How would you use a Mac mini server.

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Keiichi

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I'm still confused as to how an enthusiast would use thse things, so I was wondering if you mac users could post on how you'd use one.
 
Depends what you are enthusiastic about.
I'd fill it with gelignite and use it for target practice :)
 
Could be used as a file server, print server, media server, back-up server for multiple computers. Dont really see much use for it past that... More than likely I would stick it in my bookcase where I want to house my GigE network stuff and have it so that everyone can connect to it for files, pictures, music, movies, etc.
 
I'm not sure it has enthusiast use at the moment.

The regular Mac Mini, on the other hand, makes a great home media server or HTPC with some tinkering.
 
Really they are for the SBS market. Still you have calendar sharing, internal email, file sharing, etc. Also have some built in wiki software. You could host your own blog(or really anything else on it).

Unless you have a mac household I'd say you have better options. Still for a high tech home it could be a nice little device.
 
Really does not make much sense IMO. There are far better options for the money for a small network server.

But for the all apple users out there it is a decent little box at a price much cheaper than any of their other "servers".
 
However, the newer mac mini's actually have some ooomph! in them.

Still too hot, IMO.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Grentz said:
Really does not make much sense IMO. There are far better options for the money for a small network server.

But for the all apple users out there it is a decent little box at a price much cheaper than any of their other "servers".
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Like what? Most of the better options end up costing more. I do agree you have better options, just not for that price.
 
gregnash said:
Could be used as a file server, print server, media server, back-up server for multiple computers. Dont really see much use for it past that... More than likely I would stick it in my bookcase where I want to house my GigE network stuff and have it so that everyone can connect to it for files, pictures, music, movies, etc.
Click to expand...

We use it in house at my web dev/design company. We have MAMP running on it and have 37 sites w/ DB's running on it strictly for in house development before deployment. Works like a damn dream.
 
media center for sure I've been dying for the Apple TV to get an upgrade, this is a media center and a server :D
 
I can't really wrap my head around it being used as a media server. I too was looking at the Apple TV, but have been hearing that the Mac Mini would be a better way to go.

The referred app for media stuff that I get a lot is Plex. Basically I'm wondering - how does the Mac mini integrate with your home theater system? If you have a DVR with your cable company, would you essentially get rid of that and run the cable somehow through the mini?
 
If you want to actually get TV on your Mac Mini there are a few USB tuners you can get.
 
swatbat said:
Like what? Most of the better options end up costing more. I do agree you have better options, just not for that price.
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The issue is drives IMO. There is barely any room for upgrading the drives unless you go external.

It is priorities and usage though, if you want a file server, make a cheap machine that can have lots of drives...it will be cheaper overall. If you want a media server, same thing. If you want a server just for running web applications, print serving, being a media frontend, etc. it might be good though.
 
Grentz said:
The issue is drives IMO. There is barely any room for upgrading the drives unless you go external.

It is priorities and usage though, if you want a file server, make a cheap machine that can have lots of drives...it will be cheaper overall. If you want a media server, same thing. If you want a server just for running web applications, print serving, being a media frontend, etc. it might be good though.
Click to expand...

This is a business product, not a home product. Thats the difference. Yes for a home user with a lot of crap a WHS box would make more sence.

For a small business with a few machines this is a pretty good option considering SBS2k8 would cost almost as much as the entire machine.
 
I'd run a torrent tracker on it, not that I'd need OS X Server for that.
 
I just bought a Mac Mini with Server on it, got a G-RAID 2 TB External on the FW800.

So far I have about 500GIG of IT stuff moved over. I am very impressed so far, the setup was simple, integrating into our AD Farm was simple, security settings are simple. I also setup iChat and Print services. Both work great!
 
Has anyone setup a RADIUS server on their 10.6? I see that you can set it up for Base Stations for authenticating wireless traffic, but what if I want a RADIUS server for all of my Cisco gear?
 
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