Apple has tweaked its Mac OS X Server software license for Leopard, allowing the operating system to run legally in a virtual environment for the first time.

The change could be a telling relinquishment of control in Apple's traditional manic dominion of all its gear. Or it's a sign of the Apocalypse. Tough call. We'll know once the dead start rising from their graves.

Apple's previous software license agreement barred running multiple instances of OS X Server on Apple boxen. This prevented companies such as Parallels (SWsoft) and VMware from including it as an OS that could be virtualized with their software.

But on Leopard's release, those who read the EULA, say Apple's small heart grew three sizes:

"This License allows you to install and use one copy of the Mac OS X Server software (the "Mac OS X Server Software") on a single Apple-labeled computer."

And now:

"You may also Install and use other copies of Mac OS X Server Software on the same Apple-labeled computer, provided that you acquire an individual and valid license from Apple for each of these other copies of Mac OS X Server software."

The folks at Parallels say they've already begun the process of including OSX Server into their software roadmap. From Parallels PR chief Benjamin Rudolph's blog:

"When will you see it? In the next several months. Enabling Leopard Server to run in a virtual machine may take some time, but we're working hard on it with Apple and will make it public as quickly as possible."

Apple, of course, hasn't returned our calls as of publication. Call off the Apocalypse warning. ®

Related stories

• Parallels slices and dices OS X with Server for Mac (18 June 2008)
• Mac Secrets A better way to build OS X preferences (11 March 2008)
• SWsoft strokes Apple with Parallels Server beta (9 January 2008)
• SWsoft to abandon itself and become Parallels (12 December 2007)
• Is Apple coding Leopard to run Windows apps natively? (4 December 2007)
• Opinion Why do we think virtualization is new? (8 November 2007)
• Mac OS X firewall blocks Skype and online gamers (6 November 2007)
• Security site knocks spots off Mac OS X Leopard firewall (2 November 2007)
• Reality distortion for Java on Leopard? (2 November 2007)
• VMware douses open source with waterfall of nonsense (2 November 2007)
• Apple gives MacBooks some Santa Rosa loving (2 November 2007)
• Apple's Leopard leaps into action (30 October 2007)
• Leopard on a PC? (30 October 2007)
• Is desktop virtualization important? (29 October 2007)
• Apple's Leopard rejects latest version of Java (29 October 2007)
• Storage Virtualization: A Register survival guide (24 October 2007)
• Apple to roll out Mac OS X 10.5 next week (16 October 2007)