mac mini client on mac mini server

[applemacsmith]

I have been doing a bit of digging on this subject and just want some advice really .

I have just got a mac mini server 2010 but do not need the server part of it and plan to replace with snow leopard client - new retail pack 10.6.5 . I will install via the mac external superdrive .

Do I just install to the spare HD and then wipe the snow leopard client

Thanks in advance

AMS

 

[Intell]

You can install it directly to the internal drive. Just make sure you get all the updates.

 

[bigbearf]

MM Client on MMS

I have a last version MMS that I use as a HTPC. I would recommend that you just install the server version but just "install later" all options and what you end up with is essentially a client version.
I installed iLife 09 and everything works fine. FWIW, there have been some blogs regarding installing the client version and the upshot is that if you don't have the recovery disks from a MM client machine that the install is difficult and some things do not work. I also read that when the next update 10.6.6 is released that this will be moot but I would recommend using the server version until things are clarified.
Hope this helps.
bigbearf

 

[applemacsmith]

Thanks for the response I will try and see how things progress

 

[Eric M]

As bigbearf pointed out - you don't need to run server tasks on the MMS, just skip the part during installation and what you end up is a perfectly functional SL system.

 

[angrystroker]

I too am planning to use the mini mac server as a desktop. The main reason I went in this direction was the mini with a processor and ram upgrade make the server a better choice.

The plan is to configure raid1 for the internal drives, and back up to external. I have found information regarding a non-destructive raid configuration method using; diskutil list; diskutil appleRAID enable mirror.

However I did not see commands to identify or change the raid format; raid 0 or raid 1, does the server have a default, anyone know that?

 

[SVT Amateur]

I too am planning to use the mini mac server as a desktop. The main reason I went in this direction was the mini with a processor and ram upgrade make the server a better choice.

The plan is to configure raid1 for the internal drives, and back up to external. I have found information regarding a non-destructive raid configuration method using; diskutil list; diskutil appleRAID enable mirror.

However I did not see commands to identify or change the raid format; raid 0 or raid 1, does the server have a default, anyone know that?

It's RAID 1 Mirrored and you will have to reinstall the OS in order to configure it. Just boot up the installation DVD of Snow Leopard or Snow Leopard Server and before installing go to Disk Utilities.

From there it is pretty intuitive on how to setup the RAID.

 

[lanceh5]

Snow Leopard client on Mac Mini

I just reformatted the two hard drives a 2010 Mac Mini 2.5 Ghz. One HD is named HD Server, this drive name can not be changed, but can be erased. I could not install via external optical drive the Snow Leopard client. I got the error that the OS could not be installed. Apple somehow prevents client OS to be installed. I did get the Snow Leopard server OS installed, this OS has lots of clunky stuff. I wish I could get SL client installed. It could be the HDs prevent the client being installed but more likely in the computer hardware.

 

[lanceh5]

MacMini client OS

This may be working. I installed the server OS, updated the OS, then repartitioned the second HD. OS SL client is now being installed on that HD. I hope this works. I need to migrate some old software from an iMac to run on the Mac Mini. The server OS does not have migration assistant which I want to use.