Mac Mini server vs. Mac Mini regular

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Level 1

14 points

Mac Mini server vs. Mac Mini regular

Hello!

I consider buying a Mac Mini as server system. I am a bit confused about the optimal system setup. I see the following options:

1.) just use the Mac Mini server with standard 2x500GB.

It's only software RAID. Is it really useful then? And it would mean that the system itself and the data store are on the same RAID set. I am bit divided about this. Doesn't leave much space for storage then (or said differently: it's too small for the data storage anyway).

2.) use one harddisk, one SSD

The SSD could hold the OS, thus speeding it up considerably, I suppose. But most of the server services are hold in memory anyway, aren't they? So would the SSD not only speed up the startup and shutdown, but leave the running phase unmodified? The one harddisk then is too small to hold all storage data anyway, so it doesn't make so much sense.

3.) don't use the Mac Mini server but use a regular Mac Mini

The regular Mac Mini doesn't have the quad core option. Now the question is: how much of a difference does the quad core make compared to a duo core when just 2-5 users are working with the Mac Mini? Plus Parallels virtualization on it?

4.) And this is just a question: The regular Mac Mini obviously can be nicely pimped with a second hard drive as well, which means, I could throw out the one 500GB disk and either build in 2x 1TB disks or even larger ones. Does anyone know, if such larger drives are supported in Mac Mini, or whether they aren't due to temperature constraints? I already found out, which connector cable I need from the Apple spare parts to add a second harddrive to the regular Mac Mini, so the plugging in itself is not the problem, but the making sure it runs smoothly over time in the small space.

Lot's of things to think about ... :-) I'd appreciate any knowledgeable input here!

Regards,

TF

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.7), I am in the "prepare the buy" phase

Posted on Aug 17, 2011 12:05 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 17, 2011 2:37 AM in response to äppel.de

All very good questions. However, the type

of server environment will help to answer

your dilema better. Is it a home office environment,

media server environment, a commercial office

environment? A mix of these?

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Answer 2

äppel.de Author

Level 1

14 points

Aug 17, 2011 3:44 AM in response to woodmeister50

Hi Woodmeister,

it's a small office / home office environment - regular access to the server from 3 people. Applications to be used: Mail server, web server (internally only), file server. What is important is: running Parallels to operate one instance of Windows 7 to enable use of a business software which is only available for Windows (Lexware, here in Germany). Access to that instance via remote desktop connection.

Hope this clarifies the background a bit ...

Regards,

TF

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Answer 3

äppel.de Author

Level 1

14 points

Oct 20, 2011 11:57 AM in response to äppel.de

Hi,

after some time the result: its a MacMini Server now. All in all very nice: silent, powerful, does it's work (mainly running Parallels Server with a needed Windows machine on it).

The only issue I have is the backup topic: I am not really sure how the best backup design is: back it all up onto the second harddrive? could be, but since the whole system already has 300GB, it goes wrong if only one backup fails to write correctly.

Or back it up onto an external harddrive? Should be a big one then .... but i could make it available through the time capsule I think ...

Or: what are you using the second harddrive for? I didn't dare to use software raid - if it only had the option of a hardware raid, it would be just perfect!

Regards,

Olaf

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Answer 4

Oct 21, 2011 4:46 AM in response to äppel.de

Software RAID is better than no RAID at all. For the Mac mini the only hardware RAID option would be to use an external storage device with built-in RAID there are lots of these to choose from.

The regular 2.5 GHz Mac mini on the Apple webstore initially shows only a 2 core i5 option, but if you select it you can then customise it to a 4 core i7 option.

As far as I am aware, the biggest 2.5" drives currently available are still only 1TB. You could use external hard disks and connect them via FireWire, or as mentioned above use an external RAID box which besides hardware RAID would also give you the possibility of bigger storage. For a really high end storage choice you could get the new Promise Thunderbolt RAID system see http://www.promise.com/storage/raid_series.aspx?m=192&region=en-global&rsn1=40&r sn3=47

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Answer 5

Coolmax

Level 2

195 points

Dec 23, 2011 6:39 AM in response to äppel.de

RAID is not backup. Software RAID and hardware RAID are the same thing operation wise. The only difference is that you need your Mac Mini to do the managing and controlling of the RAID array as opposed to the dedicated RAID controller with the hardware option. With 2 drives on your server, you usually have 2 RAID choices -- Stripe (Raid 0) or Mirror (Raid 1). If you set up your Mini with software RAID 1, then what this does is whenever your first drive is being written with data, the second drive is mirrored with the same data. In the event of a boot drive failure, you can still boot from your second drive. You can achieve the same thing somewhat with Carbon Copy Cloner, but it is not as seamless as RAID 1. Raid 0 stripe mode essentially doubles your hard drive throughput, but because the Sandy Bridge Intel Core i series chip is a powerful and efficient CPU, there won't be a huge latency lag associated with previous software RAID setup.

Dual Core vs Quad Core is really dependent on software used. If you use Handbrake a lot which takes advantage of the multi-core of the Quad Core, then Quad will be faster than Dual Core. However, some Mac software are not multi-core aware. In this case, a fast Dual Core with Turbo Boost engaged will be FASTER than a Quad of a slower clock speed in single process type application, but the newer Core i5 can run up to 4 threads, simulating somewhat 4 virtual cores, so really it is application and usage dependent.

I recently purchased a Mac Mini Core i5 2.3Ghz to deal with more HD video work and upgraded it to take a second SSD drive. It is way cheaper than the Apple BTO option, plus I get to choose which fast SSD drive I want in. With a SSD drive installed, the Mini just flies. The Mini did not dissappoint me with iMovie 11 and editing plus finalizing. For the cost to performance and power usage aspect, the Mini with Core i5/i7 option is a viable path.

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Answer 6

Dec 23, 2011 11:14 AM in response to Coolmax

Coolmax,

Do you boot & run your apps off the SSD or do you using as a working disk for your video projects? I would think, since OS and apps can load to RAM, you'd want the instant access to your working files, clips, etc.

Thanks.

Randy

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Answer 7

Coolmax

Level 2

195 points

Dec 23, 2011 1:25 PM in response to Last Chance Rand

Randy,

My SandForce based SSD in the Mac Mini Core i5 is only for boot and apps plus memory page swapping if I run more apps in the background. Mac mini benefits more speed if you install lots of memory (8Gb or 16Gb as I see OWC offered). Other than that, I just use the second internal drive as my clips and project drive plus my FW800 drives. SSD is just not ideal and cost effective for working video files etc since it is a new technology, the constant read and writes to the memory cell imposed a high level of wear and tear to the drive itself. Most SSD drives wear themselves out, though newer technologies like GC (Garbage Collection) and wear levelling techniques help extend drive life, a SSD drive will die sooner than a typical hard drive. What I'm interested when buying the Mac Mini is the Thunderbolt port. I'm so spoiled with my dual RAID 0 array on the Quad PC Vista, which is also equipped with a pair of SandForce SSD RAID 0 as boot and apps drive, I have which I use to process HD clips for motion stabilization, noise reduction etc before sending them to my Mac Mini for further editing. I wouldn't mind having something similar in a RAID 0 /RAID 5 setup attached to a Thunderbolt por for the Mac Minit. But for iMovie11, I just don't need that for the moment, plus I have a Macbook Core 2 Duo that I use for Elgato Turbo H.264HD base to process videos for Youtube and stuff, so files are shared between all machines on our network RAID server.

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