Mac Mini Question (home server)

[lynkynpark86]

I want to make a home server. I had 2 questions about the mac mini.
1. Should I spend extra money on the Server edition of snow leopard if I am using a downloaded server application, and
2. Is it safe to leave a mac mini running 24 hours a day, and about 357 days a year?

 

[spinnerlys]

1. No, if the internal HDD is spacious enough and the application you use doesn't need SL Server.

2. Yes. Many minis are used exactly for that.

 

[nasabaer]

hmm the mac mini server is sold as "a server" and servers are used most of the time in 24/7. i see no reason why not.
the only thing is that it has 2 x 2.5 inch hard drive that don´t last as long as 3.5 inch hard drives does.
in that case i would recommend a good backup strategy

 

[lynkynpark86]

Thanks for the quick replies. I will only be using it for backups, and so I can access, say, my mac pro's files from my macbook. Thanks again

 

[indg]

you don't need to buy the mini server if you just need a "home server" to do simple file sharing stuff. snow leopard client can do that just fine. not sure what else you're looking for though.

 

[DannySmurf]

you don't need to buy the mini server if you just need a "home server" to do simple file sharing stuff. snow leopard client can do that just fine. not sure what else you're looking for though.

If all you want is a file store, there are cheaper options than a mini. I've got a MediaSmart machine for that sort of thing. There is no reason to spend $700-1000 just for a file server.

 

[bluedevils]

My first mini (core solo) was the home server. It only power cycled during updates that required it. It was a file server, email server (compiled courier imap with fetchmail), ntpd time server, ps3 media server, etc. It performed great for being the least powerful mini, though there isn't much load on a home network.

I now have the new mini (server) and it's been up ever since the install almost a month ago.

 

[ADent]

My mini works great as a NAS, Torrent client, CPU server (video conversion), CrashPlan server, and iTunes player (via Front Row).

I left the very slow and small standard drive inside and hooked up a 1 TB drive via Firewire (and backup via 1.5 TB on USB).

It is on 24/7 - though I set it to sleep and I wake via LAN (or remote control) when I need it. Amazingly sleep works perfectly on this unit - it doesn't work perfectly on my desktop mini.




BTW I get faster transfers via 1000BT to my upstairs Mac than I do copying from the internal drive to the FW drive.



I agree a mini is a poor value at $1000 as a HTPC/server, but I got mine as an open box, last gen (GMA950) for WAY less than that. I think of the purchase as a tremendous bargain.