Remember, Leopard server is expected to be out in early 2007, so when buying a new Xserve be sure to get the operating system maintenance plan to guarantee you'll get the new server operating system at no additional charge when it emerges from its lair. The plan costs $999 for 36 months

Now that we've covered the basic configuration, cost and my first impressions, let's take a deeper look inside.

Processors and fans

Removing the two captive thumbscrews that hold the cover on, and then taking out the five Phillips screws to expose the fan assembly yields this view of the Xserve's internal hardware.