Mac Mini Pro Server Mod

Hi guys,

Its been a long time sense I posted on this forum but I was hoping for some thoughts from all you on a project Im thinking about working on.

I have the need for a mac based server with lots of storage options, but not need for the Mac Pro's massive price.

Recently I replaced my 2009 Mac mini (2.53 core 2 duo) with a new mini, it was doing home theater duty (Plex). Leaving me with the 09 Mini just sitting around. Making me wonder if I cant replace me large server (6x2TB drives) with the mini. After a bit of exploring I think I found a solution.

If I take the top off the mini and pull out the HD and optical drive bay I will have access to 2 Sata II ports. If I run 1 port to one of the 2TB drives as a boot drive, and then the second port to a hardware raid Card I could support all 5 drives with the Mini.

So with that said, here is the case I have been thinking about, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811345017

and then for a hardware raid card I am thinking about this, http://www.addonics.com/products/ad5hpmrxa-e.php

My plan is to most likely either jbob or raid 5 the drives on the card and then run Mac OSX 10.8 Lion Server on the system.

As far as installing goes, My thought is just take the top off the mini, but other then that leave it more or less untouched, set it on the motherboard tray, connect the cables, power the drives using a spare Corsair power supply that I have and there you are, mini Mac Pro Server.

I was hoping you guys could give me some thoughts on the project?

Thanks and have a great day.

 

Actually that is not true, in this case the device I am using is not really a PM. It has a PM mode, but when configured for jbob or any of the raid settings it acts as if all the drives are one drive, and paints that picture to the hardware meaning it does not require a sata connector that supports PM unless you want to view the 5 drives individually. I have already confirmed this works on another mini a while ago and there are a few others with minis that have confirmed that this device works properly with the my version of the mac mini. It is a shame that the Mini does not support PM though, would make builds like this so much better because then you wouldn't be reliant on a raid controller. But thank you for your post.


also just for credibility purposes, here are some pictures of someone who has gotten the Mini working with the older version of the controller I will be using.

http://entertainment.webshots.com/album/574180083zoGosY?start=0

 

out of curiosity, what didnt work well with it? did it drop the drives often? Slow transfer speeds? I have not read bad reviews of it but sense you had it, it would be great if you could shed some light on it.

 

thats what I currently have funning my server. It works I am just always terrified to update OSX on it. But I may just end up sticking with it honestly.