Mac mini server freezed

our mac mini server was freezed and try to restart, but the apple logo and the spinning gear keep running.
I try un-plugged it but same thing the spinning gear logo keep running.

See if you can restart into the Recovery HD by pressing/holding Command+R at the boot chime. Then, open Disk Utility and do a Verify Disk. If there are errors, then do a Repair Disk.

Similar Messages

Mac Mini Server freezes hard, too hot?

Hi,
Our Mac Mini Server (half a year old) with the newest system crashes hard now and then.
It could run for up to three weeks occasionally but now in the summer it could sometimes only run for minutes until it hangs hard with frozen mouse and clock.
I have found no other way than resetting by the power switch.
According to the technical specification it should handle up to 35°C environment. (Right now we have 28°C in the room here.)
It seemed to help a bit by installing smcFanControl and increase the fan speed.
It will crash even without any work being done on it. No special applications started. No network traffic.
If the exhaust temp is above about 32 to 34° the problems seem to worsening. Now it is 37°C despite full fan speed (5500 rpm) and it crashed after minutes.
Sometimes it will even hang during the boot process.
Have anybody else heard about such problems?

Hi MalcomKay,
I had to open a service ticket as Jiri suggested. The technician was pretty sure the crashes were caused by a defective Airport board and exchanged that (despite I doubted that and never used Airport for the server).
I came back home (2x2x120 km of travel) and started the Mac Mini Server up. I booted and run the AppleServerDiagnostics.app test from an USB. It lasted 15 minutes (until it was warmed up) and then crashed so hard it was not counted by the test. It just froze hard. It crashed when running the memory test. It always crashed before finish when running that test!
I returned the server to the Apple Service (another 480 km of travel). This time they exchanged the whole motherboard. They tested it running intense traffic and operations for one full week without a freeze. So it was a faulty mother board!
Now it has been running like a charm for months.
This is not the first temperature problem affected board Apple has delivered to me.
Good luck! /Johan
Tips: Prepare an USB stick you can boot from. It is so frustrating to have a computer without a dedicated DVD where you can boot from and run the hardware tests.

Mac Mini Server freezing in install when choosing PPPoE

I have a Mac Mini Server and when I go through the installation procedure and choose the connect PPPoE from the Network settings, the installation hangs every time.
I have already tried several clean installs from the Mac Mini Server disc to no avail.
Suggestions?
Thank You.

What part of the install process do you have trouble with? I'm assuming, and I think Tony did as well, you're talking about the server setup assistant that launches once the OS is installed. Naming your server/domain is a critical part of setup, as is DNS. If you put faulty configs in during setup, or try to setup services before DNS is working, you'll run into trouble - so please include whatever you're trying to do - if you're new to servers, most everybody around here will be helpful or at least understanding.
In any event there's a great tutorial at
http://www.wazmac.com/serversnetwork/fileservers/osxserversetup/index.htm
While I agree with Tony that PPPoE isn't the best bet, you ought to be able to make it work - but you will need a static IP for your server. Best bet is probably to make it a static IP on your LAN using NAT and let your router/firewall have the live IP. But more info is always better - what are you trying to setup and what other equipment/network stuff is already going on? There are a lot of ways to setup a server and to setup a network, and there is certainly no one correct solution. Somebody smart (like Tony) may be able to give you a lot more options with more details. I'll try too, but I'm far from the most knowledgeable person around these parts.
Another thought - if you're not using the advanced server, I believe you need DNS set up beforehand somewhere - if you just enter your ISP's DNS server info, it won;t have any records for your server. The Wazmac setup notes will walk you through setting up your own DNS for your LAN and using your ISP's DNS for everything on the WAN side.
Message was edited by: Jeff Kelleher

Mac mini server 2011 with regular lion - lion freezes all the time!

I have installed a regular OSX lion 10.7.3 on my brand new mac mini server 2011.
I called support today they told me it would not be possible but with a bootable USB im just able to install a regular OSX lion since I dont like the server features and bought the machine for development ( coding ).
When doing an internet recovery OSX lion server will be installed. This is higly unwanted but I guess the installer checks the hardware and installs the server version since that would be the "correct" version.
Now it keeps locking up everytime, even after a time machine backup I did and hoped that clean install would have fix this,
problem still persist.
When it lockups and I reboot on login screen I can:
only move the mouse up and down
when I type 1 keystroke on keyboard the password field is filled with multiple charachters dotted out because of the password field
3 questions
Is running a reguler lion ( not server version ) on a mac mini 2011 really not supported causing my issues? It feels like unlogic since the regular lion installer installed just fine, it should have given a warning that its not possible to install on my mac mini server therefore I see this as a "ok" it can be installed without problems?
Anyone has regular osx lion on mac mini server without any problems?
Is there anything I can do to determine the cause of the freezes? The console does not mention anything
This is higly frustrated, I dont dare to fully spend some hours to restore the system to a workable state for me ( install apps, coding enviroment, xcode etc) since it feels unstable and i dont want to spend time and have to do everything over again :S

1. Go to System Preferences.
2. Select Engery Saver
3. Slide the setting for Computer sleep to never.
4. Slide the setting for Display sleep to never (though I believe the display should be able to sleep without much issue.
5. Make sure the following are not selected:
a. Put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible.
b. Allow power button to put the computer to sleep.
6. Make sure the following are selected:
a. Wake for network access
b. Start up automatically after a power failure
c. Restart automatically if the computer freezes.
Good luck!

Getting AHT to work on Mac mini server

I have a intel core 2 duo Mac mini server (macmini4,1), and I'm having sporadic freezing/locking issues. I am trying to run the apple hardware test but it doesn't work, holding down the 'd' key does nothing. If I try single-user mode startup it works fine so there doesn't seem to be an issue with the keyboard. Since this is the server I also don't have an optical drive to go to to boot from the install disc. Why doesn't this work? Is there an alternative way to get this to run that doesn't involve the install disc?

Actually, this problem is only partially solved. I still get "Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/mysql/mysql.sock..." when I type 'mysql'. I can access mysql by typing 'sudo mysql', but still get the socket error when connecting via php, so I think I still need to get to the point where I can type mysql without sudo.
Also, I went ahead and installed MySQL 5 with the tar package.
Message was edited by: rabbitdog

Mac Mini Server 2011, with lion, sleeps every day

My new Mac Mini Server 2011, with lion, sleeps every day! Server not responding.
All services are down, smb, vnc, ssh too. And it not should be happen because this is a server, right?
Please, I need help with this problem!
How to fix it?

1. Go to System Preferences.
2. Select Engery Saver
3. Slide the setting for Computer sleep to never.
4. Slide the setting for Display sleep to never (though I believe the display should be able to sleep without much issue.
5. Make sure the following are not selected:
a. Put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible.
b. Allow power button to put the computer to sleep.
6. Make sure the following are selected:
a. Wake for network access
b. Start up automatically after a power failure
c. Restart automatically if the computer freezes.
Good luck!

Instability in 2012 Mac Mini Server after Yosemite 10.1.1 Install

I bought a NEW 2012 Mac Mini server on clearance in the online Apple Store last month. I had a 256 SDD installed as startup drive along with Yosemite earlier this week. It crashes, freezes and randomly restarts. Not sure where to start with trying to figure this out. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
It happens under various circumstances but here is the report on the latest that happened a few minutes ago. I had clicked on the Desktop Icon "Macintosh SSD", the boot drive. I got the spinning wheel and then a spontaneous restart.
I apologize if too much of the report is included here. Not sure where to stop.
Crash-panic Report. When I clicked on Macintosh SSD (Boot Drive) I got a spinning wheel followed by a system restart.
Anonymous UUID: C76AE31B-9D00-CD21-F920-DF88D8F8A0C9
Fri Jan 23 12:15:49 2015
*** Panic Report ***
panic(cpu 6 caller 0xffffff8004fc4594): "launchd died\nState at Last Exception:\n\n"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-2782.1.97/bsd/kern/kern_exit.c:361
Backtrace (CPU 6), Frame : Return Address
0xffffff8018f13e50 : 0xffffff8004b3a811
0xffffff8018f13ed0 : 0xffffff8004fc4594
0xffffff8018f13f40 : 0xffffff8004fc425c
0xffffff8018f13f50 : 0xffffff800504dcb2
0xffffff8018f13fb0 : 0xffffff8004c3ac46
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: launchd
Mac OS version:
14B25
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Fri Sep 19 00:26:44 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2782.1.97~2/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: 89E10306-BC78-3A3B-955C-7C4922577E61
Kernel slide: 0x0000000004800000
Kernel text base: 0xffffff8004a00000
__HIB text base: 0xffffff8004900000
System model name: Macmini6,2 (Mac-F65AE981FFA204ED)
System uptime in nanoseconds: 10149976048674
last loaded kext at 9896523213358: com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 3.7.0 (addr 0xffffff7f87299000, size 36864)
last unloaded kext at 9957569541796: com.apple.driver.AppleUSBCDC 4.2.2b5 (addr 0xffffff7f87295000, size 16384)
loaded kexts:
com.apple.filesystems.msdosfs 1.10
com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.70
com.apple.driver.AGPM 100.14.37
com.apple.driver.ApplePlatformEnabler 2.1.0d1
com.apple.driver.X86PlatformShim 1.0.0
com.apple.filesystems.autofs 3.0
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 4.3.1f2
com.apple.driver.AppleOSXWatchdog 1
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyHIDDriver 124
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 3.6.1
com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl 1.2.10
com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet 1.0.1
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 267.0
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyDriver 267.0
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelHD4000Graphics 10.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHWAccess 1
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.7.3
com.apple.driver.AppleSMCPDRC 1.0.0
com.apple.iokit.BroadcomBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 4.3.1f2
com.apple.driver.AppleHV 1
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelFramebufferCapri 10.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltIP 2.0.2
com.apple.driver.AppleIRController 327.5
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1
com.apple.BootCache 35
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 404
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 2.6.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 705.4.1
com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4360 901.19.10
com.apple.driver.AppleSDXC 1.6.5
com.apple.iokit.AppleBCM5701Ethernet 10.1.2b3
com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 5.5.2
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 3.0.7
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 705.4.14
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBXHCI 705.4.14
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.8
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 3.1
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 2.1
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 3.1
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 218.0.0
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 161
com.apple.security.quarantine 3
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 8
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 218.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 3.7.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass 3.7.0
com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothHIDMouse 185.3
com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse 185.3
com.apple.driver.IOBluetoothHIDDriver 4.3.1f2
com.apple.kext.triggers 1.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 11
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 267.0
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.15
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 200.6
com.apple.vecLib.kext 1.2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSurface 97
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController 1.0.13d1
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP 2.2.6
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.12d1
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.4.1
com.apple.driver.X86PlatformPlugin 1.0.0
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 5.8.0d49
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 4.3.1f2
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 4.3.1f2
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 705.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.9
com.apple.iokit.IOAcceleratorFamily2 156.4
com.apple.AppleGraphicsDeviceControl 3.7.21
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 267.0
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.4.1
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 267.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 3.7.0
com.apple.driver.AppleHIDKeyboard 175.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 705.4.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 705.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 705.4.9
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPInAdapter 4.0.6
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPAdapterFamily 4.0.6
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltPCIDownAdapter 2.0.2
com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltNHI 3.1.7
com.apple.iokit.IOThunderboltFamily 4.2.1
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 700.52
com.apple.iokit.IOEthernetAVBController 1.0.3b3
com.apple.driver.mDNSOffloadUserClient 1.0.1b8
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 3.2
com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.5.6
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.7.0
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 705.4.14
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 2.0.0
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1
com.apple.security.sandbox 300.0
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore 2
com.apple.driver.AppleMobileFileIntegrity 1.0.5
com.apple.driver.AppleCredentialManager 1.0
com.apple.driver.DiskImages 389.1
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 2.0
com.apple.iokit.IOReportFamily 31
com.apple.driver.AppleFDEKeyStore 28.30
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 3.1
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.9
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.4
com.apple.kec.corecrypto 1.0
com.apple.kec.Libm 1
com.apple.kec.pthread 1
System Profile:
AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x10E), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (7.15.124.12.10)
Bluetooth: Version 4.3.1f2 15015, 3 services, 27 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Thunderbolt Bus: Mac mini, Apple Inc., 23.4
Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 8 GB, DDR3, 1600 MHz, 0x02FE, 0x45424A3831554738454655302D474E2D4620
Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM0, 8 GB, DDR3, 1600 MHz, 0x02FE, 0x45424A3831554738454655302D474E2D4620
USB Device: Hub
USB Device: Hub
USB Device: Hub
USB Device: IR Receiver
USB Device: BRCM20702 Hub
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Serial ATA Device: OWC Mercury Electra 6G SSD, 240.06 GB
Serial ATA Device: HGST HTS721010A9E630, 1 TB
Model: Macmini6,2, BootROM MM61.0106.B03, 4 processors, Intel Core i7, 2.3 GHz, 16 GB, SMC 2.8f0
Network Service: Ethernet, Ethernet, en0
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000, Intel HD Graphics 4000, Built-In

Glad that you got it solved, John. That model was only replaced at the end of last year, it is not that old and far better in terms of flexibility than the current models. Although the current models are growing away from SATA and towards PCI which, in its logical conclusion, will be faster ito access (read and write), speeds.
Linc's advice was 100% spot-on.
Have fun with your 'new' Mini
Leo

Who runs a regular osx lion on mac mini server ?

Wo runs a regular OSX lion (not the server edition ) on a mac mini server without any problems ?
I have a late 2011 mac mini server with a regular OSX lion 10.7.3 latest updates, wich keeps freezing unattended at certain times.
Wish to hear if this setup causes problems for anyone or that it might be a local issue with my SSD disk causing freezes

I am having the same problems with the same setup. Did you ever get this sorted?

Mac Mini Server works fine but one folder!

Hi all!
It's my first time on the forums so let me introduce myself first. I'm Dylan de Heer, currently working at Today, a communication and design studio in the center of Holland (Utrecht ftw.).
About a year ago we had someone install a mac mini server for us with daily backups and what not. Now since a week or two it happens that one folder became corrupted. Anyone that enters it, has his whole finder freeze up. Now would it be a small product or unimportant folder we would've deleted it and copied it from a local machine again. This time though we're talking about a full client's folder.
When anyone tries to enter the folder we just see a black space, no icons, no files, anything. My guess is that nothing is deleted. I think we're just unable to access the folder properly. Now I'm not much of a tech guy and the person that installed the server is unreachable. Would anyone have an idea of what could be the cause I'll manage to fix it. If it's terminal related Please provide a detailed description as of what I'm supposed to run.
I'm sure I'm missing some important information as to what kind of server we're running but frankly I don't really know the specs. So I'm very open to suggestions as to what I should do, haha.
Anyway, thanks in advance and I really hope that we can find a way to fetch that folder back. In the meanwhile I'm gonna take a look if I can access the backup disk somehow. Thanks!
Dylan

Good suggestion, let's see if we can. I'll come back to you!

I am having keyboard problems when trying to boot up an OS (bootcamp on Mac Mini Server)

I recently tried using bootcamp on my new Mac Mini Server.
I uploaded a windows ISO Image perfectly the way it asked, Windows 7, I followed the correct steps, euqally divided one of the hard drives, and I was ready to actually set up the new Windows section of my computer. During this booting session, my dog came in the room with her ball and knocked the computer plug out of the socket. Now when I turn on the mac, the fan still works, the same Macintosh sound comes up, the screen turns that usual very bright gray, but it stays on that gray. After a minute or two, the screen turns black, with a blinking underline, as if it were confused to choose which operating system it has to boot.
My problem here is that I use a wireless keyboard (not by Apple) -- and I suppose that bluetooth syncronizes with the OS and not the computer system itself -- so my keyboard commands do not get recognized in order for me to navigate into Windows 7 or OS X Mountain Lion. I tried solving this problem by purchasing a brand-new USB keyboard (since Mac Mini Servers do not have the PS/2 entrance). I guess this new USB keyboard didn't work, I imagine, either because the USB slots on the machine are not recognized by the computer's internal system, only by the Operating Sysytems (which I hope isn't true), or that the mac had never used that USB Keyboard and wasn't going to be capable of using it until it had installed the necessary drivers, but without the OS running that would become impossible.
So my question is: Is there a way that I can connect a keyboard to the mac so I can continue installing my alternate Operating System? Is it maybe another problem all together?

It is starting to sound more like Bootcamp failed to install properly.
Have a look at > Boot Camp 5: Frequently asked questions
then perhaps > Failed bootcamp instlation - Google Search

Website on Mac Mini Server not accessible. Error 403 index document not available.

Dear all,
I'm trying to host a website on my Mac Mini Server. As far as I can see, my DNS is working correctly. Also my firewall is setup correctly. (I'm hosting another website which works OK). But I setup a new site. Basically a copy of the working site. But this site doesn't reflect an index.htm page. I receive an Error 403 with further information that there is no index document or that the site is secured. There is a contact link on this page directing to my webmaster. So I conclude that something is working, but no index.htm page. Has anyone similar experience? And offcourse a solution?
Many thanks.

Launch Terminal.app and issue the commands:
cd /Library/Webserver/Documents/
ls -al
And see if the files are readable by the web server. Here's an example index file listing that's owned by root and with group access for admin folks, and this file is marked as readable and writable for the owner and the group, and is readable for everybody else:
-rw-rw-r-- 1 root admin 5094 Jul 25 2009 index.html
In this configuration, the web server would be using the other access; the web server can read this file, but not write to it. Here is how to duplicate these ownership and access settings on your own index.html file, assuming that you have that file present in the ls listing above, and assuming that you have issued the cd (change default directory) command shown above:
sudo chown root:admin index.html
sudo chmod ug=rw,o=r index.html
You will need to enter your administrative password for the sudo command.
I would very strongly suggest that you start learning some basics of bash and of Apache, because you're going to be needing those skills very soon.

How to set up my mac mini server to use two drives seamlessly?

I have a mid 2010 mac mini server, with OSX Lion installed. It has dual 500gb hard drives.
I've been moving all my important files to it, and I've always assumed that once I filled one disc, it would seamlessly transfer over to the other and continue backing up. This does not seem to be the case.
I'm at roughly 495gb of data, and when I try to move a 10gb file onto my server, it tells me that I don't have enough disc space to continue the operation.
What can I do to make use of both drives?
-Thanks

It sounds like what you're asking for is to have the two drives in a RAID 0, where the two 500 Gb drives look like a single 1 Tb drive. I'm not sure the exact procedure for installing RAID 0 on a mini's internal drives, but the process would involve backing up, reconfiguring for RAID (which destroys all data,) restoring data from the backup, and more risk than I would personally find acceptable. I'd expect to lose a full day with the backup and restore steps. I can guarantee, there will be pain.
Instead, I'd suggest looking at what's consuming the 500Gb, and seeing if there are particular folders that can be moved. For example, a shared folder is pretty easy. Copy it over. In file sharing setup, edit the share to point to the new location. Make sure remote users disconnect, and reconnect to the "new" share. When you're happy there is no data loss, delete the old location.
User's home directories can also move, but the process has a few more steps, and depends on how the accounts are built (local vs. OD)
If the majority of the data is in a single "your backup files" folder, shared or otherwise, then I would just set up a second folder on the second drive and write to it, leaving the first alone. If it is truly a backup, then you could make the first folder read-only at this point for extra protection. If you go the 2 folder route, keep in mind your boot drive is operating with 1% free space, I like my drives to have at least 15% free, and OS drives more like 25% (you'll find some range in recommended %-free, but most will agree 1% is too little) so move SOME stuff to the new folder, before closing the old.

Using a Mac Mini Server quad Core i7 for FCPX ?

I am a student trying to
configure a final cut pro X edit system with a budget of around $4K.
I have over 400 hours of video (some Hi-8 but mostly mini-DV tapes).
For the Mini-DV tapes I plan on ingesting video into FCPX
directly from the camera via firewire DV. I will be using a Sony GV D800 to ingest
the Hi-8 tapes via firewire DV as well. I already have a 30" Apple Cinema Display.
H.264 will be used to deliver finished content to the web and/or Blu-ray.
I was leaning toward the macbook pro 17" but then I realised that a Mac Mini Server
could be configured with the same number of cores and RAM for less money.
Mac mini Server
2.0 GHz Quad Core Intel i7 -- same number of cores as macbook pro 17"
8 GB RAM
750 GB Serial ATA Drive 7200rpm + 256 GB Solid State Drive
Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter
Apple Magic Mouse + Magic Trackpad
Other Peripherals:
Promise Pegasus 8TB R4 Raid System in RAID 5 configuration or equivalent
Sonnet Echo Express PCIe 2.0 Thunderbolt Expansion Chassis with
Matrox Compress HD MAX encoding card
LaCie d2 Blu-ray 12x
Do the extra cores in the server make up for the difference in GPU?
(2.7 GHz Mini dual-core i7 with AMD Radeon HD 6630M graphics processor with 256MB of GDDR5 memory) VS (2.0 GHz Mini Server quad - core i7 with Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor and 384MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory)
Am I thinking about this configuration the right way? Is there
any overhead given that the mini will be a server? Anything missing?
thanks for your help,
Tom

Take it back for a replacement while you are within 14 days from purchase.

Using a Mac Mini Server as a traditional stand alone desktop

Hello all, currently I have a late 2008 model 17" MacBook pro, Time Capsule, Apple TV and an Iphone 3GS and Ipod Traditional. I would like to add a desktop system to coordinate all of these items, to be the centerpiece is you will, in my home. I'm interested in buying a mac mini, I began to do research however and saw the Mac Mini Server which has greater memory capacity 4GB vs 2GB RAM, and dual 500Gb vs the standard Mac Mini which has one at 320GB. I would like to take advantage of these upgrades as I'm a writer and will be constantly on the web for work as well as likely keep a lot of items on the hard drive.
However I noticed the Mac Mini server utilizes Mac OSX snow leopard SERVER as opposed to the user grade Mac OSX. *My question is if the Mac Mini Server with MAC OSX server can still be used as a stand alone desktop, connecting it to a spare LCD television I have and a mac wireless keyboard/mouse?*
I'm aware that unlike the other mac mini and imacs it does not come with ilife and other pre-installed software, and *I want to know if it's still possible to purchase after market and install said software utilizing them in the traditional manor?*
Thank you in advance for any feedback you can provide and I apologize if my question was difficult to comprehend due to my lack of computer knowledge. I also apologize if this question is similar to others you've received lately as I did a quick scan of google and these forums and did not seem to find the specific answer I was looking for.

Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
Let me clear up a misperception that you have. Both the Mac mini and the Mac mini Server have a capacity to address 8 GB of RAM. There are two SO-DIMM slots in each model. The mac mini comes preconfigured by Apple with 2 GB of RAM (2 x 1 GB). The mini Server comes preconfigured with 4 GB of RAM (2 x 2 GB). You can buy and install yourself up to 8 GB of RAM (2 x 4 GB).
You can even install Mac OS X Snow Leopard client, which will meet your needs a bit better than Server, now that folks have figured out how to do it;
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2539663&tstart=0
And yes you can buy and install iLife, and pretty much everything else that you want to include in your kit. Either model of mini works fine with wireless keyboards and mouses. If your LCD TV has an HDMI port, then a simple HDMI to HDMI cable would be the simplest manner to connect it to the mini.
Dah•veed

Is the mac mini server the same hardware as the other mac minis (except for the quad core i7 and dual hard drives) with different software or is it configured differently?

I have a mac mini with an i7 dual core processor. It is perceptably slower than my macbook pro with a quad core i7. Does the mac mini server have the same hardware configuation as the regular mac mini with server software or is the hardware different (aside from the i7 quad core and dual hard drives)? I want a mini with a quad core i7...

Your assumption is correct. The server does however only
have the Intel HD3000 graphics like the base model with
no option, at this time, for the discrete graphics chip. So,
depending on what you are using it for, that could be a deal
breaker. Remember that your MBP does have a discrete
graphics chip.
I have a 2011 Mini Server connected to a Thunderbolt display
that gets used as an engineering workstation and general
personal use (some photo editing, LP restoraton, general
internet browsing). You simply just not enable any of the
server services. I find the combination to work quite well
for my purposes. I also have a 13" 2.7 GHz i7 Macbook Pro
which is pretty much strictly for work. As far as CPU
power it is pretty much equivelent to your Mini. For the most
part I find the Mini does outperfom my MBP. I heavily use
Parallels and Windows7 virtual machines, so the more cores
the better.
So, If you do a lot of CPU intensive stuff that is multithreaded,
the Server may help. If it is graphics intensive and your software
heavily leaverages the GPU, you may actually take a hit on
performance.

Mac mini server freezed

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for