I just bought a Mac Mini server. What do I do now?

[cfedu]

Hello I just picked up a Mac Mini server 2.53 Ghz.

To good a deal, server with 2 years applecare left, wireless keyboard and magic mouse, all for $400

I already have an iMac, 2 windows PC's, apple TV iOS

Should I just install Normal snow leopard on it? are they any real advantages of the server OS? any draw backs?

So far it it feels different, Could I put windows on one drive an SL on the Other. Windows and snow leopard server.


This was a buy and ask questions later purchase and any help or Ideas would be great.

 

[dolphin842]

Since both drives are internal, you can indeed dedicate one drive to Windows.

If you plan on using it frequently and feel like opening it, you can upgrade the ram and stick an ssd in for a significant boost in responsiveness.

Other than that, you could put Plex on it to replace the AppleTV, or use it as a file/webserver, etc.

 

[B.A.T]

Sell it to me for $500 and walk away with a 25% profit.

 

[cfedu]

Since both drives are internal, you can indeed dedicate one drive to Windows.

If you plan on using it frequently and feel like opening it, you can upgrade the ram and stick an ssd in for a significant boost in responsiveness.

Other than that, you could put Plex on it to replace the AppleTV, or use it as a file/webserver, etc.

I don't think I will need any of the server features, and I'm not to tech Savy, just deal savy. Unless there is 1 or 2 killing features that OS X server can bring to me I think putting on SL would suite me better and use less resources.

the user interface looks a bit different and has many program/Apps/settings that I have no clue what they are for. I think I will need to read up on it or take a few classes to understand what it all means.


I think I'm going to clone an SL OS over as it has no disc drive or would a clean remote install of SL be better?

I've opened many mini's before so putting in a SSD will be a great upgrade. I just need to get a cheap 250 GB SSD

 

[mdgm]

You can install Snow Leopard client from a USB stick. You can google for instructions on how to prepare a USB stick.

A clean install of Snow Leopard would be ideal unless you're moving from an old Mac and would rather not setup and configure everything again.

 

[cfedu]

You can install Snow Leopard client from a USB stick. You can google for instructions on how to prepare a USB stick.

A clean install of Snow Leopard would be ideal unless you're moving from an old Mac and would rather not setup and configure everything again.

I just read the thread on SL vs SL server in the OS X section, Basically if you have to ask the question you should just install the client OS.

I'm making my USB SL client stick as we speak So I can do a fresh install

Thanks for the Help

 

[Wicked1]

You can install Snow Leopard client from a USB stick. You can google for instructions on how to prepare a USB stick.

A clean install of Snow Leopard would be ideal unless you're moving from an old Mac and would rather not setup and configure everything again.

Or Do what I am thinking of doing after the next Mini refresh, just buy an external USB CD/DVD for $30

 

[Osamede]

I don't think I will need any of the server features, and I'm not to tech Savy, just deal savy. Unless there is 1 or 2 killing features that OS X server can bring to me I think putting on SL would suite me better and use less resources.

I've never even used a Mac at all before and was able to adapt fine to the snow Leopard OS on the Mac Mini. No resource problems that I can detect either. I'd just go ahead and use the OS that's on there and save your time.