Storage, backup and network solution...Help!

This should be fun

1) largest file sizes are usually iTunes and iPhoto libraries, other than that, there are some apps out there to tell you what is being used and where, but i forget their names.
2) you can move iTunes and iPhoto on an external. I have a MM server that has a usb ssd drive attached i store both iTunes and iPhoto libraries there, and have this folder shared so that my wife and my MB can access them (both read and write works) you only may run into issues if two computers are trying to access the libraries at the same time.
3) thunderbolt is pointless unless you are running SSDs in Raid 0. (USB3 will be fast enough for even the fastest consumer SSDs, not to mention HDDs)
4) no need to use time capsule, if buy the server app ($20) for your mini you can have time machine backup to the mini's externally connected drive (i have a second external HDD for time machine backups)
5) if you buy the server app, you can set up VPN service, this will allow you to securely connect to you mini server and have access to all your shared Drives/Folders/Files in the same way as though you were physically located on the home network. (no need for NAS. NASs for the most part - the more affordable ones that is - are going to be much slower than if you use your mini as a file server with external drives attached to it via USB3...)
6) multiple drives enclosures are useful if you will have RAID.... but a) RAID is NOT a backup (even in Raid 1 or 1/0 or 5) b) decent ones aren't cheap... and for the most part are overkill... you are better off having multiple single USB3 externals attached to your mini (use a USB3 hub if needed)

Here is some useful guides to setting up the server app:
http://krypted.com/guides/yosemite-server/
https://www.yesdevnull.net

Here is a general read on RAID:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_RAID_levels

Here is a good source for info on home networking (how to's for optimization of bandwidth etc.)
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com

Good luck and have fun

 

I have one additional piece of advice when it comes to finding large files manually.

In Finder start at the root of your HDD. In the menu select View → Show View Options or hit CMD+J. And check the "Calculate all sizes" checkbox.

Starting from there... use the list view and sort by size. Then go one level deeper. You'll probably find that UserFolder/Downloads, Pictures, Music will contain the biggest/highest amount of files.

That's how I usually go about it... with pretty good results.

 

Yes, backup systems can be expensive but what is your data worth? Too many stories here of people willing to spend hundreds to recover data that could have been protected with a $50 drive.

A mini running OS X server makes a great backup machine. Hanging a bunch of drives off it is messy but works fine.

The best backup is one that runs automatically with no user action required. Aim for that.

 

just a correction: show info is CMD+I while CMD+J is show view options

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Ditto.. Time machine (apple's software is great... but its a one size fits all solution)
Carbon Copy Cloner is very good for making your own scheduling and backup choices automated.

Chronosync is a good app for synchronizing files across multiple macs (if that is needed in your application)

yes the above two aren't cheap, by today's app price standards but you buy them once and get all the required updates and they make life a whole lot easier

 

A few thoughts.

Try Disk Inventory X to visually map your file sizes. This is really helpful. http://www.derlien.com/

Why do you need a Mac Mini to act as a server if you will have two iMacs already? Either of those iMacs could function perfectly well as the server. Just connect a large external HDD for storage and share it out.

Moving the iTunes and iPhoto libraries is no problem.

What I would do is buy the largest external drive you can get. If you need more than the 4-6TB currently available in a single drive, buy a unit that can span multiple drives.

Partition that drive into at least two spaces - one for Time Machine backups for all computers you want to back up, and one for the shared media. Have all computers back up there via Time Machine, as this can be automated and happen over the network.

For second tier backup you should consider a cloud solution. Crashplan has worked fantastically for us for years. It's relatively inexpensive and just works in the background with us never thinking about it.

 

Hu?! I never mentioned CMD+I or Show Info!

All you need is CMD+J or Show View Options.

 

oh, boy, did i ever misread your original post Sorry about that!

 

No worries. We cool

 

What's the problem with running an iMac 24/7? Just set it to turn the screen off and it will consume basically the same power as a Mini. You can also set it to sleep and it will wake on network requests for any services you have running although this will incur a slight delay as you wait for it to wake. Same issue with the Mini however.

What sort of digital rights issues? I have used Air Video HD for years to play the majority of my content streamed from my iMac to my AppleTV connected to my television. It works flawlessly with extremely high quality.