Are the Mac Mini Servers setup in a Raid configuration?

No, but they can be - Raid0 or Raid1

Out of the box the mini comes without Raid. You have two identical HDs of 500Gb.

I have just set it up as Raid1. You can't do this when you use the startup disk from the mini. And as you don't have a Superdrive ... you need to be creative. You need another Mac with Firewire.

Step 1: Start the Mini in Target Mode. Press the T during start. In a few seconds the firewire logo will appear on your screen.
Step 2: Go to your second Mac. Connect the firewire cable between second Mac and Mini.
Step 3: On the second Mac start the disc utility. The two identical drives on your mini will show. Create a new Raid set (mirrored = Raid 1). Include both drives. Confirm the warning that all data on the mini will be lost.
Step 4: Make sure your second Mac has CD/ DVD sharing option installed. This is tou use the superdrive to install OS X Server on the mini.
Step 5: Shutdown both Macs
Step 6: Start your second Mac in target mode. Make sure the firewire cable is still connected.
Step 7: Start the Mini with the option key pressed.
Step 8: Insert the OS X Server install disc in your second Mac.
Step 9: wait till the drive logo apears om the Mini. Continue the install. Will take about an hour.

Good luck

Coen

You can actually accomplish this without the Firewire connection by simply using the Remote Install Mac OS X application in the Utilities folder

Coen Jeukens wrote:
I have just set it up as Raid1. You can't do this when you use the startup disk from the mini. And as you don't have a Superdrive ... you need to be creative. You need another Mac with Firewire.

I got tired of burning Beta DVDs so I started using an 8GB USB thumb drive. This works equally well to get an installer "DVD" on the optical drive-less Mini Server.

Using Disk Utility on a Mac with a DVD reader, select Restore. Drag the Snow Leopard Install DVD (or a disk image of a developer download) to the source for the restore. Drag the USB drive to the Destination and press Restore. All existing data on the thumb drive will, of course, be lost. When it's finished copying you will have the installer on a bootable USB flash drive.

Insert the USB thumb drive into a USB port on the Mini and boot while holding Option. Select the Mac OS X Install DVD (which is really the USB drive) and boot from that. From there you can run disk utility, change RAID config, run Repair Permissions, etc. Just like you were booted from the installer DVD.

Another plus is it's a LOT faster than installing from an optical drive, especially a remote one.

Related question. Does Mac Mini Server come with Remote Disc like the Macbook Air. If I want to install software on it, can use this feature?

Yes We Can 🙂

Coen, Kent, CJLinst:

Thank you all. I'm considering a Mini Server and you've answered my only significant question (i.e. can I set up the disks as a RAID1 array?)!

In the old days I would've been able to give you points for that, but as it is my thanks will have to suffice. 🙂