With OS X 10.11 "El Capitan" set to hit Macs on September 30, Apple has updated the OS X Server app to version 5.0, and it's a free upgrade for users of the server app for last year's Yosemite operating system.
"OS X Server 5.0 is now operating system version independent. The same version of Server can be used on Mac computers running OS X Yosemite 10.10.5 and OS X El Capitan 10.11," Apple notes.
This change is a break from Apple's past policy. Although the desktop version of OS X is free (if you've bought a Mac, that is), the server app costs $19.99 and until this year had to be re-purchased for another $19.99 with each new OS release. Now, though, the $19.99 server bundle will work on multiple versions of OS X.
Server 5.0.3 was released last week, while 5.0.4 came out earlier this week. 5.0.4 just hit one of our Macs this morning.
OS X Server handles a variety of services including a VPN, file sharing, and caching of iOS and OS X app and update downloads. The server software's Time Machine service also lets multiple Macs back up wirelessly to an external drive, saving users the expense of buying Apple's AirPort Time Capsule.
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