NevBull

Q: Snow Leopard on Mac Mini Server

Hi All - I have a new 2010 Mac Mini Server and would like to install Snow Leopard (non server version) on it. When I boot from the retail SL DVD on an external USB drive, it boots ok, then I get the error screen and have to hold down the power button to restart.

does anyone have any idea how I can achieve this?

Nev.

Mac Mini Server 2010, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Jun 18, 2010 5:39 AM

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Q: Snow Leopard on Mac Mini Server

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  • by Hotman2009,

    Hotman2009 Hotman2009 Jun 20, 2010 10:32 AM in response to acaurora
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 20, 2010 10:32 AM in response to acaurora
    How are you installing it. Just inserting the disk while booted into OS X server and installing it to the drive?
  • by acaurora,

    acaurora acaurora Jun 20, 2010 10:36 AM in response to Hotman2009
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 20, 2010 10:36 AM in response to Hotman2009
    What I was going to do was install Snow Leopard Server using the recovery disk that came with the server via a USB SuperDrive to install to the second hard drive. Then, while in SLS, copy the necessary .kexts to the first hard drive. Reboot, and see if it works.

    If all else fails, I'm just going to reformat both/reinstall Snow Leopard Server on the main and stick with it until 10.6.5 comes out and then maybe buy Snow Leopard and install it that way.
  • by Macme,

    Macme Macme Jun 20, 2010 10:37 AM in response to NevBull
    Level 2 (160 points)
    Jun 20, 2010 10:37 AM in response to NevBull
    It seems that 2 different issues are being discussed.
    One is how to get SL installed on one of the new mini server's drives, and the other concerns issues once SL is installed.

    However, it appears there is no way to install SL on the new mini server unless you have access an older INTEL mac and a SL OS to migrate off to the mini server to then update with the 10.6.4. Anyone disagree?

    Otherwise just having a 10.6.3 disc won't facilitate an install on the mini server's drive because the computer hardware rejects the ability to complete the install of the OS.

    How stupid is that? I can see if Apple wants to make the hardware not boot a version of the OS that is earlier than the computer build. But why do they need to stop a computer (as a tool) from installing an OS onto a HD? A HD isn't the computer, it's a peripheral.

    If the mini server allowed me to install 10.6.3 on a drive, I could then update that 10.6.3 to 10.6.4 and be on my way. But the corporate cops would rather put me through **** for a week.

    Before I bought the machine I explained I did not want to use it as server but a regular computer. No one at Apple cautioned me that I would get better performance with standard SL over the server OS (as I learned later) and others insured me I could install SL which consequently bought.

    I have 6 Macs and none are INTEL, and I have zero ability to get to a store or a genius bar or repair shop. I don't feel like I should have to wait a 2 weeks for engineering to get back with a solution or for someone to press a run of current mac mini OS disc to supply me with one.
  • by Hotman2009,

    Hotman2009 Hotman2009 Jun 20, 2010 12:52 PM in response to acaurora
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 20, 2010 12:52 PM in response to acaurora
    So i am kind confused. Here is what i did. I installed Server on one HD. I then put the Client CD in and installed it to the other harddrive while in server. When i try to boot the second hard drive it does not show up. I cannot boot into it at all. How are you installing it to the other hard drive and not running into this error. Any help would be great.

    Message was edited by: Hotman2009
  • by dbudde,

    dbudde dbudde Jun 20, 2010 12:54 PM in response to Hotman2009
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Jun 20, 2010 12:54 PM in response to Hotman2009
    You need to get a restore image from somewhere and restore using disk utility. The install disks for OS X SL don't work on the new Mac mini server.
  • by Hotman2009,

    Hotman2009 Hotman2009 Jun 20, 2010 1:00 PM in response to dbudde
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 20, 2010 1:00 PM in response to dbudde
    OK. Thanks. I have a MacBook Pro (Brand New). How can i make this restore image. I am sorry i seem like an idiot, but i have worked on this with different weird ways for a day now. Just been such a pain, i am just so tired of this lol.

    Thanks for the quick response.
  • by dbudde,

    dbudde dbudde Jun 20, 2010 1:11 PM in response to Hotman2009
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Jun 20, 2010 1:11 PM in response to Hotman2009
    Boot from a disk other than the one you want to create a restore image of. Run Disk Utility. Follow the help instructions for "Creating a disk image from a disk". You're gonna need enough space on your boot drive to store the image it creates (it will create one of the entire contents of the disk.
  • by Hotman2009,

    Hotman2009 Hotman2009 Jun 20, 2010 1:39 PM in response to dbudde
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 20, 2010 1:39 PM in response to dbudde
    Thank you so much. Just as a clarification I am making a disk image of my MacBookPro HD. Not a disk image of my OSX install cd. Thanks soo much for your help.
  • by Dah•veed,

    Dah•veed Dah•veed Jun 20, 2010 3:41 PM in response to Hotman2009
    Level 7 (34,815 points)
    Mac App Store
    Jun 20, 2010 3:41 PM in response to Hotman2009
    That may not work. Your MacBook Pro may not have the software that allows Mac OS X to interface with the hardware of the new Mac mini. That is why using retail versions of Snow Leopard are not working, they predate the Mac mini and cannot address its hardware.
  • by Hotman2009,

    Hotman2009 Hotman2009 Jun 20, 2010 4:46 PM in response to Dah•veed
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 20, 2010 4:46 PM in response to Dah•veed
    Well i guess i will see if this works. Here is my process that i am testing. Actually making the restore image as we speak.

    Process:

    1) Connected External HD to MacBookPro
    2) Formated the disk to 1 (GUID) Partition
    3) Used MacBook Pro to install OS X 10.6.3 on the external.
    4) After install complete checked if the External Booted to Mac OS X startup. (It DID)
    5) Did not go through the startup wizard. Placed the correct Kexts in their proper location on external.
    6) Making the new image of the disk. Using Disk Utility
    7) Restore Image to Second Mac Mini HD

    I will post to tell you how it goes. Currently Making the image. Crossing my fingers. Hope this will work.

    -Andrew
  • by Hotman2009,

    Hotman2009 Hotman2009 Jun 20, 2010 5:06 PM in response to Hotman2009
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 20, 2010 5:06 PM in response to Hotman2009
    Success!!!!

    The Mac Mini will boot into OS X 10.6.3. The Lan Driver does not seem to work but its a step in the right direction. I think i need to fix the kext that is why. We will see what i can do. After this i will be making a restore image of this drive. It will make it so much easier next time.

    Thanks to all who helped me get this far.

    Message was edited by: Hotman2009
  • by Dah•veed,

    Dah•veed Dah•veed Jun 20, 2010 5:23 PM in response to Hotman2009
    Level 7 (34,815 points)
    Mac App Store
    Jun 20, 2010 5:23 PM in response to Hotman2009
    Install the 10.6.4 Mac mini Update. It should show up in Software Update. We discuss the kext you need above in various comments.
  • by Hotman2009,

    Hotman2009 Hotman2009 Jun 20, 2010 5:31 PM in response to Dah•veed
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 20, 2010 5:31 PM in response to Dah•veed
    Yea, was going to install that once i got the network working. Right now i cant seem to get it to work. After replacing the /System/Library/Extensions/IONetworkingFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns/nvenet.kext

    when i go to open the network on the computer i get beach ball of death. ONLY OSX Client of course.
    I belive the owner and permissions are correct. Could it be that i need to install 10.6.4 first?
  • by Hotman2009,

    Hotman2009 Hotman2009 Jun 20, 2010 7:02 PM in response to Hotman2009
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 20, 2010 7:02 PM in response to Hotman2009
    Seems like i just cant seem to get those two kext files to take. I am not sure why. Going to try and update with the 10.6.4 Mini update and see if it will work but no ethernet or sdxc yet. Even used disk manger to repair permissions.


    Also, has anyone been able to get these working. If so any help would be great.

    Message was edited by: Hotman2009
  • by Hotman2009,

    Hotman2009 Hotman2009 Jun 20, 2010 7:46 PM in response to Hotman2009
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 20, 2010 7:46 PM in response to Hotman2009
    My mistake. The card reader seems to see SD card if i put it in, but it does not show up in the system profiler. WOW. Accidentally Fixed the Ethernet. This seems to work now.

    Ethernet Kext Needs to be edited like this. (Or this is how it worked for me)
    1) Take a clean 10.6.3 Kext or whatever you have of [IONetworkingFamily.kext].
    2) Open it up (Show Package Contents)
    3) Then Take A Snow Leaopard Server Kext
    4) Open it as well and replace these two files (A: /Contents/PlugIns/AppleBCM5701Ethernet.kext & B:/Contents/PlugIns/nvenet.kext) with the files from the Snow Leopard Kext
    5) Install the Kext (I have been using Kext Utility.)
    6) Restart

    Message was edited by: Hotman2009

    Message was edited by: Hotman2009

    Message was edited by: Hotman2009
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