How to install OS X Server on Mac Mini w/o external display?

Question

Andrew N Author

Level 1

93 points

How to install OS X Server on Mac Mini w/o external display?

I have:

Brand new mac mini (Mountain lion still in start-up mode)

OId mac mini

Macbook pro

Network & firewire cable

Time Capsule

Remote desktop

I don't have

An external display

I want to setup the new mac mini as a server, and migrate my data from a time capsule back up of an older mac mini.

How can I do this without an external display? I read that you can just plug the new Mac Mini into the network and remote desktop will see it in set-up mode, but this doesn't work.

Thanks!

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 9:19 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 22, 2013 4:09 AM in response to Andrew N

You are going to have to do at least some initial setup with a real monitor. Once you have got the normal desktop you can then turn on Screen Sharing and thereafter use that to remote control the Mac over the network.

The Mac mini comes with a HDMI port so you could possibly use a TV to do this initial setup.

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Answer 2

Andrew N Author

Level 1

93 points

Mar 22, 2013 10:30 AM in response to John Lockwood

I should have specified that I don't have a keyboard either.

What would be ideal is if I could install OSX server using target disk mode, and then use remote access or screen sharing to configure.

Not possible? Do I need to buy a keyboard just for a first time configuration?

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Answer 3

Mar 22, 2013 11:50 AM in response to Andrew N

If you have no external keyboard (even a Windows USB one would do) then you have no way to boot the new Mac mini in Target Disk Mode.

If you have a keyboard and can boot the Mac mini in Target Disk Mode then you can do the following -

Boot the new Mac mini in Target Disk Mode by holding down the T key
Connect it via either FireWire or Thunderbolt cable to the MacBook Pro
Tell the MacBook Pro to boot from the Mac mini which will act as external hard disk drive
The MacBook Pro screen and keyboard will then be in use but you will be configuring the software on the Mac mini hard disk
You can then turn on Screen Sharing
Shutdown the Mac mini and thereafter do everything via Remote Control

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Answer 4

Andrew N Author

Level 1

93 points

Mar 22, 2013 2:12 PM in response to John Lockwood

Awesome that worked a treat. I found a keyboard, so managed to do it through my other mac. All was very simple after that. Thanks!

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