Lion (non-server) on Mac Mini Server

[comatory]

Hello
I'm roaming the net to find more info and I have read that people succesfully installed normal Lion on Mac Mini Server. However some people say it's not possible and I am confused about this.

Can I do this?

1. Create bootable USB with Lion install
2. Wipe the disk on Mac Mini Server
3. Install Lion (non-server)
4. Use setup assistant to move my data onto OS from Time Capsule

 

[ChristianVirtual]

maybe you can find here more info; a recent thread.

I have only opposite experience: running server on regular mini

 

[FredT2]

Hello
I'm roaming the net to find more info and I have read that people succesfully installed normal Lion on Mac Mini Server. However some people say it's not possible and I am confused about this.

Can I do this?

1. Create bootable USB with Lion install
2. Wipe the disk on Mac Mini Server
3. Install Lion (non-server)
4. Use setup assistant to move my data onto OS from Time Capsule

Yes, you can do that. Are you sure that you want to? It's easy to turn off services and just run as if it is normal Lion.

 

[comatory]

Yes, you can do that. Are you sure that you want to? It's easy to turn off services and just run as if it is normal Lion.

1. Yes I'd prefer that since I'll be migrating my backups I'd rather stick with normal Mac OS X, who knows what could go wrong.

2. The second thing is that I've read some threads where people had their resources (CPU+RAM) being drawn to server parts of Mac OS X even after they turned off Server features. I might be wrong so please anyone correct me as it's the impression I've got.

3. I want 100% compatibility, I've heard that some Apps don't like being run on server version of Mac OS and I need reliability.

4. I might buy SSD straight away and replace it in the Mini so I'd have to do clean install anyway, I wanted to know if the hardware would let me install normal Lion (wasn't sure if there was some EFI check or sth).

Thank you for your insights!

 

[FredT2]

2. The second thing is that I've read some threads where people had their resources (CPU+RAM) being drawn to server parts of Mac OS X even after they turned off Server features. I might be wrong so please anyone correct me as it's the impression I've got.

I don't believe that is the case. If it is, the resources used are very minimal. I presently am running Sever with only the WebDAV service enabled, and I can't see any effect on memory or performance.

3. I want 100% compatibility, I've heard that some Apps don't like being run on server version of Mac OS and I need reliability.

I seriously doubt that is true. Certainly nothing that I've run has had any problem.

That said, there's nothing keeping you from doing it. I've done it and it works fine. I ended up putting Lion Server back on because I wanted to run WebDAV. Both ways worked fine.

 

[comatory]

Cool, thanks that's what I needed to hear. I was afraid that there would be some hardware check before the install.

I'm glad I can still do the good old clean install.

I don't believe that is the case. If it is, the resources used are very minimal. I presently am running Sever with only the WebDAV service enabled, and I can't see any effect on memory or performance.


I seriously doubt that is true. Certainly nothing that I've run has had any problem.

That said, there's nothing keeping you from doing it. I've done it and it works fine. I ended up putting Lion Server back on because I wanted to run WebDAV. Both ways worked fine.

 

[talmy]

Hello
I'm roaming the net to find more info and I have read that people succesfully installed normal Lion on Mac Mini Server. However some people say it's not possible and I am confused about this.

Just to clear up the issue, the older Mac mini servers that came with Snow Leopard Server could not easily be "downgraded" to Snow Leopard unless you had the Snow Leopard install disk from a standard mini of the same vintage. This is not an issue for installing either Lion on one of the older servers or the current server.

It is also possible (according to Apple but not all users agree) to uninstall the Server feature of Lion server and revert back to non-server Lion. This wasn't possible with Snow Leopard server which was a separate OS from the non-server version.

 

[comatory]

Just to clear up the issue, the older Mac mini servers that came with Snow Leopard Server could not easily be "downgraded" to Snow Leopard unless you had the Snow Leopard install disk from a standard mini of the same vintage. This is not an issue for installing either Lion on one of the older servers or the current server.

It is also possible (according to Apple but not all users agree) to uninstall the Server feature of Lion server and revert back to non-server Lion. This wasn't possible with Snow Leopard server which was a separate OS from the non-server version.

This is probably whatnconfused me in the first place. Thanks for clearing that up.

I will definitely get 2011 server, I'll try to wait two more months if the new mOdel comes.

 

[g00ner]

If you are waiting for a 2012 model, just be aware that it might be a little tougher to drop back to a client only OS. I bought my 2011 Server a week after it was released and it would not allow me to do a client only install, it did a check when running the install and would only allow me to reinstall the Server version, I then ran it with the Server tools turned off. Obviously as later builds (10.7.2/3 etc) it relaxed the checking as FredT2 had it working fine. However I'm currently running 10.8 GM client and that installed straight on without the slightest query.

 

[comatory]

Let's hope that 10.8 won't have that check. I mean in the worst case scenario I'll just run Server OS as it shouldn't be any problem as Fred2T said.

 

[Ifti]

I had the exact same question, and am also waiting for the 2012 mini.
Ive decided I dont want any extra hassle from a Lion-only install, so am sticking with the server version. I'll just leave the server tools disabled - never know, may need them in the future for any projects I want to do!
Resource usage for server components when they are off are minimal. Software compatibility should no be an issue since, by my understnding, its still the same OS as Lion, but just with a few server tools on top.