your setups for headless mac mini as media server, what about keyboard and mouse?

[johannnn]

I’m toying with the idea to sell my current Mac, and replace with a M2 Mac Mini and an iPad. The M2 Mac Mini would then be placed below the TV and only act as a media server.
But I heard that for M based Macs, they require a keyboard to enter the password upon restarting.
So how are other people here setting this up?
- I dont want automatic login because I would be logged in to my personal iCloud
- And then I guess I need a keyboard and mouse to set it up and each time there is a system update that restarts the Mac
- Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse would be too expensive to only use once a month
- Any tips on a cheap and small keyboard+mouse that I could easily hide when they’re not needed? are there any that are ucb-c so I dont need bluetooth enabled?
- Anything else to think of with this setup? Are there any other issues that I haven’t thought of? My plan was to use Infuse or Plex on my Apple TV to view the media
- But if I get it with a larger disk maybe 1TB, then it could also do other stuff, like backup my iCloud Photos, since my current Mac is only 256GB which means I need Optimized Storage which in turn means I really don’t have any real backup of all my photos
- Could I easily connect it with HDMI to the TV for cases when that’s easier than accessing it with my iPad through VNC?

 

[Clincero]

There are countless keyboards and mice available, both wired and Bluetooth, almost all of which should work well. You can run Infuse directly on the Mac. For controlling headless servers from iPads, I like Jump Desktop.

 

[MBAir2010]

My mac mini M1 2021 used a Satechi BT keyboard and Mouse.
The keyboard is not responsive as the  ones since there is a wake up delay of about 5 seconds.
other than that their set up and experience is perfect.

the mini also uses and rests on a Satechi silver hub that has a MNVe blade bay
that features several extra ports.

i hoped this helped!

 

[mcnallym]

As a side thought said that intention was to use Plex as the Media Software Server,
had you considered a NAS solution running Plex instead.
so AppleTV under the TV with the NAS sat on network streaming to AppleTV.

can also provide backup solution as well.

but you just access the WebUI to login so no need for keyboard, mouse or screen on the NAS.

is how I do my flat, with a Mac Studio for the Mac side of ripping bluray, video editing etc.