Someone gifting me a Mac Mini 2.66ghz new server... ?

[California]

Long story short, I am getting a new Mac Mini server for Xmas.

I have no idea what a server really does.

Can I use it like a regular Mac Mini?

I just won't have a superdrive built in, right?

Any advice anyone has, let me know and thanks

 

[Dalton63841]

Yea you can use it as a regular Mac Mini without a Superdrive. It will have alot of extra server tools installed by default, but just cuz they are there doesn't mean you have to use them right?

If you wanted to you could even install regular client Snow Leopard on it.

 

[rtrt]

If you wanted to you could even install regular client Snow Leopard on it.

think this is key - from what i understand SL Server looks and feels very different from SL CLient - so you might struggle on Server. But then what have yougot to lose by checking it out first

 

[ahankinson]

There are a few differences between Server and Client, most noticeably in the System Preferences, but there is not a dramatic difference between the two.

 

[onlymybiribiri]

Why would you get the server? I thought the only reason to get it was if you were managing a large network of computers, such as an IT guy.

 

[PurdueGuy]

Why would you get the server? I thought the only reason to get it was if you were managing a large network of computers, such as an IT guy.

It's a gift. Doesn't sound like the OP originally chose it. Perhaps someone erred buying the server version, and didn't want to take the hit to return it, or it was too late.

 

[billib]

First, it doesn't come with iLife so thats $79
and Snow Leopard is only $24-$29. Snow
Leopard is infinitely easier to set up than
the server version so unless your an IT
guy I would buy good old regular Snow
Leopard Client and install that along with
iLife '11 then I'd sell the server software
on eBay and pocket the difference. If
you don't have a (small) business where
you must keep in touch with sales staff
and such I don't know why you'd bother
with SL Server. The fact that your asking
about it would suggest to me you don't
NEED it. Here are the user guides.
After I read a few I wanted to put a gun
in my mouth and pull the trigger I mean
I didn't have a use for the server software.
Decide for yourself by being informed. Also,
Snow Leopard Client has powerful sever
capabilities on its own so you can still
do a lot, server wise, with the client software.
I'd be interested to know what you decide
and why. Thanks!!!

 

[PurdueGuy]

... then I'd sell the server software on eBay and pocket the difference.

According to the EULA, you cannot sell the copy of Snow Leopard Server that comes with the Mac Mini Server, without selling the Mac Mini along wth it.

http://images.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/macosx_snowleopard.pdf

Section 3 states you can make a one time permanent transfer of the license if you include the original media (DVDs). Section 3 also states that you can't give restore discs (original media) without the accompanying hardware.

 

[billib]

Possession is 9/10's

Whoever has possession of the License,
the Software and fires it up first registering
it to a particular hardware setup is the
owner of the Server software. If the
mini Server that is being obtained has
never been fired up and registered to
any hardware or any person then the
software along with the license can be
legally sold on eBay because it isn't
registered to anyone or any Hardware.

When (if) he sells it I would suggest
he pull the Hard Drive containing the
Server OS and include that with the
Server DVD's and License.

If your fuzzy, read number "2" of the
link PurdeuGuy provided.

 

[PurdueGuy]

Whoever has possession of the License,
the Software and fires it up first registering
it to a particular hardware setup is the
owner of the Server software. If the
mini Server that is being obtained has
never been fired up and registered to
any hardware or any person then the
software along with the license can be
legally sold on eBay because it isn't
registered to anyone or any Hardware.

When (if) he sells it I would suggest
he pull the Hard Drive containing the
Server OS and include that with the
Server DVD's and License.

If your fuzzy, read number "2" of the
link PurdeuGuy provided.

It doesn't matter who activates it first. Per the EULA, the license go with the hardware. No way around that.

 

[philipma1957]

According to the EULA, you cannot sell the copy of Snow Leopard Server that comes with the Mac Mini Server, without selling the Mac Mini along wth it.

http://images.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/macosx_snowleopard.pdf

Section 3 states you can make a one time permanent transfer of the license if you include the original media (DVDs). Section 3 also states that you can't give restore discs (original media) without the accompanying hardware.

if you pull the oem hdds out of the mac mini server without ever activating the mini you can transfer the dvd software and the osx loaded hdd as a package. for no fee. the second blank hdd you can sell. figure out what i just said. read below from apples rules.

"3. Transfer. You may not rent, lease, lend, sell, redistribute or sublicense the Apple Software. Subject to the restrictions set forth below, you may, however, make a one-time permanent transfer of all of your license rights to the Apple Software (in its original form as provided by Apple) to another party, provided that: (a) the transfer must include all of the Apple Software, including all its component parts (excluding Apple Boot ROM code and firmware), original media, printed materials and this License; (b) you do not retain any copies of the Apple Software, full or partial, including copies stored on a computer or other storage device; and (c) the party receiving the Apple Software reads and agrees to accept the terms and conditions of this License. You may not rent, lease, lend, redistribute, sublicense or transfer any Apple Software that has been modified or replaced under Section 2B above. All components of the Apple Software are provided as part of a bundle and may not be separated from the bundle and distributed as standalone applications. Apple Software provided with a particular Apple-branded hardware product may not run on other models of Apple-branded hardware. "

the loaded oem hdd and dvds are all components of the software not the mac mini not the blank hdd. this is one reason why apple got rid of the 2009 mac mini server design. the 2010 is much more difficult to pull the oem hdds.

 

[PurdueGuy]

if you pull the oem hdds out of the mac mini server without ever activating the mini you can transfer the dvd software and the osx loaded hdd as a package. for no fee. the second blank hdd you can sell. figure out what i just said. read below from apples rules.

"3. Transfer. You may not rent, lease, lend, sell, redistribute or sublicense the Apple Software. Subject to the restrictions set forth below, you may, however, make a one-time permanent transfer of all of your license rights to the Apple Software (in its original form as provided by Apple) to another party, provided that: (a) the transfer must include all of the Apple Software, including all its component parts (excluding Apple Boot ROM code and firmware), original media, printed materials and this License; (b) you do not retain any copies of the Apple Software, full or partial, including copies stored on a computer or other storage device; and (c) the party receiving the Apple Software reads and agrees to accept the terms and conditions of this License. You may not rent, lease, lend, redistribute, sublicense or transfer any Apple Software that has been modified or replaced under Section 2B above. All components of the Apple Software are provided as part of a bundle and may not be separated from the bundle and distributed as standalone applications. Apple Software provided with a particular Apple-branded hardware product may not run on other models of Apple-branded hardware. "

the loaded oem hdd and dvds are all components of the software not the mac mini not the blank hdd. this is one reason why apple got rid of the 2009 mac mini server design. the 2010 is much more difficult to pull the oem hdds.

From that same link, reading farther down:
"Apple System Restore Copies: Restore CDs or DVDs that may accompany an Apple hardware bundle, or are otherwise provided by Apple in connection with an Apple hardware bundle, contain a copy of the Apple Software that is to be used for diagnostic and restorative purposes only. These CDs and DVDs may be resold or transferred only as part of the Apple hardware bundle."

To transfer a license, you must transfer all media. To transfer media associated with a hardware bundle, you must transfer the hardware.

It was previously covered here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/990135/

 

[billib]

Sell Baby Sell

Ok, so I've read and re-read the license requirements
from the link PurdueGuy kindly provided and it appears
that you can sell (transfer) the license once to whomever
as long as the purchaser instals it on a Mac mini server.
It looks like the burden is on the purchaser not the seller.

My advice hasn't changed, sell the Server software to help
defray your costs.

 

[PurdueGuy]

Ok, so I've read and re-read the license requirements
from the link PurdueGuy kindly provided and it appears
that you can sell (transfer) the license once to whomever
as long as the purchaser instals it on a Mac mini server.
It looks like the burden is on the purchaser not the seller.

My advice hasn't changed, sell the Server software to help
defray your costs.

That advice is flawed. You cannot transfer without tranferring ALL media (which include system restore discs), and you cannot transfer system restore discs without transferring the hardware!

 

[philipma1957]

From that same link, reading farther down:
"Apple System Restore Copies: Restore CDs or DVDs that may accompany an Apple hardware bundle, or are otherwise provided by Apple in connection with an Apple hardware bundle, contain a copy of the Apple Software that is to be used for diagnostic and restorative purposes only. These CDs and DVDs may be resold or transferred only as part of the Apple hardware bundle."

To transfer a license, you must transfer all media. To transfer media associated with a hardware bundle, you must transfer the hardware.

It was previously covered here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/990135/

yes you are correct, but once the seller has sold the full package to the buyer.

the following can happen:



{I sold two 2009 sealed mini server's that the buyers returned to me one had a regular osx not a server osx and regular software hdd..

the other had no software discs. the buyer claimed the box was missing them and that the hdds in the server were both empty hdds. rather then fight with them I kept the minis and refunded the money. }


the previous examples would not be something apple can stop. this is why once the server osx is started on a computer it locks to it. I am quite surprised that apple does not activate the server osx to prevent the previous examples.

 

[billib]

Agree To Disagree

That advice is flawed. You cannot transfer without tranferring ALL media (which include system restore discs), and you cannot transfer system restore discs without transferring the hardware!

PurdueGuy, you and I obviously interpret things
differently. Since neither of us work for Apples legal dept.
we'll simply disagree. BTW, have you ever heard of or read of
anyone getting in trouble on any level for (re)selling the
Server software from a Mac mini server? I haven't come
across anything being posted or in the news. Yet. I would think
Apple would have made and example of someone by now.
Just saying........

 

[PurdueGuy]

PurdueGuy, you and I obviously interpret things
differently. Since neither of us work for Apples legal dept.
we'll simply disagree. BTW, have you ever heard of or read of
anyone getting in trouble on any level for (re)selling the
Server software from a Mac mini server? I haven't come
across anything being posted or in the news. Yet. I would think
Apple would have made and example of someone by now.
Just saying........

I agree we are disagreeing, but you seem to be cherry-picking which portions of the EULA you are adhering to. It's an all-or-nothing. You accept the EULA, or you don't.

This is NOT about what prevention Apple has built in (there aren't any). This is about following the EULA. Yes, you can install a client copy of Snow Leopard on an infinite number of machines, but you aren't supposed to.

You are completely glossing over the part of the EULA regarding RESTORE DISCS which contain a copy of Snow Leopard Server! How are you getting around that part of the agreement?

 

[woolin]

I am thinking about getting a server edtion of the mac mini becuase it seemes to be the best bang for the buck if you look at the spec...

This would be my first mac computer aswell...

I will use the mini as a home theater computer, store movise, and play them on my tv, show picture, listen to music and surf.. It will probebly be som light photo editing in light room and one or two starcraft 2 matches on it.

What im wondering as the thread starter is can it in fact be uased as a regulare computer and _can_ i if not install a regular Snow Leapard on it?

I actually asked them in the apple store closest to me and they couldnt answer my question... allthough she recommended me not to get the server edtion... but i dont really rely on them though the seemed not to know what they where talking about.

If it wont be able to use it as i want to and i have to buy the regulare mac mini... will there be much difference between the 2,4 and the 2,66 ghz processors?

 

[California]

I am thinking about getting a server edtion of the mac mini becuase it seemes to be the best bang for the buck if you look at the spec...

This would be my first mac computer aswell...

I will use the mini as a home theater computer, store movise, and play them on my tv, show picture, listen to music and surf.. It will probebly be som light photo editing in light room and one or two starcraft 2 matches on it.

What im wondering as the thread starter is can it in fact be uased as a regulare computer and _can_ i if not install a regular Snow Leapard on it?

I actually asked them in the apple store closest to me and they couldnt answer my question... allthough she recommended me not to get the server edtion... but i dont really rely on them though the seemed not to know what they where talking about.

If it wont be able to use it as i want to and i have to buy the regulare mac mini... will there be much difference between the 2,4 and the 2,66 ghz processors?

Well, maybe I'll sell you mine when I get it.

This server talk is way over my head.

 

[California]

It's a gift. Doesn't sound like the OP originally chose it. Perhaps someone erred buying the server version, and didn't want to take the hit to return it, or it was too late.

Yes.

 

[California]

Whoever has possession of the License,
the Software and fires it up first registering
it to a particular hardware setup is the
owner of the Server software. If the
mini Server that is being obtained has
never been fired up and registered to
any hardware or any person then the
software along with the license can be
legally sold on eBay because it isn't
registered to anyone or any Hardware.

When (if) he sells it I would suggest
he pull the Hard Drive containing the
Server OS and include that with the
Server DVD's and License.

If your fuzzy, read number "2" of the
link PurdeuGuy provided.

What I want to know is this... can I install normal Mac Mini software on it?

 

[billib]

Server or Client with iLife

What I want to know is this... can I install normal Mac Mini software on it?

If your asking, can I install iLife
within the ServerOS the answer is yes. These are the Server manuals.
Read a few. If your comfortable with what you've read then have at it.
If your not comfortable then think about installing Client Snow Leopard.
then iLife.

 

[cosmos]

Yes, you can...

Nothing stopping you from installing any software on the Mini whether it is the server version or the regular Mini. All you would need is an external superdrive (as sold for the Air), flash drive or wait for the App Store to come online with SL 10.6.6 when it is released.

You could (as stated above) also buy a copy of SL client and install it over the existing server install too if you choose to do so.

But, I agree that selling the server discs without selling the entire system would IMHO be against the EULA.

 

[analogkid]

You guys are making way too big a deal about Snow Leopard Server. It's really not an issue. If you don't want to set up a server, then don't, just use it as a normal mac. The Mini Server is a better deal than the regular Mini. It's possible to run regular Snow Leopard on it, but why bother? I run Snow Leopard Server. I've got mine set up with OSX on one drive and Windows 7 64 on the other. In Windows I game with Steam, on the Mac side I do everything else. It's no different than my Macbook with Snow Leopard.
I think a Mini Server would be an awesome gift. Hook it up to your HDTV.