Mac Mini 2010 use?

[Robrigu]

Hello everyone

My first post here! I have a Mac Mini 2010 and also a MBP 13". Usually the Mini is sat in its box and I leave the MBP plugged into a monitor (I got the MBP after the Mini as I needed a lappy for uni).

I feel that this is a fairly ineffective use of the Mini , and I want to use both. But with the mini plugged into the monitor and thus not using the MBP feels daft too, even though I would use the MBP when I needed to do some mobile compooting

Do any of you have a Mini AND a 13" MBP? How do YOU use yours? Recommendations?

 

[MarkMS]

I have an old PPC 1.25GHz Mac Mini that is used for iTunes/File sharing. I have my external hard drives hooked to it as well for networked access to media. It's hooked up to my HDTV if I need a monitor. Otherwise, I just log into it from my MBP in case I need to make a setting change.

 

[Robrigu]

Ty for the reply...
-How do you access the external HD through the mini, through the network (link?) I've never heard of it before?
-How do you access the mini using the MBP? (Noob Q i know...)

 

[AdrianK]

Ty for the reply...
-How do you access the external HD through the mini, through the network (link?) I've never heard of it before?
-How do you access the mini using the MBP? (Noob Q i know...)

On the computer you want to share files from: Go to System Preferences > File Sharing - Tick the box > Press the + and add the folder you want to share.

That computer will now appear in the side bar of the Finder on all macs on your network.

 

[MarkMS]

Ty for the reply...
-How do you access the external HD through the mini, through the network (link?) I've never heard of it before?
-How do you access the mini using the MBP? (Noob Q i know...)

1. Yes. The Mini is connected via ethernet to my local network. I have OS X Tiger running on it and I just enabled file sharing/remote login on it. Also used something called SharePoints. http://www.hornware.com/sharepoints/

I set it up a few years ago so I'm not 100% sure of what I exactly did to get everything setup correctly. Looking at Sharepoints, doesn't look like they have an update for the new versions of OS X. So depending on what version of OS X is running on the Mini, you can try going to System Preferences>Sharing>File Sharing and try that.

2. If File sharing is hard, try using a remote login app. You'll be able to log in remotely then access files on the external drive. You can use the built in one in OS X. System Prefs>Sharing>Remote login and use a client to log into the Mini. It will take some tweaking to get it all working, but for something easy use either TeamViewer, LogMeIn, some other VNC server/client combo.

With TeamViewer/LogMeIn, all you do is install an app on your machines. There is a login menu, you log in, and then you get access to all the machines you installed the app on. From there, you can log into which machine you want and access any file connected to it.

Anyway, I hope this helps you. I'll try to connect to my Mini later and see what apps/settings I used to get it working. I'll try to make a tutorial too, if I have some time tomorrow.

 

[Robrigu]

Thanks, really helpful replies!

@adrianK... can I back up my MBP using time machine to the external hard drive shared from my mini using this technique?

@MarkMS... I'll be really grateful if you can pump out a tutorial, it would be invaluable! I'm running Lion on both machines, if it helps. SharePoints doesn't seem to be made for anything >OS X 10.4

...Cheers for your help thus far

 

[forum user]

2. If File sharing is hard, try using a remote login app. You'll be able to log in remotely then access files on the external drive. You can use the built in one in OS X. System Prefs>Sharing>Remote login

Alternatively try setting up System Prefs>Sharing>Remote Management. Then on the
other mac, in Finder, click on the name of first mac and use the "Share screen" button on the top right of the finder window. That method does not need extra software and should get you started quickly.

- Olaf