How you use "Mac Mini as a Server"

[MrCheeto]

I keep reading and seeing descriptions of people using Mac Mini's as data servers for home networks. I am sitting on about 96TB of drives and now need some way of accessing it throughout my home. I plan to use a mix of RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 10 in several locations etc. but there's one point I am trying to figure out.

How is the data shared and controlled?

I like to involve as few "integrated" parts as possible. For instance; I'd rather have a "dumb" SATA to Thunderbolt bay and let the Mac configure and manage the RAID logic. Is that a thing? Is there a downside to using Disk Utility to manage the RAID? Either way, is software on the Mac and a dumb drive bay better than some "integrated" smart bay that manages the RAID?

How does this data reach the network? If Thunderbolt can manage 20Gbps, what good is it if the network is still 1Gbps ethernet? Surely somebody is working with greater than gig-E speeds.

TIA.

 

[Boyd01]

If Thunderbolt can manage 20Gbps, what good is it if the network is still 1Gbps ethernet? Surely somebody is working with greater than gig-E speeds.

Since 2018 the Mini has been available with optional 10gb ethernet. Mine has it because it was included in the refurb configuration I got, however my network in only gigabit. I don't really need any faster than that for my own usage.

 

[MrCheeto]

Do you have experience doing something along the lines of editing high-bit-rate video over your setup?

I'm aware of the 10gig option but all of the videos I've seen are older mini's, even going back to the PowerPC versions. I understand not everybody is editing video remotely but I couldn't imagine being limited to even sub-gigabit ethernet speeds such as with the G4.

 

[Boyd01]

Sorry, it's pretty clear that my needs are less demanding than yours. I took a 2012 Mini, plugged in four 5tb USB disks that I already had, turned on file sharing and called it a server.

Then I also have a 2014 Mini that just runs iTunes 24/7 with home sharing enabled and media on a 4tb USB SSD to feed my AppleTV's and other devices.

 

[MrCheeto]

I took a 2012 Mini, plugged in four 5tb USB disks that I already had, turned on file sharing and called it a server.

Pretty much what I'm looking to do but with higher data rates and a SATA bay. I figured it could be that simple.

 

[dimme]

I took a 2012 Mini, plugged in four 5tb USB disks that I already had, turned on file sharing and called it a server.

I did pretty much the same, I just upgraded my 2012 mini after running 24/7 for 8 years. I'm now using a M1 mini, looking for another 8 years.