Mac Server use?

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Level 1

4 points

Mac Server use?

I'm wondering if a Mac server would be a good solution to our situation.

We have a group of about 5-6 people working together once or twice per week that need access to the same files. Most of these use their own personal computers (one of which is non-Mac). We also are needing two office computers that stay on site always.

We have used a cloud accessable HD (My Book Live) which quit working with most of our financial files on it and I need a better solution.

I am wondering if it is possible to have two monitors connected to the server, or does it need to be two complete computers that can access the server? (In other words does the server act as a computer..and can we just connect the monitors to it to use it?)

Can the server be accessed even if we are elsewhere?

I need to understand how this works. I don't want purchase something that is just a glorified hard drive. :-)

What would be the difference between this and a time capsule?

Also, if I already have an Apple router, how would I use this together and how would it affect my internet?

Mac mini with OS X server

Posted on Feb 7, 2013 2:16 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

coocooforcocoapuffs

Level 3

861 points

Feb 7, 2013 8:22 PM in response to Limones

If u are referring to the mac mini server, i think it would work nicely for the situation that you describe. i have two in my office (one will go to a data center in America soon). The server is full fledged: web, ftp, etc. and u can have lots of users connecting from other types of machines. I don't have monitors or keyboards attached to my minis (headless), I just use Apple's remote desktop to connect to them from where ever I am - even if I am away from the LAN it works! They will work with any router and come with two harddrive slots, so the options are there for something much better than time capsule. Highly recommended device, although I have little faith in Apple maintaining the software for them (see discussions on SL vs Lion vs ML server app). Cheers!

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Answer 2

TeenTitan

Level 4

2,640 points

Feb 8, 2013 12:31 AM in response to coocooforcocoapuffs

If you did chose to use a mac mini as your data server; you could attach an external hard drive to the server and use time machine to backup the files on the server. GIving you the ablity to have a backup of the server if it dies AND have some level of historical backup of data.

a mac mini with file sharing means you can have more then one area to drop all the files. That can be useful if you don't want all your staff having access to every thing.

Mac OS Server offers windows and mac file sharing, so pc can connect to the server localy.

Some thing to keep in mind, if the some one is using the 'server' as their computer.. What happens when they need to reboot? How dose that effect other users? What happens if you need to work on the server, but they need to work on some thing else?

To use the mac mini as file server, that other users can access over the internet may require some addional work. If your internet connection isn't static ip , then you need dyDNS, or to upgrade to a static ip internet connection. that way user can conistently reach your internet connection.

If your internet connection has a built in router, then the router has to be configured to allow traffic from the intenret to reach your mac mini server.

If you want to be able to use Some of the feature Mac OS X Server offers over the internet you may find they you need statip ip internet, DNS name registration, and a SSL Cert.

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