Will Snow Leopard server do what I think it will do?

[chrono1081]

Hi guys.

Before I get flamed I just want to clear up a few things:

1. Yes. I am aware that what I want to do is doable by much less expensive means.

2. Yes. I researched on Apple's site and went through everything about the mac mini/snow leopard server.

Ok, now on to the question:

I was eying a Mac Mini as a server to have my 8TB raid enclosure set up to. Its main function would be as a file server but after looking at the Mac Mini with Snow Leopard Server it got me wanting to learn to set up a Mac server. I've set up a bunch of Windows servers but never a mac server and I think it would be great to learn.

What I would like to do with this thing is not only have a file server that is accessible from my network, but also remotely. I'd also like to be able to do Time machine backups from multiple machines remotely if possible. Also, the machines would be a mix of mac and windows machines (2 - 5 machines tops). Is this possible with Snow Leopard Server? Is there additional resources I should be looking at outside of Apples website?

(Just so you know a lot of google searches I can't look at because our work proxy blocks most sites, and I live where I work so...I cant go home and look).

[Serif]

Sounds like you're interested in getting a mini server for the same reasons I bought one; to learn about the server technology and use it as a local file server.

To answer your questions, yes you can provide file shares both locally and remotely and you can use time machine to back up multiple clients. Be careful though that you lock things down properly if you're allowing remote access.

There are some reasonable books on Snow Leopard server now appearing so a quick trawl of Amazon might be useful. Also Arstechnica has recently done a review (http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2010/01/mac-mini-with-snow-leopard-server-review.ars) of the Mac Mini Server that acts as a good overview.

[Consultant]

1. What I would like to do with this thing is not only have a file server that is accessible from my network, but also remotely.

2. I'd also like to be able to do Time machine backups from multiple machines remotely if possible

3. Also, the machines would be a mix of mac and windows machines (2 - 5 machines tops). Is this possible with Snow Leopard Server?

4.Is there additional resources I should be looking at outside of Apples website?


1. Any Mac / OS X server can be setup to be accessible remotely.
2. Remote time machine backup, even if it's possible (not sure about this), will be impracticaly slow, unless you have a very fast internet connection.
3. You can set it up so windows can see it
4. Yes. One of my favorite tech columnists, Daniel Eran Dilger, has a book: Snow Leopard Server

[chown33]

I think the first thing you need to do is figure out how to make any server visible outside your local network. If you can't do that, then it doesn't matter if your running Snow Leopard Server or Snow Leopard Client, the host that's acting as the server won't be visible.

You can make any Mac OS X computer act as a server. For example, it can be an HTTP server simply by turning on Web Sharing, or an FTP server simply by turning on FTP under File Sharing. You should do one (or both) of those right now, make sure they work on your lan, then figure out how to make them remotely visible. By "remotely visible" I mean visible to others on the internet, such as by a laptop using a WiFi hotspot at any random cafe or public library. Both HTTP and FTP can be handled by web browsers.

It's unclear whether your proxy server plays a role in this or not. Maybe it does, acting as a firewall for incoming connections. Maybe it doesn't, acting only as a proxy server for outgoing connections. But a proxy server is not the same as a firewall, although each plays a role in protection. Maybe some other device (your router) also acts as a NAT device, and you have to enable port forwarding.

I suspect that setting up a Mac as a server will be the least of the difficulties. Configuring the rest of your network will be a larger challenge.

[chrono1081]

Thank you guys for all the responses :)

I found a podcast on iTunes showing how to set everything up. Its almost like setting up a windows server concept wise (only MUCH simpler).

I think this will be a fun project even though its complete overkill for what I need.

I may have to put in hold though since I just discovered I have to buy the Unity game engine :( Bye bye Mac Mini budget :(

[purelithium]

Can you link to that podcast please?

[bryan]

He was probably referring to these Leopard Server podcasts, for future reference:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/apple-quick-tour-leopard-server/id279805844