Server Installation on Mac

This article guides you through installing and launching the farmerswife Server application on macOS. If you are upgrading an existing Server, please see the Upgrade Instructions for macOS instead.

Current version: 7.4 SP2

Key Points to Note

• farmerswife 7.1 and above requires Java / OpenJDK to be installed on the Server machine before you install or upgrade.
• On Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and later), the farmerswife Server runs using Apple's Rosetta 2, and macOS will offer to install it the first time you open the Server. To check whether your Mac has Apple Silicon, open the Apple menu > About This Mac and look for Chip (Apple Silicon) or Processor (Intel). A native Apple Silicon version is planned for early 2027, before Apple ends general Rosetta support in autumn 2027.
• Server and Client applications must both run the same version.
• macOS 10.14 Mojave or newer is required. See macOS Compatibility below.
• The Release installers page is password protected. If you don't have the password yet, please email support@farmerswife.com.

Step 1: Install Java / OpenJDK

As of January 2026, the recommended OpenJDK for macOS is Eclipse Temurin (HotSpot) 17.0.17+10.

For full instructions, see Installing OpenJDK for farmerswife.

Step 2: Download and Install the Server

1. Go to the Release installers page and open the 7.4-SP2 > Server Installers > macOS folder.
2. Download the .zip installer file to your Desktop.
3. Double-click the file to extract the application.
4. If a previous farmerswife Server application is already in your Applications folder, rename it to farmerswife Server - with upgrader_OLD.app.
5. Drag the extracted farmerswife Server - with upgrader.app into the Applications folder.

Tip: If the application won't start after being run from the Downloads folder, move it to the Desktop and launch it from there. Once it opens, quit it and move it to the Applications folder.

Step 3: First Launch

The first time you open the Server, macOS may block it. The steps to allow it depend on your macOS version. You only need to do this once.

macOS 15 Sequoia and later (including 26.x Tahoe and 27.x Golden Gate)

1. Double-click the farmerswife Server in the Applications folder. When macOS says it can't be opened, click Done.
2. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security.
3. Scroll down to the Security section, where you'll see a message that the farmerswife Server was blocked.
4. Click Open Anyway and enter your administrator password if asked.
5. Click Open to confirm.

macOS 11 Big Sur to macOS 14 Sonoma

1. Open the Applications folder.
2. Right-click (or Control-click) the farmerswife Server application.
3. Select Open, then click Open again to confirm.

Apple Silicon Macs: Installing Rosetta

If macOS asks you to install Rosetta when you open the Server, click Install and follow the prompts. You only need to do this once per Mac.

Choosing a Database

On the first launch of a new Server, you'll be asked to choose a database:

• Demo Database: select it and click OK.
• Empty Database: select it and you'll then be asked for your license file. farmerswife Support will have sent this to you by email. If you can't find it, please contact support@farmerswife.com.

For more detail, see Choosing a Database on Installation.

Step 4: After Installing

• Allow incoming connections: if the macOS firewall asks whether the farmerswife Server should accept incoming network connections, click Allow. Otherwise Clients won't be able to connect. See Server Ports and Access Tiers for the ports used.
• Keep the Mac awake: the Server needs to stay running for users to connect. Make sure the Mac is set not to sleep automatically (System Settings > Energy, or Battery > Options on a laptop).
• Connect your Clients: see Configure your Server-Client Connection.

macOS Compatibility

How to Check Your macOS Version

1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
2. Select About This Mac.
3. Note the macOS name and version number (for example, macOS Sonoma 14.x).

Supported macOS Versions

* Upgrading your Mac to macOS 26.x Tahoe or 27.x Golden Gate? These require farmerswife Server and Client 7.2 SP2 (7.2.1002) or later. If you're on an older farmerswife version, upgrade farmerswife before upgrading macOS. macOS 27.x Golden Gate only runs on Apple Silicon Macs, so the Server will run using Rosetta 2 (see Key Points above).

Unsupported macOS Versions

Since version 7.0, farmerswife no longer supports 32-bit systems or macOS 10.13 High Sierra and earlier (including macOS Sierra 10.12 and OS X El Capitan 10.11). To run farmerswife 7.0 or later on one of these systems, please upgrade to macOS 10.14 Mojave or newer first.

If you have any questions about installing farmerswife on macOS, please contact support@farmerswife.com.