Mac mini as file server and Mediacenter

I have bought a Mac mini with Lion and want to use it as a fileserver and a mediacenter. After formatting my external disks and putting the data back on I have now been able to share them on my network (mix of Mac and PC). My problem is the Mac mini will freeze up quite often and and therefore I cannot get access to my files from the other computers in my network and it will stall every no and then when watching a DVD.
Is there a power saving option I have overlooked? When it goes into standby mode I cannot always wake it up again but have to make a hard reset.
I am using XBMC as mediacenter software. I also have IDrive running as online backup and Evocam as videosurveillance software.

resman30 wrote:
After formatting my external disks and putting the data back on I have now been able to share them on my network (mix of Mac and PC).
You say disks. How many and what brand and how is the connection
made (USB/Firerwire)?
Is there a power saving option I have overlooked? When it goes into standby mode I cannot always wake it up again but have to make a hard reset.
Can you post your settings that you currently have?
I am using XBMC as mediacenter software. I also have IDrive running as online backup and Evocam as videosurveillance software.
Can you disable IDrive and the Evocam software for a while
and see if the issue persists? I don't see XBMC as being an issue
as I use it on multiple Macs without a problem.

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I transferred files from a NAS server to the Mac Mini Snow Leopard Server and now some of the files have Custom Access and can't be opened by some users. How do I fix this?

We're setting up our Mac Mini Snow Leopard Server, and in the process transferred files that had been stored and accessed from our Blackarmor NAS server over to the Mac. These files were all created on PC's and are Office Excel files, WordPerfect files or PDF's. When you look at the files on the Mac from the Mac and bring up Get Info for the affected file, it says that the file has Custom Access. The files that work properly don't have that configuration. I can access and open the files on some computers, but some users can't open the files from their computer even though they can see it. We're all using PC's and they get the Error: Access Denied-Contact your administrator--or something similar. I've seen on the web similar issues and it may have something to do with ACL permissions. I don't know enough about Mac OS to understand this, but what is baffling is that they can be opened from some PC's but not others, and all of the Users have the same accessibility to the files. Thanks for a solution!!

Oh, on the losing Internet, try this...
Make a New Location, Using network locations in Mac OS X ...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2712
10.7 & 10.8…
System Preferences>Network, top of window>Locations>Edit Locations, little plus icon, give it a name.
10.5.x/10.6.x/10.7.x instructions...
System Preferences>Network, click on the little gear at the bottom next to the + & - icons, (unlock lock first if locked), choose Set Service Order.
The interface that connects to the Internet should be dragged to the top of the list.
Instead of joining your Network from the list, click the WiFi icon at the top, and click join other network. Fill in everything as needed.
For 10.5/10.6, System Preferences>Network, unlock the lock if need be, highlight the Interface you use to connect to Internet, click on the advanced button, click on the DNS tab, click on the little plus icon, then add these numbers...
208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220
Click OK.
PS. Your English is quite good & completely understandable.

AirDisk vs. Mac Mini as File Server

I'm so frustrated with AirDisk (as with any other wired NAS) due to their slowness with large files transfer over my wired network of Macs that I started looking for another solution.
What access/transfer speed difference I can achieve with a dedicated Mac Mini set up exclusively as file server on gigabit wired network?

The right tool for the job. I'm not sure the airport is the best solution. Some things to consider:
How will these files be backed up? This is absolutely the number one question to ask. Number 2 should be, how are we doing off site backups? If this is really for an office and you have files, that if lost, mean your business can be impacted, you need to have off site backups. Even if that is just bringing in an external HD every friday, backing up the server, and keeping the backup at home somewhere safe and secure.
For 100 MB files, you can do that over a network. Not a big deal. For GB files, what is worth more, time or money? Do you have files on the same disk that need simultaneous access by different people?
What machines do you use to do the editing? Can you attach a drobo to one of the machines (helping you with your backup issue as well as providing a nice way to grow your available storage pool), and then use personal file sharing? I don't think you necessarily need a dedicated file server for three people. With the Mac Mini option, if you don't have a keyboard and monitor, I don't think the Mac OS X client software is a great choice for a headless server. I know, I tried to do this. It did not work out very well.
I have two Airport Extreme Ns. I've got a Drobo connected to one and it is not too bad. I have all my DVDs ripped to it and have my laptop synched to my Apple TV. When I watch a movie, iTunes reads the file over the airport extreme and then needs to stream from iTunes to the Apple TV, all wirelessly. It works out well enough. I might have to wait a second or two for the video to start, but its all wireless and that rocks for me.
In your case, you'd likely benefit from wired gigabit ethernet and direct attached storage on one of the machines you use and personal file sharing.
Just do those backups!

Screen Needed for mac mini as file server?

I have two pb I want to network together through a mac mini. Do I need a display for the mac mini to run as a "file server"? I'm new at networking, and I want a place where I can share files with other co-workers w/out using more space on either of our computers. Any help is welcome. Thank you.

The first response you received in this thread was spot on...I just want to add another option to consider.
You can find very inexpensive, network-capable external enclosures on the web (check out dealnews.com). Just toss in a good-sized hard drive (the last 320GB I bought from newegg.com was $115)...hook up one of those enclosures...and boom, you have NAS (Network Attached Storage). No computer to update or support...just simple, effective, and fast network file storage.

Mac Mini substitutes home server and apple tv?

I have a HP mediasmart home server to manage backups, remote access and such. As well as I have an Apple TV where i store my pictures, movies, music etc.
I wonder if the mac mini (+server) will be a good substitute for all that functionality?
http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/mediasmart-server/

"But can it be both simultaneously?
Both a server and a media machine that is showing a movie on your TV?"
Yes it can, no problems.
The Mini Server OSX is pretty much the same as the client Snow Leopard, complete with Front Row, iTunes, Mail, Safari etc, but no iLife09 supplied - you will have to pay extra for that.
It will do everything that Snow Leopard will do but has all the server capabilities too if you know how to set it up/use the software.
The only things I had trouble with was I can't find Migration Assistant and a strange quirk is that it won't share a USB connected printer across a network! No sign of printer sharing in System prefs but I guess you can do it via the Server config somewhere...
I just used CUPS to enable Bonjour printer sharing - works fine
I have been able to insatll everything I had on my previous CoreDuo Mini including Final Cut Express, iLife09, EyeTV, some bit torrent stuff - all works fine...
I really like the fact that I can plug two monitors in - I have the MiniDVI connected to a 50" plasma and 1080p Projector (using an HDMI splitter), the Mini Display port feeds a separate 20" widescreen monitor - when the plasma/PJ is switched off the main display automatically switches back to the 20" monitor
All in all this MiniServer is a great little HTPC - powerful and silent with 1TB of storage. The Server software is a bonus I haven't even looked at as yet

How do I set up my Mac mini to read iTunes and iPhoto files from my new Mac mini server?

Want my old Mac mini to read iPhoto and iTunes files from my new Mac mini server. Old Mac has no more room to store files. How do I do this?

Hello,
Have you tried enabling iTunes Sharing & iPhoto Sharing on the Server?
Or maybe...
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449
http://www.apple.com/itunes/inside-itunes/2011/02/how-to-move-your-itunes-librar y-to-another-hard-drive.html
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH2506
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1229

Mac mini w/Lion Server as a file server on a windows network

I would like to run a mac mini server on a windows network as a file server and a office wiki server (no internet)
Do I need a router or a switch? Does the mini support client data backups? Are the users & permissions setting robust and easy to use?
SMB is the protocol? It is my understanding that this is easy with xp but more difficult with windows 7, has this been resolved?
thanks

Anything the AppleTv can play-the mini can.
Playlists from the iTunes store videos can be done on AppleTV, but not
on the Mac Mini. There are third party solutions, but they are hardly easy to setup. I'm working on a setup right now where it is quite a bit more complicated on the Mac Mini:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=10519644#10519644

How do I set up my Time Machine and Mac Mini with Lion Server so i have one wifi loop in the house?

HELP!
So I have had a Time Machine wifi loop at the house for approx. 6 years. I run two Macbooks, 2 iPhones, 2 iTouch and a Samsung Smart Blueray on the loop.
I just bought a Mac Mini with Lion Server. When setting it up I'm not sure what or how I managed to do, but I now have 2 wifi loops, one doesn't lock and niether will support the Samsung BlueRay. Also, each time I want to go online with one of the other Mac devices i have to relog into the wifi loop.
Can someone please walk me through the fix. The mac Mini is plugged straight into the Time Machine to recevie its internet connection.
Thanks!
John

You often see this limit of 10 clients in wireless hotspots but I have yet to see it in an adsl modem.. most strange way to pay for a service that is really irrelevant how many clients you use.
Have a go .. I recently setup a TC to help a guy run his Roku.. and this setup worked well.. I have no idea if it can work in your case.
Lets say the IP you get is 192.168.2.1-10 .. doesn't matter what it really is. And the adsl modem is 192.168.2.254
(Assuming they are private addresses.. if they are public IP you can just use the DHCP and NAT. )
But go to the airport utility.. I think you need to run v5 at least to change DNS.. but you can do the same thing in v6 using static but no dns changes.
Now you set the IP of the TC manually.. This address might need to be in the dhcp range of the modem to work. You can set the DNS to same IP as the router address.. ie home address of the modem. Or you can use another DNS.. whatever you like.
Then set DHCP for clients that will join.. this can then expand the scope of addresses..
It worked without a NAT error.. although I am not sure exactly how.. on paper it should not be able to work but did.. have a go.. otherwise there is perhaps another way.. but it is complicated.
Give us an example from a computer plugged into the modem of what IP .. subnet mask .. Gateway and DNS you get. Then I can fine tune the values for it.

I want to use a mac mini as a server supporting storage. Can I pair my macair to it for when I need to perform updates and maintenance ?

I want to use a mac mini as a server supporting storage. I have other devices such as an iMac and iPad that will access information from the server. I do not want to purchase a monitor and keyboard as the unit will sit in a cupboard out of sight. Can I pair my macair to it for when I need to perform updates and maintenance ?

I have a 2010 Mac Mini running Yosemite and Server which I use
as a headless home server.
I have is set up to allow screen sharing and can connect to it and
control it with my iMac, Macbook Pro, iPhone, and a 2011 Mini Server
that I use as an HTPC.
You can check this out for all the Yosemite Server capabilities:
https://help.apple.com/advancedserveradmin/mac/4.0/
I have iTunes Home Sharing set up on it and have my entire iTunes
library on it. I can then use any of my Macs to play Movies or Songs
from it and only keep locally a select subset of that on my individual
devices.
Rather than and update server, I utilize Server's Caching Service. The caching
server will duplicate any update download (system or MacApp Store purchases)
any time a device that is connected to my network down loads one. The update will
then be stored locally and all other devices will download the update from it which
can be faster than from Apple directly. This has the advantage of only having to download
once with limited bandwidth internet connections. There is also an Update Server service
available, but it is some what more involved in setting up. However, it will download
and store all available updates.
There is another thing as well if you do not care for syncing things like Contacts, Calendar, etc.
to iCloud, you can set Server up to sync these items across devices locally.

If I install the Mail server on a Mac Mini as a server, can my users utilize Outlook as their mail client and how will it be different for them?

If I install the Mail server on a Mac Mini as a server, can my users utilize Outlook as their mail client and how will it be different for them?

Your users can utilize Outlook no matter where your email is hosted at.
how will it be different for them
different from what?

Using Mac Mini running OSX Server (10.8) to host web sites on LAN

I would like to know how to use a Mac Mini running OSX Server (10.8 ML) to host web sites on my home network (LAN).
I am developing web sites and previously (before ML) I used my Mac Pro to 'host' the sites I was developing to test them out before publishing them to my hosting package. That was when I was using 10.7 Lion and theer was an option in the System Preferences to turn web sharing on.
I have since upgraded my Mac client to 10.8 ML and have configured it to do the same - even though there is no System Preferences option for web sharing any more.
I also have a Mac Mini running on my LAN and its been upgraded to OSX Server 10.8.
Im now trying to configure it to host the web sites I am developing but with no success.
I thought it was just a matter of adding them as sites in the Server's Websites panel (see screen shot)
but so far Ive had no success.
On my Mac client I can simply add a folder in the Sites directory and then open the web site by putting http://myhost/~myuser/name-of-folder and it will load the default file in the folder e.g. index.html
How do I achieve the 'same thing' on OSX Server?

Hi Johnfromglenver,
There are no Mac drivers for the HP Officejet K60 printer. Therefore it is not compatible with the Mac operating systems. Please call our technical support at 800-474-6836. If you live outside the US/Canada Region please click the link below to get the support number for your region. http://www.hp.com/cgi-bin/hpsupport/index.pl. There may be other solutions that could work for you.
I hope this information helps.
Advance 23
I work on behalf of HP

On a Mac mini OS X server 10.8.5 TimeMchine cannot copy 2.5 TB to a 6 TB Thunderbolt disk, runs out of space, Carbon Copy Cloner works perfectly

On a Mac mini OS X server 10.8.5 TimeMachine cannot copy 2.5 TB (from a Lacie 2big Thunderbolt data disk) to another 6 TB Thunderbolt disk, runs out of space, Carbon Copy Cloner works perfectly: claiming just 2.5 TB after the copy. Thunderbolt disk is
LaCie 2big Thunderbolt Series 6 TB

If you have more than one user account, these instructions must be carried out as an administrator.
Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the icon grid.
Make sure the title of the Console window is All Messages. If it isn't, select All Messages from the SYSTEM LOG QUERIES menu on the left. If you don't see that menu, select
View ▹ Show Log List
from the menu bar.
Enter the word "Starting" (without the quotes) in the String Matching text field. You should now see log messages with the words "Starting * backup," where * represents any of the words "automatic," "manual," or "standard." Note the timestamp of the last such message that corresponds to an abnormal backup. Now
CLEAR THE WORD "Starting" FROM THE TEXT FIELD
so that all messages are showning, and scroll back in the log to the time you noted. Select the messages timestamped from then until the end of the backup, or the end of the log if that's not clear. Copy them to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. Paste (command-V) into a reply to this message.
If all you see are messages that contain the word "Starting," you didn't clear the text field.
If there are runs of repeated messages, post only one example of each. Don't post many repetitions of the same message.
When posting a log extract, be selective. Don't post more than is requested.
Please do not indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.
Some personal information, such as the names of your files, may be included — anonymize before posting.

Mac as a file server for windows -- mounting a mac disk at windows startup

Is there any way to use the Mac as a file server for a windows XP home service pack 1 system?
The best I can do is "mount disk at login". However, this fails to use the right username/password, and even then it fails to deal with programs that run outside of a user context, or with fast user switching (it seems every program gets a different set of drive letters to remote volume mappings).
Mac Mini 1.42 1G Mac OS X (10.4.3)

And this is my problem.
In windows terms:
I want to assign a drive letter to a network drive, and have that be a machine-wide assignment, that is activated during bootup, and is visible to all users and services.
I can do that for an arbitrary partition that is physically attached to the machine.
I cannot seem to do that for any partition that is mounted over the network.
The problems are:
1. It doesn't map for every user,
2. It doesn't map for services that run when a user isn't logged in
3. It generates annoying inconsistencies in what programs see what.
Is there really no way for an XP box to use a file server? Even a microsoft file server? (if there is, how do I make my mac os with samba look like a real microsoft file server).
Annoying tidbit: The "conncet at login" information is stored in the user profile; if you rely on that, then the user profile cannot be stored with the rest of the user's personal files. If it weren't for that, I could probably live with a work around.
(2 to 1 someone will say "Xp Professional can do that trivially" and tell me to upgrade. I thought XP home was supposed to support home and small office networking, and I thought that included a single shared file server.)
Mac Mini 1.42 1G Mac OS X (10.4.3)

How stable is the mac mini as a server?

Hi List,
I am planning to get the mac mini with snow leopard server.
Has anyone tried it?
How stable is the mac mini as a server?
I'd be setting it up for 10 mac clients.
It will be used as a file/print/dhcp server.
thanks.
Dp

max out the memory to reduce / eliminate paging. although you might not need to in your situation. I think printing is a light use of memory. Inkjet printers are heavy on the cpu.
electronics don't usually fail. It's the moving parts. Doesn't the mini take the 2.5 inch drives that are not as reliable as the 3.5? An external drive will get past this.
You could get an external bootable harddrive.
You need an external Firewire drive to boot a PowerPC Mac computer.
I recommend you do a google search on any external harddrive you are looking at.
I bought a low cost external drive enclosure. When I started having trouble with it, I did a google search and found a lot of complaints about the drive enclosure. I ended up buying a new drive enclosure. On my second go around, I decided to buy a drive enclosure with a good history of working with Macs. The chip set seems to be the key ingredient. The Oxford line of chips seems to be good. I got the Oxford 911.
The latest the hard drive enclosures support the newer serial ata drives. The drive and closure that I list supports only older parallel ata.
Has everything interface:
FireWire 800/400 + USB2, + eSATA 'Quad Interface'
save a little money interface:
FireWire 400 + USB 2.0
This web page lists both external harddrive types. You may need to scroll to the right to see both.
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/eSATAFW800_FW400USB
Here is an external hd enclosure.
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MEFW91UAL1K/
Here is what one contributor recommended:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=10452917#10452917
Folks in these Mac forums recommend LaCie, OWC or G-Tech.
Here is a list of recommended drives:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5564509#5564509
FireWire compared to USB. You will find that FireWire 400 is faster than USB 2.0 when used for a external harddrive connection.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UniversalSerial_Bus#USB_compared_toFireWire
http://www23.tomshardware.com/storageexternal.html
Here are two utilities for making a complete backup of your internal hard drive. I've recommend using one of these so that you can create a bootable system on your external hard drive. ( PPC require a firewire connected drive. ) Once created, you can run your system from the external drive. Hold down the option key on your keyboard then power on your machine. This will bring you in startup manager click on the drive image you wish to boot then click on the arrow key to the right.
"Clone, synchronize, backup. Schedule and forget it."
http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html
"SuperDuper is the wildly acclaimed program that makes recovery painless, because it makes creating a fully bootable backup painless."
http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html
Robert

Mac Mini 10.6 Server startup disk size increase problem.

Mac Mini 10.6 Server shows system startup disk sized 50GB with 20GB free. Disk utility shows partition sized 500GB with 470GB free. How can I increase size of startup volume without complete reinstall?

Is the disk partitioned?
Boot the operating system DVD, use Disk Utility from the Utilities menu (second screen of the installation process, just before you start the actual install) to ake a complete backup to an external disk, make a second backup (in case there's a problem with the first), wipe and repartition the internal disk (using Disk Utility), and reload.
You'll want to consider whether you want to mirror the two disks within the box, too; to set up RAID-1 across both of the 500 GB drives in the box. That mirroring can be established when you're wiping and repartitioning the disks.

Mac mini as file server and Mediacenter

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