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Mac Mini Server as a stand alone desktop?

N

nyc4lifedt

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 19, 2009
49
0
I'm in a market to buy a new Mac Mini. I'm looking at my options and I met a seller that is willing to sell an used Mac Mini Server for the price of a regular Mac Mini.

I have no idea what it is and don't even know why I'm considering it, but for $500 I'm curious.

What is the biggest difference between a Mac Mini and a Mac Mini Server? My online search comes up with reviews of Mac Mini Server "as" a server. I'm not looking to do that. Just thinking of using it as a desktop that I would use it with Mac Mini.

No optical drive, lack of expansion, I get all that.

Can I use it as a stand alone desktop? It I were to buy it for it's full retail it would be a waste of money, but I can get it cheap.
 
Do you already have an external DVD drive? Otherwise, you'll need one about "5 minutes" after you take delivery of that server.
 
It has 2 x 500GB HDDs inside and runs Mac OS X Server.

You might take a look here and here.

You can get that MM and buy SL for 29USD somewhere else, if you don't like Mac OS X Server.


fa8362 said:
Do you already have an external DVD drive? Otherwise, you'll need one about "5 minutes" after you take delivery of that server.
Click to expand...

Why?
 
I don't really care about an optical drive. I've owned my MacBook Pro for about a year and a half, and I almost never use it.

So it can run as a standalone desktop or what?
 
nyc4lifedt said:
okay, sounds like it CAN run as a standalone desktop.
Click to expand...

I would put Snow Leopard Client on it if I were you. Assuming it comes with SL Server.

Much of the price of the Mac Mini Server Ed. is the OS X Server license. If the seller is not giving that to you, their price is fair. If they are giving it to you, I would have to wonder why they spent $1000 and turn around and sell it for $500.

It may not be a Mac Mini Server at all, but instead a modified Mini with a second hard drive.

Smells a little fishy to me.
 
Good point. He's a real deal, I might have to ask him for it.

I guess he's not giving me the license. So Mac Mini Server is a Mac Mini minus the optical drive and the Snow Leopard Server? I can even install just regular Snow Leopard on it?
 
nyc4lifedt said:
Good point. He's a real deal, I might have to ask him for it.

I guess he's not giving me the license. So Mac Mini Server is a Mac Mini minus the optical drive and the Snow Leopard Server? I can even install just regular Snow Leopard on it?
Click to expand...

As said and linked before, the Mac Mini Server is a Mac Mini without the optical drive but WITH a license of Mac OS X Server. And as that computer is just a Mac Mini with two HDDs and no SuperDrive, you can install Mac OS X (client, not server) if you want to.
 
nyc4lifedt said:
Good point. He's a real deal, I might have to ask him for it.

I guess he's not giving me the license. So Mac Mini Server is a Mac Mini minus the optical drive and the Snow Leopard Server? I can even install just regular Snow Leopard on it?
Click to expand...

Well, yeah.

Mac Mini
- optical drive
+ 500GB hard drive in place of the optical
+ Snow Leopard Server
= Mac Mini Server

You can install Snow Leopard Client on it. Since there is no optical you will need another Mac (or another boot volume, USB or FireWire) to install OS X on it.

Here is what it looks like:
http://www.apple.com/macmini/server/

If you see an optical slot, it isn't a real Mac Mini Server. I still think the price is a little suspect, but if he is the "real deal" it should be fine. I wouldn't sell it that low though. Even without the OS X Sever license it can command much of its retail price.
 
It's faster too isn't it? Like 2.53Ghz instead of 2.26Ghz, and it has 4GB of RAM right? That's just the base model!
 
The Mac mini server is the same as an Mac mini except for 2 things:
1) It the optical drive has been replaced with a hard drive.
2) It runs OS X Server.

So yes you can run it as a desktop. There is no reason to switch the OS to regular Snow Leopard because the two are essentially the same (except the Server version can do extra stuff). The server also has the same outputs and everything. It even has the IR remote sensor so you can use an Apple Remote for Front Row and everything.

And if you really need an optical drive you can pick up the Apple one or you want to save money, get any USB optical drive online.
 
If the Mini Server is just used as a desktop, do you have to RAID the hard drives, or can they still be designated as separate drives (say A and Bas an example). And, can it be setup to just use A or B as the boot drive?
 
BigDukeSix said:
If the Mini Server is just used as a desktop, do you have to RAID the hard drives
Click to expand...

No, you can use the drives any way you like. I wanted the server hardware specifically to be able to stripe the drives, but it's not a requirement. You could have one version of OS X on one drive, and a different version (or different OS) on the other. There's nothing about the 'server' hardware that restricts you.

A.
 
Don't Have To RAID Them Drives

BigDukeSix said:
If the Mini Server is just used as a desktop, do you have to RAID the hard drives, or can they still be designated as separate drives (say A and Bas an example). And, can it be setup to just use A or B as the boot drive?
Click to expand...
You don't have to RAID the HD's.
If you do nothing to set them up
as RAID Drives then they will
remain two separate Drives.
In your System Preferences you
can choose which Drive to Boot from.
If you change your mind , you can
hold down the Option KEY upon Boot
and choose which Drive to Boot from
at that time.
 
billib said:
You don't have to RAID the HD's.
If you do nothing to set them up
as RAID Drives then they will
remain two separate Drives.
In your System Preferences you
can choose which Drive to Boot from.
If you change your mind , you can
hold down the Option KEY upon Boot
and choose which Drive to Boot from
at that time.
Click to expand...

Very good!! That is exactly the answer I was looking for. Thank you.
 
given that SL server is $500 a la carte and mac mini server is $1000. I could see someone buying A mini server and using the discs to turn their Mac pro, or even a MBP into a server, then selling the Mini for whatever they can get >$500. Heck a refurb mini server is about $700-800 last time I checked.
 
calaverasgrande said:
given that SL server is $500 a la carte and mac mini server is $1000. I could see someone buying A mini server and using the discs to turn their Mac pro, or even a MBP into a server, then selling the Mini for whatever they can get >$500. Heck a refurb mini server is about $700-800 last time I checked.
Click to expand...


as long as when you take delivery of the mac mini server, you do not go through the registration process.

i bought a mac mini server because i wanted the second hard drive...
when i first plugged it in, during the initial boot, i wiped the hard drive and installed a clean version of OS X client. boxed up the server discs and most importantly, the key code and registration card for resale.
 
The 2009 mini with Snow Leopard Server occasionally still appears on the refurb site for $750. Even without SLS, one for $500 beats out any of the other minis (except for the lack of optical drive).

My understanding of the SLS disk and license is that the license can be used for other systems but the disks won't install on anything but a mini, which somewhat limits the marketability. Perhaps the seller will include the license, which would make it easier to sell in the future.

P.S. I've got one, but use it as a server.
 
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