Regular Mac Mini (late 2009) as a server

[ihra]

Hello,

Im interested are people running regular mac mini with normal Snow Leopard as a MAMP/web-service (64-bit)? I am running few low-bandwidth community sites that use bulletin boards and galleries along with the webpages.

Here is my thoughts:

1. Replace internal 160 Gb drive with SSD, remove dvd and install internal drive there as a backup drive (can be powered down?).

2. Move my current FC5 linux websites to mini. They use mainly Apache, PHP and MySQL. Also ImageMagick/NetPBM in galleries.

3. I have FreeNAS server with 12 Tb that I will use as a rsync backup for the files and will share files in internal network. Also will work as a backup web server (atleast will show "upgrade in progress... be patient").

Firewall

I still haven't found which firewall software I could use? I am currently using excellent Arno's firewall script and it uses iptables but it will not be usable in Snow Leopard. Port forwarding based on ports and services to internal network and nat are minimum requirements. I think I will buy Apples usb network adapter. I have gigabyte (actually trunked between servers as a 2x1Gb) network in internal network.

Mail

Cutting Edge provides some truly interesting softwares, mainly Mail server -script, however, I am currently admining Postfix / Dovecot by hand... but SSL settings for multiple virtual sites can be truly pain in the ***.

Stats/config/usage/load

Remote handling / information via iPhone... remote desktop works fine but are there any better information softwares than iStat?

Backup

Backblaze along the cloning to local usb / internal disc?

 

[InfoSecmgr]

Hello,

Im interested are people running regular mac mini with normal Snow Leopard as a MAMP/web-service (64-bit)? I am running few low-bandwidth community sites that use bulletin boards and galleries along with the webpages.

Here is my thoughts:

1. Replace internal 160 Gb drive with SSD, remove dvd and install internal drive there as a backup drive (can be powered down?).

2. Move my current FC5 linux websites to mini. They use mainly Apache, PHP and MySQL. Also ImageMagick/NetPBM in galleries.

3. I have FreeNAS server with 12 Tb that I will use as a rsync backup for the files and will share files in internal network. Also will work as a backup web server (atleast will show "upgrade in progress... be patient").

Firewall

I still haven't found which firewall software I could use? I am currently using excellent Arno's firewall script and it uses iptables but it will not be usable in Snow Leopard. Port forwarding based on ports and services to internal network and nat are minimum requirements. I think I will buy Apples usb network adapter. I have gigabyte (actually trunked between servers as a 2x1Gb) network in internal network.

Mail

Cutting Edge provides some truly interesting softwares, mainly Mail server -script, however, I am currently admining Postfix / Dovecot by hand... but SSL settings for multiple virtual sites can be truly pain in the ***.

Stats/config/usage/load

Remote handling / information via iPhone... remote desktop works fine but are there any better information softwares than iStat?

Backup

Backblaze along the cloning to local usb / internal disc?

What's the question really? If the hardware will handle it or are you looking for specific apps to use?

 

[ihra]

Questions (all about software):
- have anyone used regular mac as a server (possibly replacing linux-server)
- what firewall -software to use
- what mail-software (agent and transport) to use (and how difficult is it to control 2 or more virtual sites along the ssl... its NOT easy in linux and mac seems to use some pretty odd paths even in Apache / Postfix)
- what statistic software to use
- backup to backblaze / jungledisc / ec2

...and if there is iPhone app to use (diagnostic/info)

 

[DoFoT9]

Questions (all about software):
- have anyone used regular mac as a server (possibly replacing linux-server)
- what firewall -software to use
- what mail-software (agent and transport) to use (and how difficult is it to control 2 or more virtual sites along the ssl... its NOT easy in linux and mac seems to use some pretty odd paths even in Apache / Postfix)
- what statistic software to use
- backup to backblaze / jungledisc / ec2

...and if there is iPhone app to use (diagnostic/info)

had you considered installing some sort of Linux variant? Ubuntu/etc are all decent, they will give good performance and offer the more stable firewalls - with OSX its more of a "on/off" type thing (for the built in anyway). there is other software, but will probably cost.

OSX server itself handles multiple websites VERY well. you will get a GUI based front end and you can add any number of sites, so long as each comes from a different domain name - it will handle them fine

for backing up - hmm whatever you want, there are endless amounts of cloning software. CCC and TM are the most popular given their ease of backup.

as for the iphone app, im struggling to think of something. you could SSH in if you wanted? that way, you can do literally anything you want.

 

[ihra]

had you considered installing some sort of Linux variant? Ubuntu/etc are all decent, they will give good performance and offer the more stable firewalls - with OSX its more of a "on/off" type thing (for the built in anyway). there is other software, but will probably cost.

Yes, but doesn't fink / macport include some iptable-based firewalls? Have anyone used them? Or should I run my server(s) in virtual box?
And I currently have Linux Fedora Core 5 server which I am moving to 64-bit mac os x.

OSX server itself handles multiple websites VERY well. you will get a GUI based front end and you can add any number of sites, so long as each comes from a different domain name - it will handle them fine

Ok. But as I said, this will be regular mac mini without SLS, using just Apache, MySQL, Php and other free software.

for backing up - hmm whatever you want, there are endless amounts of cloning software. CCC and TM are the most popular given their ease of backup.

Neither of those actually backup databases (MySQL, LDAP).

as for the iphone app, im struggling to think of something. you could SSH in if you wanted? that way, you can do literally anything you want.

Yes and I also use Remote Desktop via iPhone (to windows / mac servers) but I need software like iStat but just a little more information (processes, last log or similar).

 

[DoFoT9]

Yes, but doesn't fink / macport include some iptable-based firewalls? Have anyone used them?

ahh thats true - in that case it should be very easy to modify! i dont see any negatives

Or should I run my server(s) in virtual box?

my server runs in a VM, using Parallels + 1GB RAM. pretty darn stable and whatnot!

And I currently have Linux Fedora Core 5 server which I am moving to 64-bit mac os x.

ah, moving away from it eh?

Ok. But as I said, this will be regular mac mini without SLS, using just Apache, MySQL, Php and other free software.

im not sure of any of the specifics - i was merely talking about redirecting to the index.html (or similar) files from the external given domain name.

Neither of those actually backup databases (MySQL, LDAP).

sure they will - they are creating a backup of the files that are stored there! so of course its a "backup", just not the type you are after. i do not know of processes to backup MySQL.

Yes and I also use Remote Desktop via iPhone (to windows / mac servers) but I need software like iStat but just a little more information (processes, last log or similar).

now that i think of it, if you are running OSX server i know that there are a few specific apps that can read/access the servers' services and whatnot. a lot of the programs are written for xserves though, for LOM and whatnot.