Can i get a mac mini to boot by default when plugged in?

Question

Level 1

51 points

Can i get a mac mini to boot by default when plugged in?

I am searching very long for a solution for this:

I want my mac mini to start by plugging in or an external switch even if there was no power failure. (which can be set in the energy saver preferences, box checked))

I found a thread which partly seems to concern this question, but i am not sure, may be some members here with more knowledge than me could help me, i would be very pleased:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2543898?answerId=12111266022#12111266022

there i found the following:

"edited /usr/libexec/upsshutdown to send "shutdown -hu now" in both a normal shutdown or UPS shutdown. the -u simulates a dirty shutdown (see man shutdown) so when the UPS does powercycle it brings the Mac back online." posting by Glenn Gerrad

This seems to me as if i could use this change just to simulate dirty shut down indepenedent of having this APC UPS this thread is about, but i am not sure how to start this change for i am not used to work with the terminal and im afraid of ruining something because i am really unsure about the whole meaning of this thread. May be someone experienced can help me what to do?

Thank you !

(at the moment i am using hibernate, which works but i would prefer restart, because i eperienced some strange things which i could avoid by a clean start up.)

Posted on May 1, 2011 4:54 AM

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Answer 1

May 3, 2011 4:52 AM in response to Alfi

Are u working as admin user?

You can try not shutting down the computer by the Apple menu, instead open Terminal (Applications -> Utilities) an type

shutdown -hu now

and then hitting Return. That should shutdown your mac and restart it if the power cord plugged in back.

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Answer 2

Alfi Author

Level 1

51 points

May 3, 2011 10:16 AM in response to Stress Test

Thank you but it

says :NOT super-user

allthough account is admin

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Answer 3

Alfi Author

Level 1

51 points

May 3, 2011 10:41 AM in response to Alfi

Well, i activated by sudo su > it shut down by -hu now

but after pugging in it did not boot, i had to turn on the switch of the macmini.

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Answer 4

May 4, 2011 2:50 AM in response to Alfi

You shutdown the mac mini by

sudo shutdown -hu now

or

sudo shutdown -u now

and after the display went black you turn off switch? Normally when the power went back it should power on again, WHEN the option is selected in System Preferences.

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Answer 5

Alfi Author

Level 1

51 points

May 4, 2011 5:26 AM in response to Stress Test

i did the following

i entered sudo su

entered the required password

entered: shutdown -hu now

screen went black, i turned off the switch of the plug

turned it on again

nothig happened, (and i had to turn on by the switch of the mini.)

(the option is selected in System Preferences.)

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Answer 6

May 4, 2011 5:35 AM in response to Alfi

Try it with

shutdown -u now

instead.

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Answer 7

Alfi Author

Level 1

51 points

May 4, 2011 2:33 PM in response to Stress Test

shutdown -u now

shutdown: -h, -r, -s, or -k is required

usage: shutdown [-] [-h [-u] [-n] | -r [-n] | -s | -k] time [warning-message ...]

sorry .. this is what happens.. what am i doing wrong?

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Answer 8

May 5, 2011 1:35 AM in response to Alfi

So just -u is wrong. You have to use -uh. Ok tried it with the iMac here:

sudo shutdown -hu now

Entered Password -> the iMac went down. Pulled off the power cord -> waited 20 seconds -> replugged the power cord -> iMac powered on.

Go to Terminal and type:

pmset -g

Hit ENTER and read the output. Is there a line with "autorestart 1"?

AND: When the screen went black you have to take away the power within 5 minutes, otherwise it won't work.

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Answer 9

Alfi Author

Level 1

51 points

May 5, 2011 11:30 AM in response to Stress Test

This is the result:

AC Power -1*

Currently in use:

hibernatemode 0

womp 0

sleep 0

disksleep 0

powerbutton 0

hibernatefile /var/vm/sleepimage

autorestart 1

ttyskeepawake 1

displaysleep 180

yes, autorestart 1 is there!

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Answer 10

Alfi Author

Level 1

51 points

May 5, 2011 11:55 AM in response to Alfi

Thank you!

It worked now! I waited 2 minutes after switching off the plug this time, may be i was too quick the first time!

Now i just would need a button to click to do this automatically. We are very close to convenient solution!

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Answer 11

May 6, 2011 1:54 AM in response to Alfi

1.) Open Automator (Applications) and choose "Application" on startup.

2.) Find "Run AppleScript" in the list on the left side

3.) Drag & Drop that action to the right side

4.) In the text field of the script insert

do shell script "sudo shutdown -hu now" with administrator privileges

5.) Save that application to your hard drive and you can double click it.

6.) When running that application you have to enter your password, and it will shutdown the mac.

7.) You can hard code your password to the program with

do shell script "sudo shutdown -hu now" with administrator privileges password "yourpassword"

But the password isn't encrypted in the Shell Script!

Be aware: double clicking that application will immediately shut down the computer without asking for saving changed files - they'll be lost!

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Answer 12

Alfi Author

Level 1

51 points

May 6, 2011 10:13 AM in response to Stress Test

Thanks a lot for your patient help! It works perfect!

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