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Leaving my Mac Pro 24/7 safe?

Pika

Pika

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Oct 5, 2008
1,759
0
Japan
I have a 8TB Mac Pro 8-Core (OS X 10.6.2) and an affordable fast internet connection. I'm going to self-host my website via XAMPP for Mac OS X and i need to keep the machine running 24/7 in order to have my website online.

Is it safe?
 
Pika said:
Security.

I mean, I use to shut down my mac pro each time I go to sleep or go to work so that it doesn't other heat or getting spyware.
Click to expand...

It's probably not going to overheat. As far as getting spyware that's unlikely simply due to having OS X; unless you enter your administrator password for a trojan or something the odds of your machine getting infected are slim.

That being said, as long as the machine is connected to the internet it is vulnerable. Why are you self-hosting instead of using a hosting service?
 
I think leaving your Mac Pro 24/7 on JUST for a Website will come much more expensive than just buying some webspace from a web hoster company...
 
nycaleksey said:
Can someone with knowledge estimate approximately how much KWH will running average stocked MP 24/7 add to an electric bill?
Click to expand...

According to the Apple website, the Mac Pro consumes 133 watts when idle, which would be .133 kWH for each hour of use. There are 8760 hours per year so consumption is 1,165 kWH per year. Multiply that times your local electricity cost.
 
talmy said:
According to the Apple website, the Mac Pro consumes 133 watts when idle, which would be .133 kWH for each hour of use. There are 8760 hours per year so consumption is 1,165 kWH per year. Multiply that times your local electricity cost.
Click to expand...

So at about 100 KWH per month an MP costs roughly $20/month to power.
Kinda what I expected...
 
Pika said:
Security.

I mean, I use to shut down my mac pro each time I go to sleep or go to work so that it doesn't other heat or getting spyware.
Click to expand...

The only one responsible for getting spyware is the user.
 
talmy said:
According to the Apple website, the Mac Pro consumes 133 watts when idle, which would be .133 kWH for each hour of use. There are 8760 hours per year so consumption is 1,165 kWH per year. Multiply that times your local electricity cost.
Click to expand...

Hm, my Mac Pro (2006, octo-upgrade) draws more like 350W idle... BTW: It's kWh.
 
Pika said:
Security.

I mean, I use to shut down my mac pro each time I go to sleep or go to work so that it doesn't other heat or getting spyware.
Click to expand...
I hate to say this (everyone is a noob at one point in their life), but if you're worried about getting spyware on your web server, you shouldn't be administering a web server.

Let the pros do it for cheap (and securely). Get a hosting plan somewhere.
 
flatfoot said:
Hm, my Mac Pro (2006, octo-upgrade) draws more like 350W idle... BTW: It's kWh.
Click to expand...

My '09 uses exactly 159W in idle.

It's loaded with 8x2.26GHz, 6 Ram sticks, ATI 4870, eSata card, four 3.5" drives, and two 2.5" drives, all of them running of course.

That's not really much, but still, a web hosting service is cheaper AND safer. You don't have to care about backups and availability.
I would never host a website at home with my own computers. Web hosting services cost a few bucks a month.
 
Transporteur said:
My '09 uses exactly 159W in idle.

It's loaded with 8x2.26GHz, 6 Ram sticks, ATI 4870, eSata card, four 3.5" drives, and two 2.5" drives, all of them running of course.

That's not really much, but still, a web hosting service is cheaper AND safer. You don't have to care about backups and availability.
I would never host a website at home with my own computers. Web hosting services cost a few bucks a month.
Click to expand...

Interestingly mine draws about 350W idle… and yes it has been on 24/7 since I bought it last year.

I run a server on it and it's been great so far.
 
nycaleksey said:
So at about 100 KWH per month an MP costs roughly $20/month to power.
Kinda what I expected...
Click to expand...

Probably isn't that easy to calculate.

Throws off heat. In the winter months, it will reduce, if slightly, your heater's usage. In the summer months, though, you add the electricity usage to the extra AC usage to cool the extra heat.
 
Transporteur said:
My '09 uses exactly 159W in idle.
Click to expand...

My '09 is using under 2% load right now and according to my Kill-o-Watt meter plugged into the wall I'm using 445W along with a Drobo, DroboPro and a 24" Dell monitor.

So my MacPro uses (NYC rates) 8.6 cents per hour.
 
While the MP can take basically sitting and waiting for requests, I would suggest you review your agreement with your ISP. Most home users, unless they are paying for a business plan, are prohibited from running servers at their home.

Also, if you are going to run a server, you need to also have server grade UPS, one that can hold the server for more than a few minutes.

The cost of a domain name and web host is not that much, they provide great services and remove worries from you about maintaining a system.

Take care,

Pika said:
I have a 8TB Mac Pro 8-Core (OS X 10.6.2) and an affordable fast internet connection. I'm going to self-host my website via XAMPP for Mac OS X and i need to keep the machine running 24/7 in order to have my website online.

Is it safe?
Click to expand...
 
I bought my system in 06 and it has been 24/7. I do put it to sleep when not in use.

There should be no issue running it 24/7

I have a firewall that has been running nonstop for 4 years in my office.
 
I've been running my computer 24/7 since I got it in 2006. I never shut it down unless I have to restart or boot into Windows or something.
 
About every modern computer can run 24/7 with no issues. I have used old laptops as servers before.
 
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