Mac Mini Server running os X lion general help

hi
just wondered if anyone else was struggling to work out how to set up an os x mac mini server with lion server on it - with no obvious help system, manual etc. Can someone point me at any resources that might help as to be honest I am struggling with this. Many features on how you administer this have changed from the previous version (snow leopard) - and all the books are no use as they all refer to this.

well to be honest I wanted a server to run more aspects of what I do privately (rather tahn at work) rather than use hosted accounts from disparate hosted providers on line. In partcular wanted a mail server to handle multiple mail domains, wiki server, web sever as per mail server and I was interested in what they would provide for iphone ipad etc as I have a few that I wanted to link to a server rather than individual macs and pcs
I also thought that Apple might bring their abilities to creating a great UI for essentially linux operating systems to a server os.
from initial views though it might have been easier (cheaper) to go to ubuntu and just their server version of linux. Anyway I will persist - I will read through the stuff you guys have linked me to - colinsolutions appears to have aimed me at some useful stuff. Looks like a bigger "project" than i imagined - but I havent looked at UNIX since 1986 so if I have to get into the command line it wont kill me I am sure.
thanks for the input - if anyone else can suggets good resources that would be appreciated.
ps simon - i found that the name for the server with the .local extension is visibile from the mac via finder and allows me to connect to the shared folder. so my server is sdhome - the shared resource is sdhome.local ... not sure if this helps but...

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2011 Mac Mini Server Running OS X Lion

I've had two new mac mini servers crash out fatally on me within the last week. Discs illustrating SMART verification but permissions being scrambled and unrecoverable using disk utilities on the recovery partition. Servers were able to sustain limited stability but crashed repeatedly on screen sharing (with Lion based macbookpro and macpro). Has anyone else encountered similar issues or have I just had two from a 'dud batch'.

Any updates on this?
I had a mini that turned out to have a bad logic board that was a BTO unit assembled the week of 20 July 2011. I wonder if the China plant had a QC or process control problem in that time frame.

USB Ethernet Adapter Stopped Working On Mac Mini Server Running 10.6.6

Is anybody out there successfully using the Apple USB Ethernet adapter on a Mac Mini Server running 10.6.6? They have stopped working for me.
The boot disk in the 2009 Mac Mini Server in my classroom failed and after Apple replaced the disk and I reinstalled SLS and ran Software Update to bring the machine up to 10.6.6 the USB Ethernet adapter that was the interface to the outside world no longer recognized when a cable was plugged in. The cable was good and worked just fine if plugged into another machine or the built-in interface. At first I thought that the USB Interface had failed but after trying two new ones (graciously exchanged by Apple) and finding that none of them worked I'm coming to the conclusion that perhaps the warning on the package that the USB Ethernet only works with the MacBook Air finally became true.

Douglas Urner wrote:
Is anybody out there successfully using the Apple USB Ethernet adapter on a Mac Mini Server running 10.6.6? They have stopped working for me.
The boot disk in the 2009 Mac Mini Server in my classroom failed and after Apple replaced the disk and I reinstalled SLS and ran Software Update to bring the machine up to 10.6.6 the USB Ethernet adapter that was the interface to the outside world no longer recognized when a cable was plugged in. The cable was good and worked just fine if plugged into another machine or the built-in interface. At first I thought that the USB Interface had failed but after trying two new ones (graciously exchanged by Apple) and finding that none of them worked I'm coming to the conclusion that perhaps the warning on the package that the USB Ethernet only works with the MacBook Air finally became true.
Only the specific build of Mac OS X that comes with a MacBook Air includes the kernel extension to run the Apple USB Ethernet adapter, however there are no hardware issues preventing it being used on other Mac models if you have a suitable driver.
Generic USB drivers can be downloaded for free from http://www.sustworks.com/site/newsusbethernet.html and this worked for me.

I recently (4 days ago) bought a Mac mini server with 10.7 lion; will I qualify for a free upgrade to Mountain Lion Server?

How has Apple honoured buyers of other releases of OS X immediately before a new version was announced?

omnomnomz wrote:
How has Apple honoured buyers of other releases of OS X immediately before a new version was announced?
I recently (4 days ago) bought a Mac mini server with 10.7 lion; will I qualify for a free upgrade to Mountain Lion Server?
Mtn Lion not due out until the Summer, so no, you will not get a free upgrade.

Mac Mini Server Database Set-up - Configure & Implement Help

I have a database developer who is fluent in PC languages but not fluent with Macs who need serious help setting up my new database solution using my new Mac Mini Server running Lion 10.7.2. They are lacking the Mac knowledge - but are working on building my database / website solution - to be implementated on the Mac Mini Server.
Quickly...Here's what we are building. I own an Event Photography business specializing in Youth Sports. I bring all the Mac system Computers, (MacBook Pro's, 8 iPad 2's, AirPort Extreme, Mac Mini Server). *Important Note* - we will not ever have internet connection. We will offer photos taken directly at the Event...to View & Order via our wireless iPads (used simply for viewing photos). Customers are "viewing" photos from the iPads - accessing photos from our (off-line) website / database Hosted locally on our Mac Mini Server. All our Mac Computers are "wired" / connected / to the AirPort Extreme and "shared" on a local net (again with No-internet access).
Is there anyone out there who can help them by phone / internet / shared screen etc. to HELP SET UP THE MAC MINI SERVER - to make the database work? They need help with PHP, My SQL, Apachee set-up & configure questions.
This all sounds very complex to a Non-Database guy...but probably a simple check-list walk-thru helpful guide - for someone who's more knowledgeable with working with the Mac Mini Server.
Thanks....Anyone??

well to be honest I wanted a server to run more aspects of what I do privately (rather tahn at work) rather than use hosted accounts from disparate hosted providers on line. In partcular wanted a mail server to handle multiple mail domains, wiki server, web sever as per mail server and I was interested in what they would provide for iphone ipad etc as I have a few that I wanted to link to a server rather than individual macs and pcs
I also thought that Apple might bring their abilities to creating a great UI for essentially linux operating systems to a server os.
from initial views though it might have been easier (cheaper) to go to ubuntu and just their server version of linux. Anyway I will persist - I will read through the stuff you guys have linked me to - colinsolutions appears to have aimed me at some useful stuff. Looks like a bigger "project" than i imagined - but I havent looked at UNIX since 1986 so if I have to get into the command line it wont kill me I am sure.
thanks for the input - if anyone else can suggets good resources that would be appreciated.
ps simon - i found that the name for the server with the .local extension is visibile from the mac via finder and allows me to connect to the shared folder. so my server is sdhome - the shared resource is sdhome.local ... not sure if this helps but...

Can the Late 2012 Mac Mini Server run on Lion, instead of Mountain Lion?

Since I plan to use this (USB 2) device http://plugable.com/products/UGA-2K-A
on a (yet to be ordered) Late 2012 Mac Mini Server, I am wondering:
could that box run on Lion, instead of Mountain Lion ? (the usb 2 device has some M.L. issues still)
I would not really need the server-part (only want the box because of the 2 disk drives), maybe that influences things.
Would there be any possibility to order it from Apple with Lion instead of Mountain Lion pre-installed ?
Could the latest hardware in the box not-function under Lion, thereby necessitating Mountain Lion ?
Thanks to all for thinking with me!
Best,
Arie

It's simple: you cannot use a version of OS X older than the version that the Mac shipped with. At the very least, this is because the hardware may not be supported.

Mac Mini Server to OS X Lion

All,
I am trying to get my head around the steps that I would need to do in order to upgrade my Mac Mini server that is currently running OS X 10.6 to OS X 10.7 Lion. I have already purchased the $29.99 Lion upgrade for our other machines in the house.
Do I have to install Lion on the Mac Mini server and then spend $49.99 to upgrade the server tools? Will the existing server tools (that came with the old OS X 10.6 server) still work with Lion? Just trying to decide if spending another $50.00 to upgrade the server is worth it. I also worry about breaking things during the Lion install. I expected that there would be a all-in-one pack to install that would take you from 10.6 server to 10.7 server.
Thanks in advance for any info people can offer.
Matt

Upgrading to Lion Server is a two step process in that the server part is a separate purchase and install. My understanding is that during the upgrade of SL Server, you run the Lion installer, then you'll be prompted for to purchase and download the Server add-on, if the installer does not already find it in your Applications folder. I'm not sure, but I don't believe you can use the old Server Tools on Lion. And I don't think you can "only" upgrade a SL Server to Lion without the Server add-on.
...I also worry about breaking things during the Lion install....
As always, backup, backup, backup. Clone your existing SL installation to a separate hard drive. That way if something does go wrong, it's relatively painless to restore the cloned image. Without a clone, "fixing" a bad upgrade can be quite painful, if not impossible. (If you're going to rely on a Time Machine backup instead, then don't enable Time Machine in Lion until you're sure everything's working. Or disconnect the Time Machine Drive. That way you can ensure that you have a Snow Leopard only Time Machine backup, which you can restore with your original disks that came with the Mac.)

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!

Is there a difference between the Mac Mini Server and installing the Lion Server on an iMac?

So, I was wondering what the difference is between installing the Lion Server on an iMac as opposed to buying the Mac Mini Server because the iMac may be a cheaper solution for me since I intend to purchase a new monitor, keyboard, mouse and accessories if i purchase the Mac Mini Server.

If you intend to leave the server running all the time a Mac mini server would probably make more sense. It isn't necessary to keep a monitor, mouse and keyboard connected to the server as you can use the server management tools, remote desktop and SSH via the terminal window on your iMac to manage the server remotely once it's up and running.

Setup VPN on Mac Mini Server running OSX through a BT Hub Router

Hello everyone,
I know this question has been posted several times and I have looked at the suggested solutions, trying each of them. I think this is really down to my lack of knowledge hence hoping someone out there could point me to the right direction for more resources / information, please.
I am trying to setup a Mac Mini Server with VPN access. My server sits behind a BT Hub router. These are the steps that I have been through:
1. I am using the server app and after registering a free account with no-ip, I got myself a host name <myname>.ddns.net.
2. Then I setup the server using a domain name
3. I configured the DNS by first setting up a primary zone - zone: ddns.net. Then added machine record host name: <myname> pointing to my server which I have configured my router to assign a static ip address to it at 192.168.x.x
4. Then, I configured the VPN setting up for L2TP and PPTP, setup the shared secret, change the ip address range to match that of the DHCP range on my router. My router by default has a DHCP range between 64 - 253.
5. Then, I also configured my router to port forward 500, 1701, 1723, and 4500 to my server at 192.168.x.x (I selected both TCP and UDP).
6. Finally, setup a user account with account name test and password abcd12345
7. Gone on my "client" machine which is basically my Samsung S4 handphone, selected VPN -> PPTP -> server address: <myname>.ddns.net -> entered account name test and password abcd12345.
This didn't work.
Then, I read some post about manually configure DHCP on the server app. Went on the server app, turned on DHCP and setup a network named TestDHCP. Assigned ip address range between that of the default DHCP range on my BT Hub router.
This does not work either.
Could someone please kindly help me with it? I am completely lost.
Thank you in advance.

To run a public VPN server behind an NAT gateway, you need to do the following:
1. Give the gateway either a static external address or a dynamic DNS name. The latter must be a DNS record on a public DNS registrar, not on the server itself. Also in the latter case, you must run a background process to keep the DNS record up to date when your IP address changes.
2. Give the VPN server a static address on the local network, and a hostname that is not in the top-level domain "local" (which is reserved for Bonjour.)
3. Forward external UDP ports 500, 1701, and 4500 (for L2TP) and TCP port 1723 (for PPTP) to the corresponding ports on the VPN server.
If your router is an Apple device, select the Network tab in AirPort Utility and click Network Options. In the sheet that opens, check the box marked
Allow incoming IPSec authentication
if it's not already checked, and save the change.
With a third-party router, there may be a similar setting.
4. Configure any firewall in use to pass this traffic.
5. Each client must have an address on a netblock that doesn't overlap the one assigned by the VPN endpoint. For example, if the endpoint assigns addresses in the 10.0.0.0/24 range, and the client has an address on a local network in the 10.0.1.0/24 range, that's OK, but if the local network is 10.0.1.0/16, there will be a conflict. To lessen the chance of such conflicts, it's best to assign addresses in a random sub-block of 10.0.0.0./0 with a 24-bit netmask.
6. "Back to My Mac" is incompatible with the VPN service. It must be disabled both on the server and on an AirPort router, if applicable.
If the server is directly connected to the Internet, see this blog post.

Creating NetRestore Image of OS X Yosemite (10.10) from Mac Mini Server Running Mavericks (10.9)

Hello all,
We are attempting to create a NetRestore image of a Macbook Pro running Yosemite (10.10) from a Mavericks (10.9) Mac Mini running OS X Server. Previously we connected a Macbook Pro in target mode to our Mac Mini (both running Mavericks) using System Image Utility to create a NetRestore SP0 from which we could deploy to all of the computers in our lab running Mavericks. We did this as a method to update the applications on each iMac locally from the hosted NetRestore image we created. We are now receiving several new iMacs and Mac Pros running Yosemite (10.10) native and we wish to use the same process to update these machines from our Mac Mini (Mavericks) running OS X Server.
We are now trying create a NetRestore image from a native Yosemite Macbook Pro using System Image Utility on our Mac Mini (running Mavericks) however when the Yosemite Macbook Pro is connected in target mode, System Image Utility does not recognize the volume although it is recognized by our Mac mini (e.g., the yellow-orange image icon is displayed on the Mac Mini's desktop). Some of our lab computers are still running Mavericks, and my understanding is that Mavericks NetRestore Images cannot be created from a Mac Mini with OS X Server running Yosemite.
Must we upgrade our Mac mini from Mavericks to Yosemite for System Image Utility to recognize our Yosemite Macbook Pro (connected in target mode) in order to create a Yosemite NetRestore Image?
Note: We know there are better alternatives (e.g., Munki) to deploy updates to our machines via server and are working to establish a more convenient process, but this is the method we have been comfortable using before running into the above issue.
Thanks all!

You could use DeployStudio to 'serve' both Yosemite and Mavericks images from your Mac mini which can still run Mavericks. You would also use DeployStudio to make an image of the MacBook once it has been loaded and then this image can be restored to multiple machines.
See http://www.deploystudio.com

Upgrade to Server 10.8 for Mac Mini Server running Server 10.7.5?

Hi—I am seeing references to OS X Server 10.8 yet my Mac Mini Server (mid-2011, machine identifier "Macmini5,3") is holding firm with OS X Server version 10.7.5.
There are no pending updates for this machine either through OS X (software updates) or through the App Store.
Will this machine eventually go to 10.8 through routine updates, or is this something I have to buy?
Searching the App Store for "OS X Server" returns the Server utilities. One of the main headings under it is "What's new in Version 2.2.1".
Should I sit tight, or jump into the forced upgrade fray?
Thanks for any thoughts! —michael

Thanks John.
Are you saying that to move to the next "level" (10.8.n) that indeed the "Server.app" is what I need to do?
Seems awfully dicey. Why isn't Apple pushing me something called "OS X Server 10.8 Upgrade"?
I have to first "buy and upgrade to Mountain Lion i.e. 10.8"?
"The upgrade from 10.7.5 to 10.8 is not free".
Money is not an object here. Again, the PATH TO UPGRADE isn't being provided through any internal systems (a.k.a. Finder/../Software Update).
This is a huge mis-step for Apple.
Sure "Mavericks" is soon due. And I'll bet that the path to (seamlessly) move from 10.7.5 is even more obscure.
—michael

Mac Mini - Server running Lion - Network related issues

I have a mac mini running Lion. I am having a few issues that did not exist prior to an upgrade. But for the life of me, I can't figure it out.
The problems I'm having are as follows:
1. screen sharing times out. It works, then stops after a while. If I go in and uncheck, then recheck remote management, it'll work again, but only for a while.
2. neither the air port or the hardwired ethernet will obtain an ip via DHCP. Works fine once I put in a static, but will never obtain a dynamic address.
3. Homesharing on Itunes will turn off after a while, same as the screen sharing does..
4. Time Capsule is no longer found by the Mac Mini. My macbook pro see it no problem. It also keeps the itunes homeshare and can get DHCP addresses fine, so I know it's not a router issue that is causing the issues on the mac mini.
Thanks
James

well to be honest I wanted a server to run more aspects of what I do privately (rather tahn at work) rather than use hosted accounts from disparate hosted providers on line. In partcular wanted a mail server to handle multiple mail domains, wiki server, web sever as per mail server and I was interested in what they would provide for iphone ipad etc as I have a few that I wanted to link to a server rather than individual macs and pcs
I also thought that Apple might bring their abilities to creating a great UI for essentially linux operating systems to a server os.
from initial views though it might have been easier (cheaper) to go to ubuntu and just their server version of linux. Anyway I will persist - I will read through the stuff you guys have linked me to - colinsolutions appears to have aimed me at some useful stuff. Looks like a bigger "project" than i imagined - but I havent looked at UNIX since 1986 so if I have to get into the command line it wont kill me I am sure.
thanks for the input - if anyone else can suggets good resources that would be appreciated.
ps simon - i found that the name for the server with the .local extension is visibile from the mac via finder and allows me to connect to the shared folder. so my server is sdhome - the shared resource is sdhome.local ... not sure if this helps but...

If I buy a Mac Mini Server, can I remove Lion Server and just keep OS X Lion?

This is because it has much better specs than the regular ones.

Here was my solution to removing the 'server' software and running with standard Lion.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3108472?start=0&tstart=0
I had issue running certain software on the server version and now my machine just runs regular Lion as opposed to Snow Leopard server the issues are gone.
If you have multiple Macs you also only pay for OS X Lion once and not have to spend the extra on the server version.

I have a mac mini server, all clients are lion and need to reinstall OSX10.6b on the server, there is not remote install on lion clients, any work arounds?

The onjly thing I can think of is dual boot one client machine in to OSX10.6, but is there a anther work around?

dmason wrote:
I had this problem as well. I was under the gun on time and just purchased it anyway. After installation I contacted support and they refunded me the amount.
You should have a backup of your servers regardless of circumstances. You would then be able to restore the server software.
When Apple repair machines they will often just swap it or swap the hard disk and will not make any effort to transfer your files. They assume you are doing a backup. Anybody running servers absolutely has a responsibility to ensure they have aduequate backups even more than 'normal' users. While Time Machine may not be wholely suitable for backing up servers Time Machine is so simple even normal users can use it and therefore no longer have any excuse for not doing backups.

Mac Mini Server running os X lion general help

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