Preparing For macOS 10.12 Sierra or macOS Server 5.2
Article ID = 162Article Title = Preparing For macOS 10.12 Sierra or macOS Server 5.2
Article Author(s) = Graham Needham (BH)
Article Created On = 20th September 2016
Article Last Updated = 4th May 2022
Article URL = https://www.macstrategy.com/article.php?162
Article Brief Description:
A handy check list to do in preparing to install macOS 10.12 Sierra or 10.12 Sierra Server (macOS Server 5.2)
Preparing for macOS 10.12 Sierra / macOS Server 5
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 macOS 10.12 Sierra / macOS Server 5:
- Check whether you have a compatible Mac from this list:
- MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
- MacBook Pro 13" (Mid 2010 or newer)
- MacBook Pro 15" (Mid 2010 or newer)
- MacBook Pro 17" (Mid 2010 or newer)
- MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
- Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
- iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
NOTE: If you are not sure whether you have a compatible Mac check our Sierra FAQ before proceeding. - Check you do not need any of the following as Sierra does not directly include them:
- PPTP VPN support
- Rosetta for running PowerPC software - Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard users only
- Web Sharing - see our Sierra FAQ for alternatives or buy/use macOS Server 5
- Xgrid Sharing - see our Sierra FAQ for alternatives
- X11 - see our Sierra 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 Sierra.
- 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).
- macOS 10.12 Sierra = FREE
- macOS Server 5 = NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO BUY
- Check you have enough disk space:
- macOS 10.12 Sierra installer = ~5GB
- macOS Server 5 installer = ~200MB
- macOS 10.12 Sierra installation = ~20GB
- macOS Server 5 installation = ~500MB
- Go to Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility:
- Select the volume under the disk you are going to use for Sierra 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 Sierra 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 Sierra compatible.
- Temporarily disable any third party disk encryption software.
- Temporarily disable any anti-virus/malware software.
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