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Apple Updates Mac Mini and Adds Server Option
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I don't see how a second Ethernet port has anything to do with the mini running a DHCP server. A DHCP server can sit anywhere on the network (but you'd want to make sure you disable whatever one is currently running). If you want to use the mini as some kind of gateway/firewall between a home/business intranet and the Internet, it's probably more secure to use whatever router/gateway/firewall box you're currently using and just DMZ the server ports you want to open to the world.
It's a full version of OS X Server. FTP is inherently insecure, I'd never put a FTP server where people could access it on the Internet anymore, unless I didn't care about the data there and the accounts were separate ids/passwords from other meaningful accounts.
My $287 Inspiron 546s are running great.
Eidorian, we're a special breed called a computer pixie.
I can even make Linux magically work.
well, its not an issue if the new mini server has 2 drives. but i was talking about the old mini, and what to do if the disk dies. i've never used a mini before. can a drive plugged in with firewire be setup in raid with the internal disk through software?
Actually it does cut the mustard for a video/iTunes server. I'm doing that very thing with an older mini w/1TB external drive. Works great. This new mini server has two 500GB drives - which you can stripe RAID 0 for a 1TB volume. More than enough for most people. If you are really space hungry, add an external drive, or if you want to keep the itty-bitty form factor, plunk down some cash for two 1TB 2.5" drives from WD and swap out the drives in the mini server... you can then RAID those into a 2TB volume.
the server is not nearly as robust as the new Hp Smart Server. I was avoiding the hp as I wanted a complete mac environment. But I may have to press the button.
I always wanted the mini as a HTPC. But I'm not seeing much difference between the previous version and this one that makes a big difference playing media.
I always wanted the mini as a HTPC. But I'm not seeing much difference between the previous version and this one that makes a big difference playing media.
Monoprice has a product that does the job of combining the mini display port with USB audio into HDMI:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5969&seq=1&format=2
I personally purchased it a few days ago and watched a few HD shows purchased via iTunes and streamed from a Macbook Pro. The quality is perfect, and the sound is great. But I use the amplifier built into my TV with external stereo speakers by Polk Audio.
For those who have a 5.1 setup, you can use the Kanex adapter (twice as expensive) that combines mini display port with either USB audio (for stereo output) or TOS (for 5.1) into HDMI:
http://kanexlive.com/products/item.aspx?id=3495
Let me ask you a question.
I just got off the phone with Apple. They are going to let me return my current Mini, well past the 14 days thanks Apple!
I was set to go with the 2.66 model as: I already have an OCZ SSD for my server (assuming single drive) and a copy of SL Server.
Even with EDU, that puts me very close to the new dual HD model. I am on the fence on which one to order now.
Hmm... I think I will just go with the 2.66 model. I already have SL Server, a fast HDD and no need for a dual drive Mini as I have robust network storage. I would probably just pull the 500GB drives out and put something faster in anyway.
Looks like I have made up my mind.
Low end iMac or Top of the line Mini
On a different topic...
I've been wanting a Mac mini for a long time but am I wrong in thinking that the new low end iMac is a much better value than a Mac mini almost maxed out? With the iMac I get a Magic Mouse, better processor, and a screen for less than $200 more. Here is my Mac mini configuation:
2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
320GB Serial ATA Drive
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Apple Wireless Keyboard
User's Guide (English)
iWork '09 preinstalled
Apple Remote
For $1086. The Low end iMac + iWork and remote is $1267. If I match the hard drive and add the mouse the Mac mini is like $50 less and still totally inferior.
On a different topic...
I've been wanting a Mac mini for a long time but am I wrong in thinking that the new low end iMac is a much better value than a Mac mini almost maxed out? With the iMac I get a Magic Mouse, better processor, and a screen for less than $200 more. Here is my Mac mini configuation:
2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
320GB Serial ATA Drive
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Apple Wireless Keyboard
User's Guide (English)
iWork '09 preinstalled
Apple Remote
For $1086. The Low end iMac + iWork and remote is $1267. If I match the hard drive and add the mouse the Mac mini is like $50 less and still totally inferior.
Hooking a Mac mini up to a TV rocks! That's what I did. If you're going to connected one to a TV, I would suggest the regular model, not the server model. You are going to want the DVD drive so you can slip in a rented movie or things like that.
HDTVs have many inputs. The most common now is "HDMI". Many also have RGB, DVI, and VGA inputs in addition to or instead of HDMI. I prefer DVI myself, but HDMI is, well, similar in signaling (except w/audio), and just a different connector.
Apple is moving all of their computers to the new DisplayPort standard (and there are very very good reasons for doing so). Just get yourself a mini display port to HDMI adapter, and you're good to go. Here's one:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10428&cs_id=1042802&p_id=5311&seq=1&format=2
Need 7200 RPM
I agree. This is the only thing that bugs me. I want 7200 RPM or maybe even an SSD boot and 500 GB 7200 data drive. Plug it into backup storage and that will do for me. If RAID is serious then for $799 they have that RAID 5 box which is better than slow internal hard drives.
Leopard Server justifies the price but I don't need Leopard Server on every one I buy - just the main. I run Citrix on Mac Mini and all that needs is a basic Mini with 4GB and would be nice to have SSD (way faster windows).
I agree. This is the only thing that bugs me. I want 7200 RPM or maybe even an SSD boot and 500 GB 7200 data drive. Plug it into backup storage and that will do for me. If RAID is serious then for $799 they have that RAID 5 box which is better than slow internal hard drives.
Leopard Server justifies the price but I don't need Leopard Server on every one I buy - just the main. I run Citrix on Mac Mini and all that needs is a basic Mini with 4GB and would be nice to have SSD (way faster windows).
can someone answer this question for me...
First let me tell you all what I'm looking for. I'm a developer that recently started working with the iphone / ipod touch SDK to develop an application. I have a little money for startup and looking for a nice little dev box / server where I can load the SDK and develop with XCode. I'm assembling a small team and would like it if I can do some small server functions with it such as email and collborative things and such.
I saw the new mac mini with SL Server on it and im excited but need to know...
1.) can I load regular mac software on SL Server edition? Like can I load XCode and Interface builder and my Adobe stuff to it and run it like it was a regular mac mini?
2.) is there a way to RDP (remote desktop) the mini server from a Windows PC. Like a remote desktop app. I know I read about VNC, and if thats my option, is VNC slow compared to remote desktop?
Thanks for any info I can get on these questions...
First let me tell you all what I'm looking for. I'm a developer that recently started working with the iphone / ipod touch SDK to develop an application. I have a little money for startup and looking for a nice little dev box / server where I can load the SDK and develop with XCode. I'm assembling a small team and would like it if I can do some small server functions with it such as email and collborative things and such.
I saw the new mac mini with SL Server on it and im excited but need to know...
1.) can I load regular mac software on SL Server edition? Like can I load XCode and Interface builder and my Adobe stuff to it and run it like it was a regular mac mini?
2.) is there a way to RDP (remote desktop) the mini server from a Windows PC. Like a remote desktop app. I know I read about VNC, and if thats my option, is VNC slow compared to remote desktop?
Thanks for any info I can get on these questions...
Mac Mini to HDTV
That is exactly what I want to do. I have a Samsung 46" HDTV 650 series which I occasionally connect my powerbook to for music or movies. However can you justify the price of a Mac mini for this setup when the iMac appears to be a much better value and performance?
That is exactly what I want to do. I have a Samsung 46" HDTV 650 series which I occasionally connect my powerbook to for music or movies. However can you justify the price of a Mac mini for this setup when the iMac appears to be a much better value and performance?
And what large corporation is this targetted to?
this thing is fine for most 1-50 (or even more) user setups. email, some file hosting, etc.
sheesh some people want to poke holes in everything
1) Yes you can. There is a nice set of features in SL Server for collaboration, file services, mail, calendaring, address book, etc.
2) VNC is indeed what you will have to use. Speed boils down to what client you use in Windows. UltraVNC, RealVNC, TightVNC, etc etc. My department uses Tight VNC and it works alright for what we do, support calls.
It sounds like you would be using it extensively for coding. I can't imagine that would be very comfortable in any VNC client on Windows.
It is doable though.
No it does not. The only time the firewall gets involved is when the server is accessed via the external IP that is associated with that DMZ.
Only external coming in traffic is routed through the firewall for the DMZ host.
That's cool to learn about those products (thanks for the links), although for me, and I would think most folks (or maybe I'm wrong), why bother with audio over HDMI? I run DVI to the TV, and TOS to the 5.1 receiver. The TV is just a big monitor. No audio going there... in-TV sound processing, amplifiers and speakers are very low quality.
Would I use it as a firewall if it had two ethernet ports?
Nope - I'd still use a router or a REAL FIREWALL depending on the client and the requirement.
I've run sites that have had a pair of Checkpoint Firewalls, behind which were the webheads, behind which were a pair of Cisco firewalls (deliberately so if there WERE a Checkpoint exploit, it couldn't be used a second time if the webheads were compromised), behind which were the application servers, behind which was another firewall (Checkpoint, from memory, but completely separate), behind which was the database server...
No amount of dual-ethernetting, non-hardended OS is going to give you THAT
But that's not the point - the IT market ecosystem is rich and complex, and the question for ME is "would I use it for my clients", which is to say, is there a market for the server version of the Mac Mini?
Maybe.. time will tell. Maybe it'll languish on the "unsold", but I'm willing to wager that Apple's inventory control is good enough to allow them to work that out once people buy (or don't.) In the meantime, its very existence gives more options
I have a software development client who runs a Mac Mini 2007 as their file server, with a Drobo attached, for a small business half a dozen users. Their email is all cloud based, and they use Ubuntu for their web server... and a mix of Macs, Windows, and Linux boxes on their programmers' desktops... Their idea of a sensible upgrade would be a Droboshare
... I'd be willing to wager that no-one ever predicted that a Mac Mini 2007 with a Drobo would ever have a niche as an SME server
Nope - I'd still use a router or a REAL FIREWALL depending on the client and the requirement.
I've run sites that have had a pair of Checkpoint Firewalls, behind which were the webheads, behind which were a pair of Cisco firewalls (deliberately so if there WERE a Checkpoint exploit, it couldn't be used a second time if the webheads were compromised), behind which were the application servers, behind which was another firewall (Checkpoint, from memory, but completely separate), behind which was the database server...
No amount of dual-ethernetting, non-hardended OS is going to give you THAT
But that's not the point - the IT market ecosystem is rich and complex, and the question for ME is "would I use it for my clients", which is to say, is there a market for the server version of the Mac Mini?
Maybe.. time will tell. Maybe it'll languish on the "unsold", but I'm willing to wager that Apple's inventory control is good enough to allow them to work that out once people buy (or don't.) In the meantime, its very existence gives more options
I have a software development client who runs a Mac Mini 2007 as their file server, with a Drobo attached, for a small business half a dozen users. Their email is all cloud based, and they use Ubuntu for their web server... and a mix of Macs, Windows, and Linux boxes on their programmers' desktops... Their idea of a sensible upgrade would be a Droboshare
... I'd be willing to wager that no-one ever predicted that a Mac Mini 2007 with a Drobo would ever have a niche as an SME server
Twice the chance of catastrophic failure. I hope that data isn't important.
Raid5 is the best thing ever invented.
We're talking small business. And bridging over 2 networks on a server is ludicrous as far as security goes.
If your server gets owned, the attacker now has open doors on both sides.1 Ethernet port is all you need unless you're going to use it as an Internet gateway/NAT box. And if you're going to do that, why the heck are you buying a Mac Mini ?
RAID5 is just awful, both from a performance and robustness stand point. RAID6 is a big patch, throwing in a second parity disk doesn't quite fix the problem with RAID5.
RAID 1+0 is the most resilient and still offers pretty good performance with the right hardware (stripped mirrors).
Most servers benefit from two NICs; Firewalls ideally have 3. iSCSI is the obvious thing you NEED a second port for, but having separate DMZ and LAN ports is nice even if you have a firewall upstream. We keep server to server traffic for management and rsync on separate networks for fine-grained ups, wake-on-LAN, and SSH logins.