Networking 2 Mac mini's together

I have a wireless router in the front of my house in my home office. I want to buy (2) Mac Mini's to put in the bedrooms (connected to the TV's) of the house. When I turn the MINI's on, will they not only find the current wireless network to share internet access, but will they also be able to access files on each other so if I am working on one in one room, I can acess files on the other in a different area of the house? Will I need an wireless network extender or will they daisy chain each other to keep the signal going from the point of origin on the front of the house?
Lee
[email protected]
MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.6) Mac Mini

We love the Airport Extreme and Airport Express routers we added at home. They have changed the way we work.
Of course, this next thought goes against the idea of a totally "wireless" network, but if at all possible, you should use RJ45, category 5e or 6 Ethernet cable to connect your wireless routers to one another and then back to your cable or DSL modem. This will create the most reliable network 'backbone' that will be faster than an all-wireless network. Then, reserve the wireless connnections for those portions of your network that you just can't run wires to -- between a distant computer in the middle of a room and an AEX router for instance.
You sometimes can run Ethernet cables through the attic or basement and down or wall or up through a floor. You also can almost always run Ethernet around the perimeter of a room by pulling up the carpet edges, carefully tucking the cable under the baseboard, and retuck the carpet onto the tack strips. Just be careful and don't puncture the cable with the carpet tacks or bend it sharp angles and break the wires inside. Occasionally, you may have to get a carpet guy out to restretch and retack the carpet afterwards, but it is a small expense compared to the time you might end up spending troublehsooting wireless problems or battling slower connections.
We started out with a wired network, and then added a wireless portion. After a year, we re-configured the network so that all the hubs and WiFi routers are hardwired together. Our two routers are linked through 8-port, 10/100 Ethernet Hubs in each room, which provide extra ports to connect wired printers and other networkable devices. These days, it's probably best to spend a few extra dollars for 10/100/1000 (Gigabit) "smart" switches instead of dumb hubs, because these will better manage traffic when faster, 802.11n Airport products and iTunes Store movies become ubiquitous on home networks in the next year or so. One of the routers (the Airport Extreme) is used to distribute IP addresses from the cable modem, the other (the Express) is just a local area network access point that also is connected to the stereo system to allow the computers to do double duty as music players in a good sound system, replacing an old CD component player.

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Small fast network with Mac mini server and Promise Pegasus?

I have 7 Mac Pros and iMacs that need to be connected to the same storage. I'm doing non MPI-based numerical modeling so the transfer rates have to be fast but not infiniband fast. I'm considering a setup with a Promise Pegasus thunderbolt RAID connected to a Mac Mini running Lion server for Access controll/Roaming homer directories. The Mac Pros and iMacs would the be connected via 1Gb ethernet.
My question is where the bottlenecks in this setup would be. The server software/hardware? The network? What else am I forgetting

I assume you're looking at Mac mini because you've already run the numbers on Mac Pro and ruled it out. I wonder how many buyers are opting for Mac mini solely for those Promise Thunderbolt arrays.
I also assume that each of your users is currently using a single gigabit Ethernet port to connect to the LAN.
If these assumptions are accurate, then I think that a Mac mini will work as long as you and your users have appropriate expectations. The win from putting this server in place won't be networked storage that outperforms an internal SATA drive, although in bursts it probably can. The solution you've described is smart because it's centralized, securable and adds a layer of data protection (RAID).
You asked about bottlenecks. I can think of three, two of which you can work around now or in the near future. The first is Mac mini's slow internal hard drive(s). You'll have a solution in hand: Boot Mac mini from the array. Some consider that to be a controversial choice, but you shouldn't spend extra for the Mac mini server with dual 7200 RPM drives. The less costly Core i7 configure-to-order upgrade will give you a bigger boost.
Booting from the array also protects you from the most likely "repair" scenario for Mac mini: Swapping out your entire machine.
The second issue is Mac mini's lack of an expansion bus. If you get more users or start using apps that demand more from the LAN, you might want to fire up additional gigabit Ethernet ports. Mac mini has just one. At present, the only way to add a gigabit port is with a Thunderbolt PCIe bus expander. Early next year, there should be more options that connect directly or via an intermediate bus like ExpressCard/34 or USB 3.0.
The one limitation you're powerless to work around is RAM. Mac mini tops out at 8 GB. That meets requirements, but it will be tight if you try to use Mac mini as a client and a server. I deploy them headless so no one's tempted to use the console.
You can improve your odds that gigabit will cut it by using heavy, short Cat6 cables and a switch dedicated to the Mac LAN. Use Mac mini's built-in Wi-Fi to keep Remote Desktop and other low-priority traffic off the wire.
Whatever solution you choose, I wish you the best of luck.

Slow network on mac mini

Hi All
I ma running the late 2012 mac mini on 10.8.5. Both the wifi and cat5 connected network is very slow when transfering files compared with other machines here on site. I have been trying to transfer films over to a nas box and it's taking 40 mins to copy a film that the other machines here are doing in 18 mins.
I tried both wireless and hard wired, new cat 5 cable, different ports on the switch so the only conclusion I can come to is that it's the mac mini
Can anyone shed any light on this for me.
Thanks
Glenn

Hi Glenn,
Open Network Utility>Info tab, choose those interfaces & Link Speed, errors & such.
See also if Time Machine or Spotlight is tying up the Mini.
Open Console in Applications>Utilities & see if there are any clues or repeating messages when this happens.
Open Activity Monitor, Show:>All Processes, sort on CPU%, see if anything using too much CPU% when this happens, click on Memory tab, do you have many Pageouts?

Networking 2 mac mini's

if i want to setup a network with 2 mac mini's, what would I need, do I need additional hardware?

Would you give us more information about what you are going to do on this network?
Will the Minis also be connecting to the internet at large?
Will the connection between the Minis be wired or wireless?

Home network with Mac mini, Time Capsule, etc.

Hi,
I would be thankful for any links to instructions or advice on the "best practices" for setting up a home or small business network (DNS, firewall, etc). My primary objective is to learn how all this works, my second objective is to host my own web-site on the mini.
My equipment:
- Mac mini Server (OS X Server 10.6.2)
- iMac (OS X 10.6.2)
- MacBook Pro (OS X 10.6.2)
- TimeCapsule
- A few Windows Vista machines
At the moment I have the TimeCapsule connected via Ethernet cable to the cable modem and acting as the wireless router. If I setup DNS on the mini, should I connect it directly to the cable modem via Ethernet cable instead? Since the TimeCapsule does not have a firewall (or?) I guess the mini fits best as the end-point to the Internet. Will the TimeCapsule continue to act as a Wireless router for all other devices on my soon-to-be private network?
Many thanks in advance.
Thanks,
Per

I'm pretty new at this myself, but here is some of my advice and I'll also pass on some of what I have learned.
If you haven't purchased hardware yet, get the Mac Mini Server. It is a slightly modified Mac Mini that has 10.6 server. It looks like you have this, a good first step. Get Applecare. Apple Care will get you three years of Enterprise level support. The answer to any GUI based server queries are only a phone call away. Applecare for the Mini can be had for $120-150. Enterprise level support is $149 per call. You'll make back your money on the first call. I made my first call the other day and talked to someone for over a an hour. He helped me solve my problem but also gave me good advice. I foresee using my Mini similar to how you will be using yours, so I'll pass on his advice.
Here is a connection diagram as best as I can do in a text world
Internet <--> Cable Router (CR) <-->Time Capsule( TC) <--> Internal Network
The Internal Network would be your Server, other Macs & PC's. The server would have a local static IP address. The other machines would be configured to use DHCP.
TC would be set up to share a public IP address. Its DNS would point to the DNS Server you would set up on your local server.
The Mac server can be setup to handle the DNS information from your local network and then reroute information to your existing DNS chain for information it doesn't know. If you want to resolve the server externally and internally, which is a definite if you want to access the web, server from the outside world, you'll have to do a little more work. Each of these steps can be a project unto themselves.
1/2) Get a static IP. You could do some of these other steps without a static IP, but some of the server setup requires a static IP, especially reverse DNS lookup.
1) Get a Domain name.
2) Get the public DNS configured so the reserve lookup (Public IP Address points to Domain Name) and forward lookup (Domain Name points to public IP address) refer to each other.
3) Set up a "Split DNS". This step was trivial...once I figured out how to do it. You'll have 2 IP Addresses in your Server Zone record, one pointing to the local IP address for the server and the other pointing to the public IP address.
A couple of advantages to this set-up:
1) TC works as a Hardware Firewall. This helps to relieve some of the load on the server, because it doesn't have to waste CPU cycles on Firewall activities.
2) SL Server recognizes the fact that you are using a TC and will be able to configure the TC to open up the ports that it needs open to let in stuff from the outside, like port 80 for web services. For this to work well, you will have to disable the firewall on your CR , but do not fear, the TC will be your Firewall. If you don't/can't disable the Firewall on your CR, you will have to open ports as needed on the CR for outside information to get in.
Hope this helps,
Stephen Magladry

Network render mac and pc together with AE?

hi
I was wondering if it was possible to network render an after effects project sitting on a mac to a pc? and vice versa?
cheers
Angus

If both machines see the shared directory it should be possible. Depending on your setup, it's a bit of a theoretical scenario, though. Especially when working with certain footage types, you may fall victim to the much dreaded Gamma issues, plus you may run into other issues with fonts, layer names and file names...
Mylenium

Mac Mini wont network with my other Macs

Hi all,
I have a 3Com 8port router(HUB)networking my Mac-Mini, 8600, G4 & Dell via DSL modem. After my DSL modem bit the dust I've noticed the computers wont communicate with each even though I can see their icons all on my network. Shouldn't they network even if the DSL modem is out? Or is the DSL modem needed to send out IP addresses to the CPUs in order to communicate? I'd like the CPUs to network instantly without the beach ball swirling for an hour...LOL
Thanks for your help
Web dude

Hi Web dude-
Take a look at this document:Mac OS X: Troubleshooting a cable modem, DSL, or LAN Internet connection. It should be helpful.
You are correct that the router part did assign ip addresses.
You can set up one of your Macs to share an Ethernet connection. See the document Creating a small Ethernet network for more information.
Luck-
-DaddyPaycheck

Why does my mac mini server keep dropping off the network?

I have Verizon FiOS and use its router/wireless to connect all macbooks, macbook pros, etc. connect to each other and the snow leopard server, which runs the printers and time machine for one of the laptops. I'm not using any other heavy duty server apps. I just want the mac mini to stay on the network and do its job. Invariably when I go down stairs to the mac mini and ethernet to the router to share screen, I find some update that needs to be installed, which apparently is why the mac mini has gone on strike. I usually can see the problem when I go to connect to server and see the other macbooks, but not the mac mini. Then after much coaxing, I'm able to get the server back on line for a few days, until the next software update. The server is set to auto restart, but why is it balking at rejoining the network?
mac mini is running snow leopard, as are three of the four macbooks. router is an actiontec model. wireless network is WPA2 and mac mini is ethernet connected to the router.

I've just experienced this problem when using a Marantz SR4001 receiver between my Mac Mini and HD TV. I noticed that the problem didn't happen all the time and I have found a workaround solution.
The problem is not a fault, but seems to be caused by the receiver defaulting the HDMI video properties. It's an old unit so I'm thinking that 720p is a default resolution for the receiver.
I can make the problem happen if the receiver is turned on before the TV. Seems that without an output connection the receiver is telling the mac that it expects 720p.
If I turn on the TV before the receiver, the TV seems to tell the receiver that it is expecting 1080p 25fps and the receiver obliges and the Mac retains those display properties.
So it appears that the video output device dictates the output properties back to the receiver and the receiver in turn back to the Mac. In absence of an output device the receiver defaults to 720p.
Solution: Turn on the TV before the receiver.

Mac Mini 2011 boot camp freezes on loading windows screen.

I bought my mac mini 2011 server, have upgraded it to mountan lion and mountain lion server and wanted to install windows on it. I have microsoft windows 7 professional OEM system builder edition on a dvd, a LG portable super multi blue rewriter, a corded mac keyboard with number pad, a HP mouse, and a hdmi monitor. I have not upgraded any features on the mac, it is original.
I updated all software, well except a printer driver that I don't have the printer of anymore, and ran boot camp. I tried to partition my entire hard drive for it, however that did not work. I then tried to partition half of the first hard drive and that did not work either. I tried unpluging the mouse and keyboard and it still won't work. I bought the copy off of amazon and it appears to be legal. I just always get stuck on the "Windows is loading" screen. The loading bar, a white band across the bottom of the screen, always goes across the whole screen once fast, then makes it's way to the farther left side of the screen and then hangs there indefiniteley.
Any suggestions? more questions about the situation?

Mini mini, there are problems with mini and esp. server version.
What I think others have said: cannot use OS X Server, had to use Mac OS X client
External LG is not supported. Doesn't come with an internal SuperDrive though does it?
The system builder is fine.
Just one story (there are others, I need to collect all the "Mac Mini Tips" together, I can't remember and keep them straight otherwise.
HDMI audio in Windows 7 64 bit
reinstalled the Intel video drivers and audio worked immediately.
My config: 2011 Mac Mini 2.3, Intel 3000HD video
. . upgrade to 8GB ram
Samsung 8000 series LED TV connected with HDMI
Memorex external BluRay writer(USB only power)
After partitioning drive with boot camp and reboot, install Windows 7 with install wizard.
When asked whether to allow automatic updates say 'no', then complete installation and run boot camp tools for Windows.
Because the network driver gets installed prior to the Intel video driver, Windows will install the Windows Update Intel video driver which breaks HDMI audio.
When auto updates are off, the Intel video driver that is correct gets installed last.
HDMI audio works with this driver.
Apple should install the Intel video driver first and it would solve this problem.
I now have full blown 3D BluRay support on the MacMini with TruHD audio, fantastic!
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3408749
- There are other stories where Microsoft Windows will automatically install video drivers (iMac) and cause trouble. Sometimes in an innocuous security patches rolled out monthly Tuesday.

Can I run 4 super drives with my Mac Mini Server

I have Lion Server downloaded to my Mac Mini (set up as a TV server) and would like to be able to access the 4 USB Super Drive ports via other Mac Mini's in other rooms, 2 Apple TV's if possibe through Apple TV software and maybe Macbook Pro via AirPlay. Are these things possible. The Mac Mini Server is the Best Home television distribution network. Cheaper hardware and fast internet connection based on devices. The above is my goal.
My individual questions...
Can I place 4 Super Drives in the 4 USB slots and run them?
What is the most effiecent way to be able to server those drives on ONLY my Apple Network (other Mac Mini and 2 Apple TV's)
Can I access multiple drives at once from different devices on my Apple Network?
Can I restrict access to teen and child users based on the TV Rating displayed on DVD in Super Drive? (ex: iTunes recognizes CD's by times of songs and digital fingerprint when I input my Store bought CD or adds it to the Database if its a new title.)
These would help so much!
Thanks,
Stefan
Have any questions on how to turn your Mac into a home Multimedia System, ask.

no
a dvd drive can never be shared over a network in order to play the dvd drives content
the dvd encryption makes this imposible
you have to rip (which is illegal) each dvd disc to a computer in order to do what you wish to do
and it's not an apple thing it's the case no matter which computer you own

Is it possible to add a second monitor via mac mini with iMac

Hi
is it possible to add a second monitor via mac mini with iMac
or is there another solution?
all i want to know is if i can run a second monitor or link a mac mini for more speed like i heard you can with the G5 Towers.

The iMac will allow you to connect a second monitor but that monitor will show the same thing as the iMac's built-in screen.
You can network a Mac mini and iMac via Ethernet or Firewire.
Software load sharing like Xgrid can allow you to share work between the Macs.

Mac Mini and gaming

I have an iMac G4 (fist generation). It still serves our needs admirably while looking stylish. Some of the new games my son would like to play require a faster CPU and a newer graphics card. Is there some way that I could connect or network a Mac Mini so that the games run on the Mac Mini, but the keyboard and monitor used are the iMac G4?

The Mac Mini will be MUCH better than your first rev. iMac G4. I'm I'm not mistaken, your iMac is 700-800 MHz with a 32MB GeForce2 MX videocard. With a 133MHz system bus. The Mini is 1.25 or 1.42GHz (or if you're lucky and order a 1.42, then 1.5) with a 32MB Radeon 9200. Processor isn't that bad (no G5, but plenty fast), but the videocard, although better than the one in your iMac, may not have the juice to run the more demanding modern games out there. Halo, Unreal Tournament, all the Blizzard games, those will run fine. Just don't expect to run Doom III on it.
My last computer was a 1GHz Aluminum Powerbook G4... 1GHz and 64MB Radeon Mobility 9600, and I was never hurting for speed, except on the really, really intense games. For light gaming, the mini should absolutely rock for how much you'll pay for it.
As for networking the mini like that, sorry, there's no way. You're going to have to find a monitor and swap the keyboard between the computers, or find a monitor and keyboard.
Don't let that deter you from a Mini though. It'll run circles around your iMac in anything you do with it.

Does a Time Capsule enable Mac Mini to go wireless?

Does a Mac Mini no longer need hard wiring to the internet once Time Capsule is installed?

If you configure the Time Capsule to "create a wireless network", the Mac Mini will be able to connect to the Time Capsule using wireless only (or via an Ethernet cable).
Here I am assuming that your Mac Mini has wireless capability.

Confirm iSight with Mac mini (early 2009)?

Can someone please confirm that an iSight (external Firewire 400) camera actually works with their Mac mini (early 2009)? Of course, that will need a Firewire 400 to Firewire 800 adapter.
I can't get mine to work. I've used two different iSight cameras that work on other (older) Mac minis. I've used the cable that comes with the iSights and another Firewire 400 cable.
When I plug it in the iSight makes a noise and the light comes on briefly (for a second or two) and then it goes off. No applications that require a camera (like Photo Booth) see the camera.
I'm worried that this Mac mini may not have enough power to run the iSight, which is probably also an ominous sign for unpowered external Firewire drives.
Thanks for any assistance.
Cheers,
Ashley.

Well, it seems that I have found my sad answer!!! The very same issue. New MAC MINI, Old and nice isight camera, which works perfectly well with my powerbook G4 even now, but not with my new mac mini.
I am sure I have the correct cable (it allowed migration of my entire admin account from my powerbook to my new mac mini), but it still does not work between isight and new mac mini.
Having said this, I certainly remember plugging my isight to my new mac mini using this new adapter cable (800-400mb/sec - orange flat one) and it was working at least i saw my image.
I do not remember which application i used (skype or ichat) but i certainly remember my satisfaction with my new cable. Since then i did not need video conversations, but yesterday i needed one, and i realized that my isight is not recognized by my macmini any more!
I am saying this because it might not be only a power issue, it could be that multiple updates of i sight on my old powerbook passed in block to my new mac mini and this allowed isight working. In contrast, those update are not installable on Leopard operating systems.
I think, since i saw those two devices (isight and new mac mini) working together nicely, i deleted my entire migration account (having found a different way of keeping only absolutely necessary things on my new mac mini). I was thinking about this all day today. Can this be it? drivers issue? the non-installable on Leopard updates that otherwise can be migrated en-block from the old system?
I am sorry to confuse you all, if I did, but what do you think about it please?

Mac Min cannot see PC with either Airport Express on ethernet connections

I am trying to network a Mac Mini, G4 Power Book, a PC laptop and PC desktop so far I can get the Mini to see the G4 and PC laptop but not the PC desktop. I have an Airport express and all but the PC desktop work OK with it. The PC desktop can see the Airport, which I have called MitchBVI, but when I try and connect to it nothing happens. The wireless card in the PC is a Linksys WMP5G. I have not enabled security yet as I wanted to get the whole network operating first.
I have tried linking the Mini to the PC with an Ethernet cable and if I do that the PC can see the Mini but not the other way round.
The fact that the PC laptop and the Mini can see each other suggest to me I have the correct permissions set on the Mini. As the PC desktop can see the Airport Express I assume that the Linksys card is working OK. As the PC desktop can see the Mac when the Ethernet cable is connected it would seem whatever permissions are needed on the desktop are set correctly.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Mitch

Thanks I had found your site and changed the MSHOME and WORKGROUP to a diffferent name MITCH that is how I got it working in part. My Powerbook can see the Mac Mini and so can the PC. The former through a wireless connection the later by ethernet. I can ping the IP address of the PC from the mac mini but cannot make the connection.
For a while on the PC i actually had a wireless connection but could not access the net with it and it dropped out again. Maybe having an ethernet and wireless connection is the problemalthough with the wireless disabled that has not helped.
I had a spare Linksys card and tried replacing it but that did not help. As I said in my first post other PC laptop works fine.
Thanks

Networking 2 Mac mini's together

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