Server - Should it run with an Account logged in ?

[Philgr]

Hope this makes sense

I have a Mac Mini running headless in the loft set-up as a server - my question is should it be running with an account logged in all the time ?

I use the server for all the usual things, file sharing, backups, iTunes media shares, etc...

should all the services I'm wanting to use off the server run in the background or does it need an account logged in to function

How do others have theirs set-up

Thanks in advance

Phil G

 

[hwojtek]

There's no need, I don't believe any of this functions needs an app to be open, they all are run from a deamon. Best thing to do - log out the mini and check if all the services you want are still available. If so, leave it logged out.

 

[Philgr]

Thanks for the quick reply - just tried logging the server off - i.e. no user accounts running - and found that the basic server functions appear to work - Shares, DNS, DCHP, Time Machine etc. but iTunes media sharing not working - i also use carbon copy cloner - it appears this also need to be logged in.

PG

 

[blacka4]

yeah for iTunes, you need to have the app running thus you need to be logged in. you could always lock the server with an app or screen saver lock.

 

[burne]

but iTunes media sharing not working

iTunes is a user land application, not a daemon, and the rights to share media are linked to a personal account at Apple, not a pseudo-user on your server.

 

[Mikael H]

Set your computer to lock the screen and require a password. Voila: Password protected and access to user-land based services.

 

[Fabian90]

Same applies to AirVideo HD Server. The power it uses should be the same shouldn't it?

 

[Gav2k]

Same applies to AirVideo HD Server. The power it uses should be the same shouldn't it?

Any 'application' iTunes, plex, air video etc will need a user account logged in. The most simple solution is above and the only issue you'll run into is if there is a power cut and it's set to reboot after power failure. You'll need to log in to regain these services. I have everything set on my server to auto start on boot and I've set it to auto log in. My server is locked in a safe so I don't have an issue with that personally.

 

[AppleNewton]

You could always have one account for iTunes and one for the Server account, if its just a simple Home sharing set-up.