Using the new Apple Mac Mini as a iTunes server/time machine destination drive disk

[BounouGod]

I am thinking of picking one one of the new Mac Mini's and using it as a home server, i basically have 3 major uses in mind for it and want to make sure it will work the way i want it to before i go ahead and spend 600-1000$ for a new mini.

I have quite a few movies/TV shows on iTunes and would like to be able to stream them to my Apple TV without it being a pain in the ass, currently my iTunes library is on my PC but the thing has a 1200w power supply and even idle it uses tons of juice.

I want to use a Mac Mini to replace it, will i need to wake the computer from sleep mode manually? Or will it wake up when i try to access the library from my Apple TV? I don't want to have to wake up/boot the computer to watch a movie, i want the mini to be asleep until i try and access it through the Apple TV, is that possible? Can i use a Time Capsule to do this instead?

Can i use one of the drives in a mini has a time machine destination drive for my MacBook Air? Do i need OS X server for it?

With the wireless syncing feature of iTunes coming in iOS 5 would it be possible to setup the mini so that all apps and podcasts auto download, i want for playlists, podcasts, progress in audiobooks and apps get updated automatically without needing to have to do it manually, i am assuming except app downloads is probably possible?

The nice people at Apple did not seem to sure when i called them and asked, so hoping you guys/gals can help me out.

Was going to just get a Time Capsule for backups but something that would be able to handle all 3 would be great

 

[sporadicMotion]

I am thinking of picking one one of the new Mac Mini's and using it as a home server, i basically have 3 major uses in mind for it and want to make sure it will work the way i want it to before i go ahead and spend 600-1000$ for a new mini.

I have quite a few movies/TV shows on iTunes and would like to be able to stream them to my Apple TV without it being a pain in the ass, currently my iTunes library is on my PC but the thing has a 1200w power supply and even idle it uses tons of juice.

I want to use a Mac Mini to replace it, will i need to wake the computer from sleep mode manually? Or will it wake up when i try to access the library from my Apple TV? I don't want to have to wake up/boot the computer to watch a movie, i want the mini to be asleep until i try and access it through the Apple TV, is that possible? Can i use a Time Capsule to do this instead?

No need to wake, it'll work on it's own.

Can i use one of the drives in a mini has a time machine destination drive for my MacBook Air? Do i need OS X server for it?

Absolutely unless the client machine has 10.5 on it. Then you simply need to run a terminal script once to make it recognize network drives as a backup option.

With the wireless syncing feature of iTunes coming in iOS 5 would it be possible to setup the mini so that all apps and podcasts auto download, i want for playlists, podcasts, progress in audiobooks and apps get updated automatically without needing to have to do it manually, i am assuming except app downloads is probably possible?

This I have never tried.

The nice people at Apple did not seem to sure when i called them and asked, so hoping you guys/gals can help me out.

Was going to just get a Time Capsule for backups but something that would be able to handle all 3 would be great

Having a server is quite handy. Especially if you learn to set it up as a remote file server for yourself on the road (very handy with something like an Air).

 

[ryanide]

I'm thinking the same as you since my iTunes is currently running off my Power guzzling Mac Pro. The server option will allow me to run my home automation software too as feel as provide secure access to my NAS through VPN.

 

[CTpulse]

Do you need to have Lion Server in order to be able to do this or would standard Lion still mean the Mac Mini would wake up from sleep when ATV2 tried to access it?

 

[DrChack]

Mac mini has wake on lan. There is even a tool to wake up macs like this, just google for WakeOnLan.app. However this will only work through wired LAN or if you have an Apple WLAN base station, other routers seem to discard those packets (like mine).

If you don't have that you'll have to keep it running permanently unless you want to wake it with a remote or keyboard.

 

[sporadicMotion]

Mac mini has wake on lan. There is even a tool to wake up macs like this, just google for WakeOnLan.app. However this will only work through wired LAN or if you have an Apple WLAN base station, other routers seem to discard those packets (like mine).

If you don't have that you'll have to keep it running permanently unless you want to wake it with a remote or keyboard.

Do you need to have Lion Server in order to be able to do this or would standard Lion still mean the Mac Mini would wake up from sleep when ATV2 tried to access it?

OS X Server is capable on its own. No add ons are required.

A dedicated server OS is easier to setup for things like time machine just simply because there are GUI interfaces to assist.

 

[DrChack]

Lion Server can't wake on WLAN unless you have a Airport Extreme Base Station, just like default Lion can't. There is no extra capabilities in Lion Server for that, why would it? Servers are not meant to be turned of or put to sleep.

OSX can be remotely woken up, but only if you have the necessary hardware. This is part of default Lion tho so there is no point to buy the server app just for this.

 

[sporadicMotion]

Lion Server can't wake on WLAN unless you have a Airport Extreme Base Station, just like default Lion can't. There is no extra capabilities in Lion Server for that, why would it? Servers are not meant to be turned of or put to sleep.

Serving over WLAN is pretty pointless. Just wire the server to the router and leave it.

OSX can be remotely woken up, but only if you have the necessary hardware. This is part of default Lion tho so there is no point to buy the server app just for this.

The necessary hardware is built into all macs... it's just wake on LAN.