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.

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After i installed updates for my mac mini server, the web services for the server app wont start, it gives an error massage: "Error Reading Settings"

After i installed updates for my mac mini server, the web services for the server app wont start, it gives an error massage: "Error Reading Settings"
The system logs reads:
Mar 29 22:06:25 server servermgrd[82]: servermgr_web: Error Domain=XSServerFoundationErrorDomain Code=4 "Failed to read settings: Exception:
          undefined method `downcase' for nil:NilClass
          ." UserInfo=0x7fc547901080 {NSLocalizedDescription=Failed to read settings: Exception:
          undefined method `downcase' for nil:NilClass

To check the local network for some of the common configuration problems, launch Terminal.app and issue the following diagnostic command:
sudo changeip -checkhostname
That'll report some local configuration information and then either no errors detected and no changes required, or it'll point to whatever configuration errors or issues it might detect. That doesn't catch everything, but it catches the common errors.
FWIW, 192.168.0.0/24 and 192.168.1.0/24 are poor choices for the local network, as VPNs are based on IP routing and IP routing gets tangled when the same subnet is used on both ends of the VPN. 192.168.0.0/24 and 192.168.1.0/24 are near ubiquitous in home networks and coffee shops.

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

Cannot use my Mac Mini server as Time Machine server

Hello,
May some one can help me...
I try to connect clients to a time Machine server, well it's seems to be a bit difficult, I created user's accounts, computers accounts, group of computers... It works for the update services, but after configuring Time Machine on the server, shared in server admin, in Workgroup manager, file sharing, preference pane, user's services... I can see the volume in time machine preferences, but there is always the same issue, first message is "the disk is not reachable" second "there is a probleme with the network name and password" I tried with different posix, ACLS, with user's password, server admin password, directory admin password... Well I'm a bit tired...
I tried on the server and on a Promise 4To, I can see the shared items folder and the Backups foledr and that the only thing I can do...
Well if some one can help me it will be great for me and for every body arround me...
Thanks,
Nicolas

Hello Peter,
Thanks for your answer.
There must be something wrong in the different steps I follow.
Firts I set Time machine on the server for each user, shoosing the Volume "SmartStor" (a network volume attached on the Mac Mini server) it creates a "Shared items" folder with a "Backups" folder in.
In Server Admin tools I can see in the AFP services the share point /Backups
In Workgroup Manager I set the Time Machine's preferences for the different computers and computers' group with the path afp://myserver.local/Backups/
At least on my client's computer I can shoose the volume "Backups" "on my server".
And it doesn't work... even with all the logins and password, User's, Dir Admin and Server Admin.
With User's and Dir Admin it runs quickly and tells "the volume is not reachable on account of wrong user's name or password"
With Server Admin login and password it runs indefinitly, nothing occurs ...
Is there something to do in terminal ?
Well I tried to find explanations on the web but I found nothing for the moment... The informations are to set a network volume in Terminal in place of the default one...
'Hope to find soon, I can't stand that something runs for every one but not with me...

I'm using a mac mini server 10.6.8--no "internet sharing" option on my SystemsPreferences Sharing panel

There are options for DVD & CD Sharing, REmote Login, Remote Management, Bluetooth Sharing,etc
BUT NO "INTERNET SHARING"
Can anyone help with this I'm trying to resolve a problem to make a website on my server available
on the internet & belive that this might lead to a solution or @ least point me in the right direction.
Thanks for any help
Rcpandy

I have a Mac mini server with Mac osx 10.6.8 installed --- I have a website {UNDER CONSTRUCTION} installed on it with a REGISTERED DOMAIN NAME belizeansworldwide.com -->[DNS service w/GoDaddy] & DSL INTERNET service w/VERIZON --- {My server is the ONLY DEVICE CONNECTED to my VERIZON DSL router/modem}
When I enter my DOMAIN NAME or WAN IP # in my browser(s)--> Chrome OR Safari -- i get my Verizon modem
set-up page-->{this incl the WAN IP# as I expected}----{NORMALLY I WOULD ACCESS MY Actiontec
modem/router via 192.168.1.1} --- While in that webpage there's an option "shared files/folders" & clicking on that option DISPLAYS MY WEBSITE ---> {"PORT FORWARDING DID NOT RESOLVE THAT"}
My next attempt @ a solution was through my Server's SystemPreference>Sharing>Internet Sharing
& this the Original Object of my post ===> "MY SHARING PANEL DOES NOT INCLUDE THE OPTION
FOR 'Internet Sharing' among the others like CD DVD, Remote Login,Remote Management, Bluetooth Sharing, etc.etc ---- Hope this additional info will help to clarify &/or explain my problem
Thanks, & best regards to you & yours

Is the Snow Leopard Mac Mini Server the right solution for my office?

I'm the de facto "sysadmin" for my small office, which usually just means I set up the wireless, configure network printing, troubleshoot little issues with Mail and MS Office products.
Currently, we have 4 employees all on iMacs. We share files through a slapped-together setup, where there is a public folder on our owner's iMac and we all share files there. There are a few problems with this:
- If the owner's computer is off, no-one can get to the shared files.
- The owner's computer has had some strange "permissions" issues so sometimes files in the "Public" shared folder end up being read-only, or "read & write" for "nobody".
- A 5th employee telecommutes on an iMac, and can't access the shared folder or files.
So, we're considering getting a Mac Mini Server to do file storage and sharing, both locally and with telecommuting employees (of which there may be more in the future).
- Is this the best solution to our needs - really just file sharing, no web hosting or anything like that?
- What level of access control / authentication can we do on the Server? For example, could we have a password protected folder on the server to restrict access?
- Would we need to upgrade our standard DSL service if we want to share files on the server with folks not on the local network?
- Am I biting off more than I can chew here, given that my technical knowledge is slim but I am the most computer-literate of anyone in the office, so I will need to trouble-shoot any issues that come up with the server?

For your stated goal, network-attached storage (NAS) or an always-on Mac client would be a simpler solution. Either preferably with RAID, and with provisions and storage for periodic archives.
A Mac OS X Server box is overkill. The Mac client boxes have 10-client sharing.
If you want single-signon and shared directory services and mail and web and various of the other pieces and services that are available within, then you can grow into a Mac OS X Server box.
A server is rather more to manage, regardless of what you choose. You're getting DNS and networking and other core pieces, minimally, and you're also responsible for many of the configuration settings and services and details that a client box receives from a server box. And you're definitely dealing with protections and such across multiple boxes.
For some other perspectives, there are various previous discussions of this posted around the forums. A search that includes NAS should kick over a few of these; this is a typical low-end alternative to running a server.

Using a Mac mini as a target disk for a G4 Powerbook

Hello,
I saw a post that dealt with the above issue but i would like to get a bit more specific. I bought my Powerbook in 2005 and by now it's a bit dated. I use it to run Logic Pro, but also love games... So would it be possible to get a Mac mini Intel Duo 2Ghz, connect it to my Powerbook G4 and run games or other applications on the Mac mini but using the display and controls of my Powerbook? So in a few words, play on the Powerbook but run the game from the Mac mini. It sounds possible, but i am no computer genie! What do you think?
Or should i just spend an extra £200 and a get a Macbook...?
Thanks for your time,
Dimitris
Message was edited by: dimis
Message was edited by: dimis

When you run a computer in Target Disk Mode, the primary unit is what utilizes the processor, and the secondary unit in Target Disk Mode is only serving as the boot volume.
What does this mean?
Let's use two "equal" machines. At least, ones I've worked with. An iMac G3 400MHz and a 12-inch PowerBook G4 1.5GHz.
If you connect your PowerBook in Target Disk Mode to the iMac G3, your iMac will not run faster and things that work with your PowerBook, say, Pages or iWork '05, won't run on your iMac. The primary unit is the iMac and all it is doing is accessing the PowerBook for the startup volume and any files. But it still runs at G3 speed and won't take advantage of the G4 speed since it is not the machine being used. All the iMac is doing is accessing the PowerBook as if it were a bare external drive. (Well, not bare in that sense).
Vice versa, if you were to connect your iMac G3 in Target Disk Mode to your 12-inch PowerBook, things you saw that were slow at 400MHz, will fly at 1.5GHz and in G4 speeds, since the PowerBook is now your primary unit.
To put it in your terms, what you want to do is really use an Intel Mac mini as your primary unit and connect your PowerBook to it in Target Disk Mode so that you will see speed increases there. What you outlined in your post will not be possible.
If you connect an Intel Mac mini in Target Disk Mode to your PowerBook, the G4 processor will be the one being utilized, and in that case, you won't be able to run things like, say, Tiger Woods PGA Tour from EA (Electronic Arts) because while that runs and only runs on Intel-based Macs, with the Mac mini in Target Disk Mode, it will not use the Intel processor.
Vice versa, if you were to connect your PowerBook in Target Disk Mode to your Intel Mac mini, things like OS9 apps in Classic mode wouldn't run on the Mac mini since it's accessing the files on the PowerBook, but the processor being utilized is the Intel one, and Classic is not compatible with Intel-based Macs.
However, Logic Pro, as long as it was the Universal version, would fly on the Mac mini if using your PowerBook in Target Disk Mode.
So, after all that, the best thing to do would be to buy a MacBook, or in an "apples to apples" comparison, the professional equivalent in the MacBook Pro.

Mac mini server mid 2011 lion mouse pointer disappears after sleep

Hi,
I bought a mid 2011 mac mini server (quad core) running OSX Lion (10.7.2), and I use it with the magic trackpad. Sometimes (not every time) when I wake the computer from sleep (I let it sleep via the menu at night), the mouse pointer is not visible. I can use the trackpad, and move the mouse and click, only I cannot see where I click because the mouse pointer is not visible.
The batteries in the trackpad are OK.
When I plug in a USB mouse, I can move and click that too, but the mouse pointer is still invivible.
So it seems to be OSX related
The only thing that seems to help is to restart the system. After reboot the mouse is back as normal. Still this is very annoying as it makes sleep quite useless.
Anyone else suffering from this? Any solutions? Thanks.
Thanks,
Gino

I also have this issue intermittantly but fairly often.
But sometimes the cursor comes back but the screen stays black except where the cursor has moved across, revealing the screen, a bit like using the spraycan tool in MacPaint years ago.
And to top it off I have a problem with sleep making all the open apps try to quit, but one is always unable to, and it seems to lock everthing up until I wake up the mac, and then all the apps that were open do resume, but in the meantime any TV programs that should have recorded (by waking up mac to record) using my Elgato EyeTV have been missed ...

Mac Mini Server auto commands

I use a mac mini server for FTP, the is put to sleep at night when i wake the server i need t
enter the following sudo commands to allow my clients to access
sudo ipfw l
password
sudo ipfw -q flush
i am looking for a solution to automate the entry of these commands on wakeup of the server
also i would like to be able to remotely wake up the server from my iphone or imac
and auto run the sudo commands
any help on how to achieve this would be greatle appreciated

You could simply create a cron task such as those that perform the nightly, weekly, and monthly maintenance tasks.
You could search here, CNet Downloads or MacUpdate, for an existing utility that enables you to perform an action based on a system event such as, Do Something When.

Mac mini server - Can't access Internet

Hello. Using a Mac mini server as the media server for my house. Not really using any of the Snow Leopard Server services though. Wanted the larger hard drive and didn't need an optical drive so this was perfect for me. At any rate, recently noticed that the Mac mini can't access the Internet. It talks to the other Macs and Apple TVs in the house fine but it can't load a web page. I looked at the preferences and everything and can't see anything wrong. Plus, all my other computers get on the web fine. Any ideas? Is there a specific setting I should check? Thanks in advance.

Can you describe your LAN and how it connects to the internet, as well as how the device that acts as your router is configured to interact with the computers on your LAN and how the individual computers are configured to connect to the routing device?
Dah•veed

Mac Mini Server VPN Issues - Driving me insane

Mac Mini Late 2012
Late 2012
Software OS X 10.8.2 (12C2034)
Server Version 2.2(166)
Previous Issues experiencing: Before i rang apple support and spoke with enterprise support i had no luck at all for weeks getting the VPN connected.
After calling support it seemed to have something to do with my useraccount - Guided through the process of creating new dummy account and trying to connect then. Which sssucceeded..!!!
However. Back on my main account and deleting other user accounts im facing great difficulty setting up a VPN for the purpose of a VPN.
The issue now is: Once i get connected to my mac successfully from my iPhone using the VPN server all is good to go.
However. WHen i restart my computer (For testing purposes this was done) When the MacOS boots up again I have to relog into the Server app. Resign into the program, THen try and reconnect my VPN (WHich will be impossible to do if im out of the country). But it doesnt end there. I keep having to reisue a new Shared Password. FOr testing i Used 1234abcd. Got a good connection - Proceeded with restart and then had to change 12345abcd.
So i have tested this well over 50 times. Trying to find a solution.
In summary: Everytime i use the MAC Mini Server, I have to.
1 Auto login.
2 Repopen the Server.app even though i have enabled it to autostart.
3. Log into the server app (Not another networks Server)
4 Change my shared password
5 Try and reconnect and pray it works.
Whats the quick fix for this. Its driving me insain and honestly making this a 1000$ peice of junk. Its hopeless regarding a server. I want it to be completely operational when i leave the country. My server is designed to Shut on and off between down times (Night Times) when i wake up i jsut want to be able to reconnect via a VPN and no issues, be on my way with life. Not having to wory about remote logging into the PC to then reset up the server.
Any help please!

I sometimes get this same message window or a VPN Not Authorized window after rebooting my server. I have the Mac Mini late-2012 base model running OS X Server. When I do, I just try reconnecting and after no more than 3 attempts a connection is made either by my rMBP or my iPhone5.
I leave my server running 24/7 and I rarely get either of the two messages mentioned above.
You shouldn't need to open the Server.app unless you need to manage services. The Server services you configured should start everytime you restart. I have the Server.app icon on my Dock, but I do not launch it automatically. I manually click to launch it when I need to manage the Server, Accounts or Services.

Mac Mini Server Backups

Dear all,
I am using a Mac Mini Server for filesharing, iCal, etc. I want to make sure all data is safe, so I want regular backups. The Mac Mini Server is set up to work on Disk 1 and backup on Disk 2. But in case the server is stolen, crashes or something similar this set up is pretty useless.
Therefor I am investigating different possibilities to back up safely. I have two option I want to investigate further, however I'm not sure what's possible and what not.
1. I have a second Mac Mini Server available. Is it possible to have the primary Mac Mini Server backup on the secondary Mac Mini Server?
2. Is it possible to run backups on an external server? E.g. FTP.
Thanks in advance!
Nick

This is what I would do.
I would repartition the server to use software RAID 0.
What this would do is mirror both hard drives. Lets say one day that one of the hard drives failed, its ok because all you would have to do is put a new hard drive in and you are back online.
This means you will not have to deal with any down time.
For backups you could run Carbon Copy Clone to an external hard drive. This will make an exact clone of your hard drive that you can even boot too!
You can bring this off site for better data protection.

Mac mini Server as a gateway/router

I'd like to make my Mac mini server my main gateway for my office.
I'd like it to perform the following tasks:
- DHCP & NAT for sharing an Internet connection
- a wireless access point so that no AEBS or TC is necessary
- VPN for access to the Daylite server that will be running on it as well as file sharing for remote users
My goal here is to create a single Internet alliance that will prevent me from having to use a separate router and will provide secure remote access to the LAN.
I have a Mac mini server and a USB Ethernet adapter. I connected the USB Ethernet adapter to the WAN which has a static IP. And the built in Ethernet to the gigabit switch for the LAN.
So far, I have two problems:
1) I can't seem to VPN in from remote despite my best efforts of setting this up with the gateway assistant.
2) I have no idea on how I can use the built-in airport card to become a wireless access point for the wireless clients in the office. I chose the airport in the gateway assistant but wireless clients are on a different subnet and can't see the LAN resources.
I'm interested in hearing other ideas and strategies on how to use the mms in this way. Is anyone else doing this? Everyone seems to want to use an AEBS or TC in addition to the mms and maybe I'm missing something but why would you need one?

It wasn't so much the $50 that I was worried about... just the redundancy... having both an OS X Server AND an Airport Extreme (or third-party router) seemed like such a waste if the server could be made to do it all.
So, at this point, I see two options:
1) Put an AEBS on the gigabit switch (LAN) and turn off everything... essentially reducing it down to a wireless access point... and put it in Bridge mode so that wireless clients can see the wired LAN.
2) Use the AEBS as my gateway and DMZ the server... turning off the gateway features (DNS, DHCP, NAT, etc...) on the server. This would remove the need for the USB Ethernet adapter but would I still be able to configure it as a VPN?
Either one seems a shame. I was really hoping for a single-box solution to sell my clients.
The other problem is still happening... for some reason, I can't connect to the VPN... it doesn't even seem to be getting to the authentication part. It simply says, "The Server is not responding". This is strange since other services for which I've forwarded specific ports seem to respond without issue. I assumed that all the neccessary ports would be opened when I turned on the VPN feature... did I miss something?

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.

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 ?

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