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Using a 2012 mini as a home server

Wando64

Wando64

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Jul 11, 2013
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Hi all, I currently have and use a 2012 mini (El Capitan, i7, 1tb fusion, 16gb RAM) and I have realised my current needs will be better served by a laptop computer so I am considering purchasing a MBP.
However, my data storage requirements are quite high but I wouldn't want to spend much more than for a 256 SSD model.
Data is mainly music files, as in uncompressed large .waw files (I am a musician) and loads of photos (once again, mainly uncompressed raw files).
Currently I have 2x3tb external disks attached to the mini, one for some of the the data and one for TM.

Is there a way I can effectively use the mini as a "server" so to speak to achieve the following:
- access data files stored on the mini fusion drive and the external disks (I am already doing this from my iPad but the transfer speeds are very slow)
- use the Mini TM disk as a TM for the MBP?
- ideally seeing and using the mini storage in the same way I use Dropbox or OneDrive. I.e. Mostly have remote access, but also being able to decide with files should be replicated to local storage in a seamless, automated way.

This last point is rathe important as it would allow me to work on set of files locally at SSD speed, but at the same time have these replicated onto the Mini (server) storage and backups.

Thanks for your help.
[doublepost=1465468904][/doublepost]I have just noticed the OSX server part of the forum, which might have been a better location for this post.
Perhaps a mod could move it there?

Also, I have found out about OwnCloud which seem to offer (on paper) all the functionality I am looking for.

Does anyone know if I can configure OwnCloud so that it can be accessed only from within the local network?
 
Last edited:
Answering my own question, but I've had time to check out OwnCloud a little and it doesn't look it might be the right tool for me for many reasons. So I am now leaning more towards OSX server coupled with some sort of file replication tool.
 
Wando64 said:
Hi all, I currently have and use a 2012 mini (El Capitan, i7, 1tb fusion, 16gb RAM) and I have realised my current needs will be better served by a laptop computer so I am considering purchasing a MBP.
However, my data storage requirements are quite high but I wouldn't want to spend much more than for a 256 SSD model.
Data is mainly music files, as in uncompressed large .waw files (I am a musician) and loads of photos (once again, mainly uncompressed raw files).
Currently I have 2x3tb external disks attached to the mini, one for some of the the data and one for TM.

Is there a way I can effectively use the mini as a "server" so to speak to achieve the following:
- access data files stored on the mini fusion drive and the external disks (I am already doing this from my iPad but the transfer speeds are very slow)
- use the Mini TM disk as a TM for the MBP?
- ideally seeing and using the mini storage in the same way I use Dropbox or OneDrive. I.e. Mostly have remote access, but also being able to decide with files should be replicated to local storage in a seamless, automated way.

This last point is rathe important as it would allow me to work on set of files locally at SSD speed, but at the same time have these replicated onto the Mini (server) storage and backups.

Thanks for your help.
[doublepost=1465468904][/doublepost]I have just noticed the OSX server part of the forum, which might have been a better location for this post.
Perhaps a mod could move it there?

Also, I have found out about OwnCloud which seem to offer (on paper) all the functionality I am looking for.

Does anyone know if I can configure OwnCloud so that it can be accessed only from within the local network?
Click to expand...
You don't need any additional software to access your files either locally or remotely. Everything you need is under the sharing pane in settings. A few clicks and your rocking.
 
Gav2k said:
You don't need any additional software to access your files either locally or remotely. Everything you need is under the sharing pane in settings. A few clicks and your rocking.
Click to expand...

Thank you. This is how I am sharing to my iPad.
Do you know if I could use this to direct TM backups to another Mac?

EDIT: I found the answer on Google and, yes, apparently it is possible.
IT is all coming together now. All I need is a strong synchronisation app (so many to chose from)
 
Last edited:
Wando64 said:
Thank you. This is how I am sharing to my iPad.
Do you know if I could use this to direct TM backups to another Mac?

EDIT: I found the answer on Google and, yes, apparently it is possible.
IT is all coming together now. All I need is a strong synchronisation app (so many to chose from)
Click to expand...
Syncing what to what?
 
Gav2k said:
Syncing what to what?
Click to expand...

Selected folders between the MBP and the mini.
When I work on audio files (or record audio) with the MBP it has to be done on its local drive, however I would need those same files available and synchronised on the mini.
 
I use a 2012 mini as a home server for Time Machine, general file storage, media serving, downloading and encoding video, and to host my website. It's a wonderful machine for those needs, and the perfect low-power-yet-still-powerful computer to be on 24/7.
 
MultiFinder17 said:
I use a 2012 mini as a home server for Time Machine, general file storage, media serving, downloading and encoding video, and to host my website. It's a wonderful machine for those needs, and the perfect low-power-yet-still-powerful computer to be on 24/7.
Click to expand...

Do you do this just using the sharing settings or have you installed OSX Server?
 
For bulk file storage, set up a file sharing service on the Mac mini (Server is optional but I have it and use it, pay once and use it on several systems).

For keeping a subdirectory on your Mac sync'd, look at Bittorrent Sync. Many don't like it as it's closed source, but it works well enough. You can set up Owncloud Server but it's not a supported OS and I am afraid it may end up being more work than it's worth (on Mac OS X).

If you only care about periodic syncing, set up a crontab to do an hourly rsync. But that may cause CPU spikes that you may not want to deal with (say, maybe you are gaming or watching a movie on your laptop, and all of a sudden it syncs 10GB of work you finished 45min ago).

I do like Bittorrent Sync, although they continue to screw it up over time (more limitations, harder to use interface IMO).
[doublepost=1465699055][/doublepost]Or I'll take that i7 Mac mini off your hands for you.... :)
 
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