Mac Mini server as a stepping stone to a Mac Pro???

[KEVORKIAN]

XServes don't have any audio I/O's. So the server software doesn't support core audio from what I understand.

I have Mac OS X server running on a Mac mini in my office. I use an Open Directory structure with bound clients and Network Home folders. I've also installed it on an iMac, Mac Pro and MacBook. The audio is always supported.

I have also run Audio apps on Mac OS X Server (10.5 and 10.6) with no difficulty so it definitely can be done. (I've done this just to see what happens)

The absence of audio hardware on the Xserve is just a practicality of it's intended purpose. You could absolutely install a PCIe audio card, USB, or Firewire interface provided the drivers don't find something to balk at.

Always best to run a supported OS, though. MOTU will never test against a server.

Retail osx will install on anything. Included restore disks have hardware specific criteria to meet before allowing an install. You can alter some preflight info to fool the install on different boxes.

This is true, however in this case it is likely that the install disks currently in the wild are not compatible with the newest Mac minis since they just debuted. Simplest way around this is to target disk mode the mini into another machine (where you know the disks do work) and point the installer to the target volume. This is how I installed Snow Leopard Server on my Mac Book and it would work in any instance.

Apple is not purposely trying to hamper the install process with all of this. The OS disks must possess a boot rom that is able to boot your machine. Newer Macs may have revisions to their Firmware that make older install disks unusable, however Apple eventually updates these disks.

[mhschmieder]

Great post -- this may be the season of red herrings.

I'll keep following this thread and see whether the Mini Server is a viable solution after all.

[KEVORKIAN]

Great post -- this may be the season of red herrings.

I'll keep following this thread and see whether the Mini Server is a viable solution after all.

I also modded my Mac mini to run an external 7200rpm eSATA drive and it's desktop fast. (This is a core2duo).

The mod was not hard to do and (I ran a female to female SATA cable out a hole in the case and connected an eSATA cable to that cable and my external drive. Made a huuuuge difference.

I need to pick up one of the new mini's and do the same. You could run 2 eSATA externals off of the cheapest Mini and then put the Superdrive in an external USB case. Mac minis are so cool.

[newrigel]

You can trick any installer in preflight. But yes the Mac minis have audio but they are more intended for home serving... they would lock up under a heavy load. Just use a standard mm and be done with it.
I think I'd rather just get a MP instead of dealing with it.. might as well just hackintosh if your going to deal with the BS.

[BKK-OZ]

If you have an existing intel machine you can install the client OS easily by putting it into target disk mode, using disk utility to break any existing RAID (if there is one), and pointing the installer at a drive.

It isn't all that straight forward, according to posts in the discussion I linked to in this post:

Looks like there are lotsa problems trying to install SL onto a mini server - much discussion here.

It looks like some may have succeeded, but it all looks a bit iffy to me.

[KEVORKIAN]

If you have an existing intel machine you can install the client OS easily by putting it into target disk mode, using disk utility to break any existing RAID (if there is one), and pointing the installer at a drive.

It isn't all that straight forward, according to posts in the discussion I linked to in this post:

Looks like there are lotsa problems trying to install SL onto a mini server - much discussion here.

It looks like some may have succeeded, but it all looks a bit iffy to me.

I read through that thread before I posted and as in all Apple Discussion threads there are a hodgepodge of issues, user knowledge levels, and voodoo mysticism.

Many of the posters are not all that familiar with Mac OS installation options and procedures, and plenty of others are giving out a bunch of strange/wrong advice. I can imagine such a mess would put you off.

I'm not saying you should run out and try this because I think it's uncomplicated, but I feel confident enough with this method to tell you it's completely achievable. (I've done this enough times, for enough years, and on both PPC and Intel architectures)

Here it is:
1) You have a computer than can run Snow Leopard (in this case, the client OS)
2) Target disk mode the new Mini to that machine via firewire
3) Use Disk Utility to erase the mini's drives (if you also reformat use GUID Partition Table)
4) Run the SL install dvd from the existing machine (NOTE: This should be the retail version, NOT the restore disks that come from another machine)
5) Point the installer towards the mounted drive from the target mini
6) Install

You could even clone your OS to the target drives instead of running the installer.

[mikehalloran]

>2) Target disk mode the new Mini to that machine via firewire<

Absolutely. I take care of multiple Macs in a number of environments. Using Target Disk absolutely works.

My earlier comment regarding an external optical drive assumed one machine only. Again, that works, too - every time.

[BKK-OZ]

I appreciate the advice - I appreciate your time.

You have given me much to chew over.

I'm tracking a local auction on a Mac Pro @ the moment. No doubt it will end up costing too much, but I can dream, right?

[mhschmieder]

I think the deal-breaker for me was when I began reading about incompatibility and quality issues with the external Superdrive. That was the final nail in the coffin for the Mac Mini Server.

There are no refurbished MacPro's on the Apple website at the moment, but several refurbished iMacs. If new iMacs don't come out within the next couple of weeks, I may just go with the familiar, since anything will be a huge upgrade on my G4, and save a few bucks with a nice guarantee (the tax almost eats up the discount, but I like how Apple guarantees their refurbs and generally feel refurbs have been checked better than newbies).

[James Steele]

Again... I posted this in another thread but check out jr.com. They're selling new Mac Pro quads for $2299 with free shipping and if you're out of state (like CA, no sales tax). If you buy a refurb from Apple for $2149 + sales tax it will likely cost MORE.

[mhschmieder]

J&R has always charged me sales tax, so I thought they were in Southern California.

I see they have some nice prices on new Macs and also some rebates going on, so I'll keep them bookmarked. Right now I am looking through their listings. They're a reputable dealer, as I know from previous dealings.

[mhschmieder]

Hmm, looks like they're New York based. All my previous purchases with them have been through eBay, so maybe the sales tax rules are different in those cases.

[James Steele]

Are they? I thought they were in New York?

[mhschmieder]

Nevermind; I had them confused with JRR Shop in Irvine CA.

[mhschmieder]

BTW, for some perspective on how the new Mac Minis (Client & Server edition) fare vs. other Macs, for the sorts of tasks audio and video professionals are likely to be doing, this seems to be the latest rundown on the stats (Speedmark 6):

http://www.marketingtactics.com/Speedmark/