Home File Server

[macgeek18]

I have been tempted to build a overkill custom desktop recently to install OpenNAS on and use as my home file and backup server. I had been living on Newegg in my spare time configuring $1K systems for this simple task. I also spent to much time on youtube checking out all the crazy home networks out there and then ran across a video by 8-bit guy(formerly iBook guy) about his MacMini G4 with external Firewire hard drives and his data and backup solution. It finally hit me to use my late 09 MacMini for this! I bought two 1TB 7200RPM hard drives and put them in USB enclosures and had a file server in ten minutes of setup. I am just using file sharing and screen sharing on MacOS El Capitan for this no MacOS Server. Yet.... A lot less power draw and money still in the bank account. I have had various Mini's just sitting around for the last 5 years and for some silly reason never though of this. I was configuring an i7 8700, 32GB RAM, 2 500GB SSDs with 2 2TB HDs PC for OpenNAS but my 2.53Ghz C2D with 8GB RAM totally rocks for this! Just wanted to share.

 

[swamprock]

I have the same Mini, serving the exact same purpose as yours. I have three (well, two right now, due to a house fire and relocation) Apple TVs streaming video from an external hard drive, and files are stored and served on another two externals. The Minis are excellent file/media servers, regardless of their age. My previous Mini was a 1.25ghz G4 that served the same purpose and did it well, although the 2009 Mini does it much better now.

 

[redheeler]

I was configuring an i7 8700, 32GB RAM, 2 500GB SSDs with 2 2TB HDs PC for OpenNAS but my 2.53Ghz C2D with 8GB RAM totally rocks for this!

A hex-core i7 and 32 GB RAM is crazy overkill for any home server or NAS device. The Mac mini has long been perfect though; not the most powerful, but light on power-consumption and ok to run 24/7.

Apple has recently shown little interest in both the Mac mini and the server market in general (MacOS Server for Mojave got a huge downgrade), so it remains to be seen what the future holds for the mini.

 

[macgeek18]

A hex-core i7 and 32 GB RAM is crazy overkill for any home server or NAS device. The Mac mini has long been perfect though; not the most powerful, but light on power-consumption and ok to run 24/7.

Apple has recently shown little interest in both the Mac mini and the server market in general (MacOS Server for Mojave got a huge downgrade), so it remains to be seen what the future holds for the mini.

I know that. I was thinking of hosting multiple Linux VMs and Windows VMs on it that I could access them from anywhere and have a secure box to remote into. But that is just my geekery coming out.

 

[eyoungren]

There is a reason Mac Minis are used as servers in commercial business…

https://www.macminivault.com/
https://www.macstadium.com/mac-mini/
https://macminicolo.net/
http://www.claritymachosting.com/

I presented this as an option to my boss at one point. He never followed up. Of course, we have our own server, but it would have been a step towards moving the company to Mac.

 

[mmphosis]

System Preferences > Sharing > [ X ] File Sharing

I use a Mac-mini as a file server and to perform backups.

http://hoop-la.ca/powerpc/2018/#server

 

[Project Alice]

I use a 2009 mini as an HTPC/media server. Its hooked up to my TV, has a 2TB hard drive internal, in the living room I can just watch whatever I want on it locally using kodi. its the 2.0 ghz model and has 8GB of ram, running high sierra. it handles 1080 video just fine. It doubles as a plex media server when I'm in a different room.