First , let ’s authorise something up about the Mac mini precede by Apple in October that ’s configure to be a server . This $ 999 Mac miniskirt with Snow Leopard Server ( Get Best Current Price ) is not an endeavor - grad server , or even a crowing line of work server . It ’s not going to superintend thousands of user , or monumental data needs , or be the only e-mail server for GE . This is not a “ giving ” host . So let ’s not evaluate it as such .
or else , the Mac miniskirt with Snow Leopard Server really is — besides a really awkward name — a fantastic little server for a little more than $ 1,000 ( once you add in taxation and a few option ) that can be amazingly useful to those who determine their prospect realistically . Yes , it apply 2.5 - inch laptop computer drives . No , it does n’t have dual Gigabit Ethernet port . It does n’t have a hardware maraud card . It does n’t have elaboration time slot . Heck , you have to use an external drive just to use visual media .
And to that , I would say , “ What ’s your point ? ” Look , no one is telling users to shed out their rackmount server in favor of this peculiar mini . ( Well , no onesaneis . ) Used aright , however , the new Mac mini conformation is a heck of a box .
Take a concern that has outgrown the “ home ” part of SOHO — five to ten users , mostly iWork / Microsoft Office documents , some PDFs . They need a file server that ’s pocket-sized , quiet , unnoticeable , well-fixed to grapple , and does n’t be more than three month ’s rip . The mini is perfect . You set it up with the 500 GB drive as a foray 1 or mirror for some redundancy , and , with mayhap an hour or so of a consultant ’s sentence , you ’ve get a little file server . full monetary value ? Less than $ 1500 , and that ’s including the adviser . And it takes up less way than a sight of CDs .
decide that you need more calendaring or e - ring armour than you ’re cash in one’s chips to get from a free host service ? Again , for a smallish business — say , up to 50 user with swooning e - chain armor needs — the mini host is a corking option . Again , including enough consultant to get it up and running , you could have a small groupware host for that same $ 1500 or so . Need to take backup more seriously ? Go purchase a FireWire maraud stack fromPromise Technology , Drobo , or whomever , stick it on the mini , release on Time Machine services on that server , and you now have about 8 TB of store for your backups .
Do you have an Xserve or a Mac Pro that ’s getting overloaded ? Deciding that you want to rive off some of the service ? While the miniskirt would n’t be unspoilt for sullen lifting — database , Java app services , and so on — for affair like Web , wikis , blogs , tocopherol - mail / groupware , or even running Mac OS X 10.6 Server ’s new Mobile Access Server , the miniskirt ’s a great selection , and you’re able to get three mini server for the price of a single low - end Mac Pro with Mac OS X Server . The minis will take up less room , run quieter , and permit you to separate your service up . Thanks to the way Mac OS X Server works , you could actually have all your miniskirt set up as replicas of each other , but with different services turned off . One bites the dust ? Restore from backing to one of the other auto and you ’re back up and running while you get the miniskirt repaired or replaced .
If you liken this new miniskirt to the Xserve , it ’s more like four or five minis for the price of an Xserve , specially if you have to buy the rack to put the Xserve in . truthful , the mini does n’t have redundant anything other than hard drives , but , if you have five , just keep one as a spare part . With a just backup plan , you could swap out a dead one within an 60 minutes or two . Multiple simple machine is a good sort of redundancy , and I undertake that your installation costs for five mini will be less than one Xserve .
Even if you are in a big caller , the mini is a good burst . ask a test server that ’s real hardware , not just a virtual machine ? A grand and you ’re skillful . need to quiz out new services for a small chemical group before revolve them out on product ironware ? A G and you ’re good . demand to add a host or two in a branch role that does n’t have a server elbow room ? A noble-minded or two and you ’re estimable .
The Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server is n’t a full on backup man for an Xserve or a Mac Pro . But just like the Quad - Core iMac gives mass who necessitate more exponent , more options , the Mac miniskirt with Mac OS X 10.6 Server devote little byplay who need a smallish server more options .
[ John C. Welchis IT Director for The Zimmerman Agency , and a long - clip Mac IT pundit . ]
