2014 Mac Mini suggestion

[unplugme71]

I'm looking to purchase two Mac Mini's (A/B) to run OS X Server on it and install them in a Sonnet Rack Mount Mini 1U enclosure.

I will be running the following services:
DHCP/DNS - both
Open Directory - both
File Sharing - both
Time Machine - B
Profile Manager - A
Calendar - A
Caching - B
NetInstall - B

As for usage, there will be a dozen Apple devices (Mac and iPhone/iPad/AppleTV) accessing all of its services. There will be a dozen or two more devices accessing just DHCP/DNS (internet of things). So while usage will be fairly minimal, I don't see needing anything more than a i5 processor to run these tasks. I think 4GB would probably be enough, but having 8GB would be safe in case future upgrades to the OS and server app require more.

So it really comes down to storage options. I rather not do Fusion and have to deal with it breaking if one drive fails. So it comes down to a 5400rpm 1TB HDD or a 256GB flash drive. I don't think those options are available on the 1.4Ghz, so 2.6Ghz, 8GB memory is the baseline.

Also, would it benefit any to add a thunderbolt gigabit adapter and have a second port available?

Or I found a 2012 model with server for $50 cheaper, but only 4GB ram standard with 2x1TB 5400rpm drives.

 

[kweevuss]

Are you trying to do like high availability for buying two? I think with your load, one would be perfectly fine (either 2012 or 14). I would then spend money on more ram. The second Ethernet port would only be useful if you were running a nas or lots of vm's on it and wanted to separate traffic in vlans.