Jackrabbit416

Q: iPhoto Library on MacMini with Lion Server?

Okay everyone -- I know this question has been asked somewhere -- I just haven't seen it answered exactly the way I need.

 

My wife has a beautiful new MacAir with iPhoto 11 and Lion -- and HATES it because she can't keep all of her photos of the kids on it (too much space).  That's downright tragic...hating a MacAir!  She will not carry around an external drive...and I don't blame her.  The good news?  Most of her interaction with iPhoto is at home...leading me to...

 

I'd like to setup a mini with an external drive attached to it to store her main photo library.  I'm also thinking Lion server is likely the way to go (correct me if I'm wrong).

 

Could someone please just lay out the best solution here...with some detailed instructions?  It would keep my wife happy with her Mac...and really...we all win.

 

To recap.  Mac Air, would love to keep the iPhoto library on a local home server...preferably a mini with an external drive attached.  I understand she can only access the photos at home.

 

Thanks to all!

Posted on Mar 12, 2012 5:38 PM

Close

Q: iPhoto Library on MacMini with Lion Server?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 3 of 3
  • by KWilOC,

    KWilOC KWilOC Jun 9, 2015 4:03 PM in response to Jackrabbit416
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 9, 2015 4:03 PM in response to Jackrabbit416

    I helped setup a home iPhoto library for a client a few years ago and I still help them maintain it. I'm also concerned with any chance of data loss on their photo library. Considering the downfalls of potential Photo Library issues when accessing or editing over wifi, this solution worked for us:

     

    • Mac Mini Server (originally Lion, now on Mavericks)
    • Shared iPhoto library on their home wifi network.
    • Client has a MBP, MBA, a couple of iPads and iPhones all signed in to the same AppleID as the mac mini.

     

    Any photos taken from the iPads or iPhone are automatically synced via Photostream to the mac mini and other iDevices. The client never interacts directly with the headless mac mini (doesn't care to). I use Teamviewer remotely and apple remote desktop locally to manage the server.

    The Mac mini server downloads the Photostream, then backs up to Timemachine (USB 1TB drive) and Crashplan (unlimited cloud storage) daily.

     

    The client doesn't edit any photos, so we haven't encountered database corruption in that scenario. But we'd be able to recover the library or individual photos from Time Machine or Crashplan at various restore points, if it ever came to it. I check the Time Machine and CrashPlan backups every few months. I also audit backup settings and perform spot checks and test restores annually.

     

    We've only had to restore files once, and it was related to a failed HDD.

     

    There's never a full-vetted 100% recommended solution to database syncs whenever wifi is involved, but that's not a reason to give up. Keep things backed up in a couple of locations and you shouldn't run into major issues while using wifi.

first Previous Page 3 of 3