Will I be able to run Lion client on my mini server?

radiohed · Jun 10, 2011, 08:28 AM

I'm not sure if anyone know the answer, but I have a 2010 Mac Mini server that I want to upgrade to Lion when it comes out. The thing is, I don't need any of the server functionality and am hoping I will be able to upgrade to Lion client. I know from reading the forums, that changing the mini server over to the client version of Snow Leopard was not a simple process. I am hoping that it will be easier with Lion. When Lion comes out, I want to format my drives, change my RAID and install the client version. Is that going to be possible without jumping through hoops?

foofan · Jun 10, 2011, 10:59 AM

i want to know too. i bought the mini server just cause i thought it was a better value, but i dont need the server part. I'm hoping if i buy lion from app store it will work

PorterRocks · 02:37 PM

I would love to get a Mac mini server just so I could utilize the two hard drives and lose the optical drive. I don't need the actual server functionality.

Is this possible?

foofan · Jun 10, 2011, 02:04 PM

yes, I ignore all the server software and just use it as a regular mini

radiohed · Jun 10, 2011, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foofan

yes, I ignore all the server software and just use it as a regular mini

But there is some functionality that is not included with SL server that is on the client version. I am currently running SL server on my mini but it does not have the migration assistant. I don't want to pay extra for Lion server and then "ignore" the server functions. I want to run Lion client only.

Minicube · Jun 10, 2011, 10:54 PM

I don't have a server version, but I can't imagine you would not be able to simply reformat the drives and install Lion. If not, you may need to buy a $30 regular Snow Lep. DVD, install that, and then upgrade to Lion. Anyone know otherwise?

talmy · Jun 10, 2011, 11:07 PM

I've got Snow Leopard Server, and have the Lion Developer Preview, including Server. Still there is a certain amount of guesswork as to the shipping product.

As long as you are running 10.6.7 you should be able to install Lion (client) and have all the client OS features. What I'd be unsure about is whether the server features will go away! I've done an upgrade to Lion Server (on an external drive -- I'm not about to install on my running system!) and fresh installs of Lion Client. Everything has worked surprisingly well. But I've got to admit I haven't tried a Snow Leopard Server to Lion Client upgrade. Since Server to Server upgrade is a two step process (first install Lion Client then Server) since Preview 2, I'd expect you could just stop after the first step.

radiohed · Jun 13, 2011, 07:51 AM

Looks like I will just have to wait and see

rcp27 · Jun 13, 2011, 12:43 PM

All the official announcements about Lion suggest that the server version will simply be the regular version with some server type applications on top. It seems to me that there's no reason that you would have to buy/download/run those extra apps if you don't want them.

hitekalex · Jun 13, 2011, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiohed

Looks like I will just have to wait and see

You will be able to run regular Lion on your Mini server. You will have to run a clean install - so during the install process, you'd need to launch Disk Utility, format the drives, and then install Lion client on clean partition.

There is nothing in MacOS client that prevents it from running on a Mini server hardware (or visa versa - MacOS Server can be installed on "non-server" computers).

Undo Redo · Jun 13, 2011, 11:42 PM

Can't wait to see how the install process works with Lion, from a downloaded disk image or whatever. Seems like it'll be quite different than installing from a DVD.

Rivanov · 10:38 AM

Mac mini Server is just a normal Mac mini but without the optical drive and with two harddrives. But it's just a normal Mac mini where you can install an client version.

radiohed · 10:43 AM

Thanks for the replies. Bring on the Lion!

I still don't know how a clean install is going to work when you download the software from the app store. Wouldn't it need to be put onto disc or a thumb drive in order to do a clean installation?

hitekalex · Jun 14, 2011, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiohed

I still don't know how a clean install is going to work when you download the software from the app store. Wouldn't it need to be put onto disc or a thumb drive in order to do a clean installation?

No, if you hold OPTION key down during the boot - it will give an option to boot from Lion install image stored on a hidden partition of your HD. From there, you should be able to run clean install.

radiohed · Jun 17, 2011, 10:12 PM

For customers wanting OS X Lion Server, it will be available as an add-on for $49.99, in addition to the $29.99 upgrade for standard Lion. Snow Leopard Server is not required to purchase Lion Server, but existing Snow Leopard Server installations can only be upgraded to Lion Server. Both Lion and Lion Server need to be purchased for Snow Leopard Server-equipped machines.

This is from the official announcement. It sounds like I can't upgrade my Mac mini server to client only Lion. I hope that isn't the case.

talmy · Jun 17, 2011, 10:46 PM

Since upgrading Snow Leopard Server to Lion server is a two step process:
1. Upgrade to Lion ($29)
2. Install Lion Server components ($49)

If you stop after step 1 you should have client Lion. You can ignore or delete the Snow Leopard Server apps that remain.

Jun 10, 2011, 08:28 AM	#1
radiohed macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Portland, ME	Will I be able to run Lion client on my mini server? I'm not sure if anyone know the answer, but I have a 2010 Mac Mini server that I want to upgrade to Lion when it comes out. The thing is, I don't need any of the server functionality and am hoping I will be able to upgrade to Lion client. I know from reading the forums, that changing the mini server over to the client version of Snow Leopard was not a simple process. I am hoping that it will be easier with Lion. When Lion comes out, I want to format my drives, change my RAID and install the client version. Is that going to be possible without jumping through hoops? __________________ Mini Server 2.66 running ML Client, 8gb, 756gb Fusion Drive, 23" IPS HD Display Time Capsule iPod Shuffle iPod 6G nano iPad Retina 16 4g
	0

Jun 10, 2011, 01:42 PM	#3
PorterRocks macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Idaho	I would love to get a Mac mini server just so I could utilize the two hard drives and lose the optical drive. I don't need the actual server functionality. Is this possible? __________________ 27" iMac (late-2012), 3.4 GHz i7, 32GB RAM, 1TB Fusion, Nvidia 680MX ; iPad (4th gen) 64GB, iPhone 5 64GB Thanks, Steve Last edited by PorterRocks; Jun 10, 2011 at 02:37 PM. Reason: typo
	0

Jun 10, 2011, 11:07 PM	#7
talmy macrumors 68030 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oregon	I've got Snow Leopard Server, and have the Lion Developer Preview, including Server. Still there is a certain amount of guesswork as to the shipping product. As long as you are running 10.6.7 you should be able to install Lion (client) and have all the client OS features. What I'd be unsure about is whether the server features will go away! I've done an upgrade to Lion Server (on an external drive -- I'm not about to install on my running system!) and fresh installs of Lion Client. Everything has worked surprisingly well. But I've got to admit I haven't tried a Snow Leopard Server to Lion Client upgrade. Since Server to Server upgrade is a two step process (first install Lion Client then Server) since Preview 2, I'd expect you could just stop after the first step. __________________ 27" i7 iMac, 15" MacBook Pro, Mac mini with SL Server, 4 other Macs and an Apple TV.
	0

Jun 13, 2011, 07:51 AM	#8
radiohed Thread Starter macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Portland, ME	Looks like I will just have to wait and see __________________ Mini Server 2.66 running ML Client, 8gb, 756gb Fusion Drive, 23" IPS HD Display Time Capsule iPod Shuffle iPod 6G nano iPad Retina 16 4g
	0

Jun 14, 2011, 09:58 AM	#12
Rivanov macrumors member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Netherlands	Mac mini Server is just a normal Mac mini but without the optical drive and with two harddrives. But it's just a normal Mac mini where you can install an client version. __________________ Retina MacBook Pro \| 27" Thunderbolt Display \| AirPort Extreme \| AirPort Express \| iPod touch 8GB \| iPod shuffle \| iPhone 5 16GB \| iPad 3 32GB WiFi + 3G Last edited by Rivanov; Jun 14, 2011 at 10:38 AM.
	0

Jun 10, 2011, 10:59 AM	#2
foofan macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: New England	i want to know too. i bought the mini server just cause i thought it was a better value, but i dont need the server part. I'm hoping if i buy lion from app store it will work
	0

Jun 10, 2011, 02:04 PM	#4
foofan macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: New England	yes, I ignore all the server software and just use it as a regular mini
	0

Jun 10, 2011, 10:54 PM	#6
Minicube macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2011	I don't have a server version, but I can't imagine you would not be able to simply reformat the drives and install Lion. If not, you may need to buy a $30 regular Snow Lep. DVD, install that, and then upgrade to Lion. Anyone know otherwise?
	0

Jun 13, 2011, 12:43 PM	#9
rcp27 macrumors regular Join Date: May 2010	All the official announcements about Lion suggest that the server version will simply be the regular version with some server type applications on top. It seems to me that there's no reason that you would have to buy/download/run those extra apps if you don't want them.
	0

Jun 13, 2011, 11:42 PM	#11
Undo Redo macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Colorado, USA	Can't wait to see how the install process works with Lion, from a downloaded disk image or whatever. Seems like it'll be quite different than installing from a DVD.
	0

Jun 14, 2011, 10:35 AM	#13
radiohed Thread Starter macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Portland, ME	Thanks for the replies. Bring on the Lion! I still don't know how a clean install is going to work when you download the software from the app store. Wouldn't it need to be put onto disc or a thumb drive in order to do a clean installation? __________________ Mini Server 2.66 running ML Client, 8gb, 756gb Fusion Drive, 23" IPS HD Display Time Capsule iPod Shuffle iPod 6G nano iPad Retina 16 4g Last edited by radiohed; Jun 14, 2011 at 10:43 AM.
	0

Jun 17, 2011, 10:12 PM	#15
radiohed Thread Starter macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Portland, ME	For customers wanting OS X Lion Server, it will be available as an add-on for $49.99, in addition to the $29.99 upgrade for standard Lion. Snow Leopard Server is not required to purchase Lion Server, but existing Snow Leopard Server installations can only be upgraded to Lion Server. Both Lion and Lion Server need to be purchased for Snow Leopard Server-equipped machines. This is from the official announcement. It sounds like I can't upgrade my Mac mini server to client only Lion. I hope that isn't the case. __________________ Mini Server 2.66 running ML Client, 8gb, 756gb Fusion Drive, 23" IPS HD Display Time Capsule iPod Shuffle iPod 6G nano iPad Retina 16 4g
	0

Jun 17, 2011, 10:46 PM	#16
talmy macrumors 68030 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oregon	Since upgrading Snow Leopard Server to Lion server is a two step process: 1. Upgrade to Lion ($29) 2. Install Lion Server components ($49) If you stop after step 1 you should have client Lion. You can ignore or delete the Snow Leopard Server apps that remain. __________________ 27" i7 iMac, 15" MacBook Pro, Mac mini with SL Server, 4 other Macs and an Apple TV.
	0

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