Getting the new Unibody Mac Mini Server for my home setup

[joeinid]

I talked to an "apple specialist" .....

this morning. He kinda confirmed unofficially that there seems to be some issue installing 10.6.3 client on mini server hardware. He also stated that this was an "unsupported" configuration. Which, I think, is BS. He said hardware is different. I believe they are not going to spend more money and use different hardware for those two little machines. He would only "replace" the install/restore disc if I had a serial number from a non server mini. If I had one of those machines I would just use that disc, duh. I even offered to buy at my expense, a non server mini restore disc. Even though I also purchased 10.6.3 client at the same time I bought the mini server thinking I could just install that. The 10.6.3 client does not work on the server machine properly. So I wasted some more money. It's not gonna work, and that makes me a little pi**ed off.

If someone who purchased a mac mini non server could pm me, I have an offer to make.

Thank you everyone for all your input.


Joe

 

[iGrant]

this morning. He kinda confirmed unofficially that there seems to be some issue installing 10.6.3 client on mini server hardware. He also stated that this was an "unsupported" configuration. Which, I think, is BS. He said hardware is different. I believe they are not going to spend more money and use different hardware for those two little machines. He would only "replace" the install/restore disc if I had a serial number from a non server mini. If I had one of those machines I would just use that disc, duh. I even offered to buy at my expense, a non server mini restore disc. Even though I also purchased 10.6.3 client at the same time I bought the mini server thinking I could just install that. The 10.6.3 client does not work on the server machine properly. So I wasted some more money. It's not gonna work, and that makes me a little pi**ed off.

If someone who purchased a mac mini non server could pm me, I have an offer to make.

Thank you everyone for all your input.


Joe

I wouldn't give up just yet, I'm still think you can use that client disc to install the base OS 10.6 and then do that Mac Update that I post on the other page to get access to the rest of the functionality of the Mac Mini's ports.

I'll see if I can find the thread on apple discussion boards were someone said it had worked for them.

-iGrant

 

[joeinid]

I want to do a clean install ....

I realize there are some tricks and techniques to make it work but I don't want to do that. I want to pop in a disc, do a clean install, and have everything work. These are macs, not pc's. I will buy from someone, a copy of the mac mini non server restore disks that came with their computer, until I can get one out of apple.

Thanks!!!!

I wouldn't give up just yet, I'm still think you can use that client disc to install the base OS 10.6 and then do that Mac Update that I post on the other page to get access to the rest of the functionality of the Mac Mini's ports.

I'll see if I can find the thread on apple discussion boards were someone said it had worked for them.

-iGrant

 

[iGrant]

I realize there are some tricks and techniques to make it work but I don't want to do that. I want to pop in a disc, do a clean install, and have everything work. These are macs, not pc's. I will buy from someone, a copy of the mac mini non server restore disks that came with their computer, until I can get one out of apple.

Thanks!!!!

Its not that difficult really, if you use the 10.6.3 disk set you ordered, the sd and ethernet won't work from what I've read, just download the update via the link I posted on the new Mac Mini's wireless or download it on computer, slap it on a usb drive, stick it in the new Mac Mini, install it, reboot and you all good to go.

You not hacking or doing anything out of the ordinary . . .

-iGrant

 

[joeinid]

I can't try until tuesday next week but ...

From other people who have done just that, the sd and ethernet still do not work. I'll try and find the posts but people who boot 10.6.3 client, do the install, and then do the update, still have problems. If that's all it took, no big deal. But more than a few said it did not work that way.

Joe

Its not that difficult really, if you use the 10.6.3 disk set you ordered, the sd and ethernet won't work from what I've read, just download the update via the link I posted on the new Mac Mini's wireless or download it on computer, slap it on a usb drive, stick it in the new Mac Mini, install it, reboot and you all good to go.

You not hacking or doing anything out of the ordinary . . .

-iGrant

 

[iGrant]

From other people who have done just that, the sd and ethernet still do not work. I'll try and find the posts but people who boot 10.6.3 client, do the install, and then do the update, still have problems. If that's all it took, no big deal. But more than a few said it did not work that way.

Joe

Well . . . . @#@)(*#)@

. . . ugggh

-iGrant

 

[joeinid]

I'm probably making a bigger deal of this than necessary ...

It's just that I spent some money on audio hardware and want to use the mini with it for a project. I don't think using server will be a problem. I just want to be prepared when everything comes together.

Thanks iGrant! Lets see what happens

Joe

 

[iGrant]

It's just that I spent some money on audio hardware and want to use the mini with it for a project. I don't think using server will be a problem. I just want to be prepared when everything comes together.

Thanks iGrant! Lets see what happens

Joe

The only reservation I have about running 10.6 Server is when I tried running 10.5 Server I did something were my user account wasn't an actually user account and it thought it was a network account and it was just the biggest pain in my a$$ trying to figure out.

If I can user Mac OS X 10.6 Server like I do my 10.6 client, then I don't mind just running 10.6 Server.

-iGrant

 

[talmy]

I've got two late-2009 minis, one the base model and the second the server, which I use a server. Probably not the best idea to use a server system as a client, but except for some quirkyness with file sharing and TimeMachine and the absence of the iLife software, it's pretty much the same. Just live with it.

 

[bzollinger]

True True . . . but the new Unibody Mac Mini Server only uses 10 watts of power at idle . . . and just of the hard drives alone won't pull that much more power, its only got an 85 watt power supply!

I remember my Dual G5 which was my Media Computer used freaking 950 watts of power MAX, but usually hung around 500 ~ 600 watts. HAHA I replaced my Dual G5 behemoth with the Intel Mac Mini Core Solo. I'll tell you, once I upgraded the CPU to a Core Duo, the Intel Mac Mini and the Dual G5 Power Mac both encoded video at basically the same speed.

I owed a G4 Cube for a long time, just recently sold it, it was my first OS X Mac, loved that Machine but it was WAY ahead of its time, I was so happy when apple came out with the G4 Mac Mini, I actually owned one of those as well and loved it but it sucked when it came to do any kind of video processing.

-iGrant

Congrats on the new system! This is a little off topic, but since you "replaced" your G5 with the new mac mini server I thought I'd ask.

I'm currently (and have been for many months) for the new MP. Since nobody knows when it'll be out, and my 05 G5 dual 2.0 is a slug when working in PS4 and LR2, I've been considering picking up a new mini to fill in until the MPs are released. Alot of the processes I wait for have the CPUs pegged at 100% or 200% total.

Based on your experience how well do you think this new mini will do working in that capacity until I can get a new MP?

thanks for any input,
BZ