WhenAppleannounced the waiter variant of its popular Mac Mini late in October , I was excited that the company was in conclusion offering a low - cost pocket-sized - business server at a terrific cost point ( $ 999;Get best current monetary value ) for both the hardware and an unlimited license of Mac OS XSnow LeopardServer .
I ’m a large fan of Apple ’s server chopine . Mac OS X Server is base around undecided standard and includes a range ofenterprise - grade technologies that offer a host of powerful and flexible feature : Open Directory ( a scalable directory service free-base around OpenLDAP and Kerberos ) ; established Internet hosting platforms like Apache , BIND for DNS host and Dovecot - based mail service ; quislingism cock based on loose measure like CalDAV and CardDAV ; a reach of deployment and client direction puppet ; and powerful multiplatform Indian file and print services . Best of all , it makes these features easily available to both experient administrators , novices who have never countersink up a server before and everyone in between .
For minor businesses with limited — or , in some cases , no — IT stave , bear a flexible and rich waiter program is important . So is easy apparatus , direction and backup man . I ’ve talked previously about the two most recent iteration of Mac OS X Server ( Leopard ServerandSnow Leopard Server ) , which offer simplify management through an disposal tool — Server Preferences — as well as Mac OS X Server ’s more rich GUI direction utilities and various dictation - rail line putz .
Server Preferences , which is pattern after Mac OS X ’s System Preferences , combine the core group functions of a distinctive small business or workgroup waiter in one place , whether it ’s file cabinet or pressman share-out , einsteinium - mail and Web site hosting , server and node championship management , node autoconfiguration , VPN approach or hosting Apple ’s suite of collaborative tools ( including share calendaring , shared contact , and Apple ’s wiki and blog services ) . It ’s plan to be intuitive enough for any Mac user to manage .
The types of companies where Server Preferences and its simplified overture to governance radiancy — small offices or workgroups with a limited act of workstation and user — are exactly the market Apple has targeted with the Mac Mini server . They ’re the kind of shops where an Xserve or a Mac Pro functioning as server hardware would be complete overkill , both in terms of fresh electric potential and price .
Over the retiring several years , I ’ve worked with many of these types of small businesses . In the days before Leopard Server — the predecessor to Snow Leopard Server — and Server Preferences , I usually wind up install a host and being on call for even the most routine tasks , like bring or delete raw users , aline accession rights to service or file shares , and verifying backups . Once Leopard Server arrived in 2007 , my direct involvement dropped , since companies ultimately had a familiar and easy - to - use of goods and services means of handling these tasks .
Regardless of my own intimacy , I often recommended that these pocket-size firms ( typically anywhere from one to few - dozen employees with basic needs ) bribe Apple ’s waiter package and instal it on a Mac Mini . Although not big on size or naked as a jaybird computer science power , the Mac Mini has always had at least enough business leader to meet the needs of these less - than - demanding environs . That ’s also why I was forthwith taken with Apple ’s decision to establish the Mac Mini server configuration ( as was Macworld ’s Jason Snell . )
A true small-business server
TheMac Mini serveroffers a very little footprint and low index requirements , and it bleed cooler than virtually any desktop computer . Those feature of speech make it ideal for small - business environs . Its size—6.5 in . square and 2 in . gamey — think of it can be placed in a small locked closet or ventilated storage cabinet for easysecurity .
Price is also a heavy attracter . For $ 999 , business get a server with straight-out client access certify to all the features that can be run on Snow Leopard Server . And the ironware , while not cut - edge , is solid : There ’s a dual - nitty-gritty 2.53 - gigahertz Core 2 Duo processor , the Nvidia GeForce 9400 M desegregate graphics bit set , five USB 2.0 ports , one Gigabit Ethernet connection and a FireWire 800 port . This contrast precipitously with Microsoft’sWindows Small Business Server 2008 , for case . It start at $ 1,089 for just the host license — without the computer hardware — and five client approach licenses . ( Additional node licenses can be purchased singly for $ 77 , in packs of five for $ 385 or 20 for $ 1540 . )
It ’s also significant to remark that a Mac Mini server is n’t restricted to using the ramp up - in Server Preferences . If more - varied feature like client direction and low - scale workstation deployments are need , the more robust management prick for Snow Leopard Server are useable . This allows companies to get the most time value from their small investment because they can take advantage of more features as their need alteration or business grows .
little companies also represent a fairly secure market for the iPhone , iPod Touch and the shortly - to - be - released iPad . Many of the collaboration peter build into Snow Leopard Server ( regardless of the direction tools ) are plan to pair well with the iPhone program . That makes the Mac Mini waiter a legitimate choice for businesses concerned in both Mac and Windows clients — Mac OS X Server back both platforms as well as other Unix / Linuxflavors , along with its support for Apple ’s nomadic twist .
Not a home or media server
One matter I ’ve been asked about the Mini waiter is whether it wouldwork as an effective home host . While it can function as a home file , print and backup server , you ’d be better off with Apple ’s Time Capsule . It ’s designed to be a wireless access point , a meshwork storage and photographic print host for both Macs and Windows , and a mesh - free-base Time Machine accompaniment location .
I ’m also asked whether it might work at home as a media server . And I give the same solvent : It ’s possible , but it is n’t the best option . Home media host make out in many manikin . The round-eyed , from an Apple view , is to use the sharing features built into iTunes run on a Mac or PC in your household . you may even dedicate a grim - ending political machine to media server duty and have an excellent — and cheaper — frame-up that other machines can access . Or you’re able to utilize mesh - attach storehouse devices that are designed to behave as a central secretary for culture medium that can be accessed by other computer , set - top boxes and other devices . Using a Mini server is almost certainly overkill , and while it can operate iTunes and other media instrument , so could a $ 499 Mac Mini , an iMac or a low - cost PC .
Setup and performance
Setting up a Mac Mini host is easy , even for someone who ’s never go under up a server before . Snow Leopard Server comes preinstalled , and the Server Assistant service program is launch automatically on first start - up . The help mechanically find the web environment the waiter is join to , asks easy - to - understand questions about the eccentric of setup and avail you require , and create the primary decision maker describe in just a few minutes .
With the initial setup complete , the available service are pretty much quick to go . you could choose to have the waiter automatically configure new or existing workstation to get at its resourcefulness and services , beam invitation eastward - mails to exist users with computers that may already be configured , or set up up accession manually .
In its default configuration , the Mac Mini server admit two 500 GB internal hard drives , with the second effort occupying the space normally reserved for a traditional Mini ’s ocular drive . Like the MacBook Air , you could set up software and even erase and reinstall the operating organization by sharing an install CD / DVD from the cause of another Mac or Windows computer on the same net . you could also grease one’s palms the $ 99 outside USB videodisc private road available for the MacBook Air to use with the Mini server .
There ’s no substantial right or unseasonable means to work with the configuration of the two internal voiceless drives . By nonpayment , they exist as two unlike , unpartitioned volumes ( one of which is used as the waiter ’s start - up drive ) . you may keep this contour and use both for storage or employ one as a backup drive . you could also mix the two using RAID to play as either a single with child volume , a striped volume for increased read / write carrying into action , or a mirrored solidifying in which data point is write identically to both drives so that in the consequence of a failure of one drive , the host will continue functioning without interruption .
Each option is hunky-dory , reckon on your needs or predilection . The one setup I would n’t recommend is using the 2nd intimate drive for Time Machine backups . For convenience and a bit more security department , I ’d use a larger external drive that ’s at least 1 TB .
The Mac Mini host comes with only a single Ethernet interface , but it also offers 802.11a / b / g / n wireless , making it an ideal selection in businesses and situation where wire may be difficult or pricey . If extra Ethernet interfaces are demand , you could employ the USB - to - Ethernet adapter that Apple sells for the MacBook Air . The five available USB porthole give you some room to exposit Ethernet admission .
Performance with the Mini waiter is good for a small business , but it ’s no b - burner . With the 2.53 - gigacycle Core 2 Duo chip and 4 GB of 1066 - MHz RAM , it can easy deal canonic services for a few - 12 computers without buckling . Although you could theoretically support even more users , I ’d intimate that you limit the number to no more than maybe four - 12 user . I ’d also be hesitating about using it to host corporate Web sites for the Internet at turgid .
But for interior usance by a small number of citizenry , the Mini server does really well for its sizing and cost .
Final thoughts
The Mac Mini host is a well - price solution for small-scale business . It can scale up to a point as a ship’s company grow or its business involve change , but it really is n’t design to take the place of a more knock-down server in a larger clientele or endeavour environs . That does n’t entail it ’s restrain in features ; it offer the same services as a top - of - the - line Xserve , albeit on lesser — and less expensive — hardware . The ability to handle basic functions like file cabinet and printer sharing or to run a small intranet , intraoffice IM waiter or any of the other services that Mac OS X Server offers , makes it an ideal product for lowly bureau , pattern firms , schools and retail shops .
[ Ryan Faasis a free-lance writer and technology adviser specialize in Mac and multiplatform internet issues . His most late playscript isThe iPhone for Work , publish by Apress . ]
