitan on the left, check at the bottom that it states "Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)". If it doesn't state "(Journaled)" you will need to turn journaling on by going to File menu > Enable Journaling.
Repair your boot disk's permissions.

Backup or clone your computer.

Check that your favourite software is El Capitan compatible.
Temporarily disable any third party disk encryption software.
Temporarily disable any anti-virus software.

Article Keywords: OS X OSX 1010 1011 Yosemite El Capitan Server preparing preparation prepare for OS X Server 5 OSXserver5

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