A little history first. I have been running a Windows Home Server for about 6 years. Used it to backup all my Windows machines (flawlessly) and we used the shared folders a little, mainly the photos and software shares. About 5 years ago I moved to Apple on a MacBook Pro and now have an iMac. About a year ago, I guess that we got a power strike at the house (not really sure) and it fried my WHS, but none of my other computers hooked through the same UPS. Actually found two my three drives had been fried good, nice arcs all across the circuIt boards. Luckily at had most of the data in other spots, and that which I didn't I hadn't looked at I years anyway, no loss. I rebuilt the server and all was okay. My wife joined the Mac world last year with a new MacBook Pro, and combined two computers that she used onto one. Only one Windows 7 machine left (my gaming machine) besides the server. Well, this weekend the WHS came up with a failure, software it seems.
So I was thinking, do I bother with fixing the server, or do I take a different approach? Right now I have separate backup drives for our Macs, and use Super Duper once a week to make backups. I haven't used Time Machine, not sure how good that works. WHS has a tweak that allows you to use it for Time Machine backups, but I haven't heard of a high success rate for that solution. Since I have a lot of photos in Aperture, and my wife's iPhoto library has about 60k, I need to reevaluate my needs. I was thinking a Mac mini server maybe.
Anybody got some ideas for me?
Thanks.
Maybe a big hard drive off an Airport Extreme as a Time Capsule running Time Machine from your Macs to it?
Bob
Bob
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Bob Rockefeller
Midway, GA
www.bobrockefeller.com
Thanks Bob.
I could do that, but I think that won’t really answer my server question. Hopefully, I’ll get a few more suggestions on how others are working with a server.
Not that long ago I described here how I run a Mini for backup. I actually run 2 Minis. One for media and one for files. The reason for this is secure backup. The media one resides by the TV, the files one is in a fireproof safe in the basement. Both are on a wired network. If security wasn’t a concern for me, obviously we would just use 1 Mini.
The Mac Mini Server is a HUGE amount of computer for a very low price. MacOS Server is getting easier and easier for the average person to setup and is a true server software. If shared calendaring, mail, contacts are of interest to you, then look no further. Comparing it to a NAS is like comparing a Ford to a Mercedes. It’s fast, virtually silent, runs cool and you can plug in any number of ext. drives to increase storage as you desire. Sure, it’s more expensive than a NAS … but not that much more, especially if you’re not in a hurry and can pick one up on the Refurb.
Time Machine is honestly a total no-brainer. It’s so easy to setup and use. You don’t have to even think about it. It just runs away quietly in the background. On a portable it runs over wifi and you just ignore it completely. You can close the lid on a MBPro without even thinking about it and it will just pick up where it left off. Even if something bad happens, it is journaled so won’t get damaged. You won’t even notice it … until you need it and there the beauty and simplicity of the system if unmatched. E.g. if you accidentally delete an email. Open Mail.app/ open Time Machine / search for the email / click Restore. It will then restore just that email and you’re back where you want to be in probably less than 2 minutes.
I don’t use Time Machine for my Aperture backups, because I use Managed libraries, so I use Vaults. I also use ChronoSync for backing up my Archive drives across the network to the Mini in the firesafe. I found it works better than other apps across networks and my archive backups are not suitable for Time Machine, where I want to Mirror my definitive archive drives, as opposed to having an ‘ongoing’ backup like Time Machine.
Both my Minis are old, but are more than adequate for what I want. Easily fast enough and capable of handling anything I can throw at them. Oh yes … and with MacOS you’ve had built-in screen sharing for years, so you can operate them headless as if they had a monitor permanently attached, without having to do anything special. I use Apple Remote Desktop, but the built-in screen-sharing gives you all you need since Lion.
Mark,
What server related features do you need? If its just sharing files, then Time Capsule can do that, too. If you need to run software, such as a web server, then the Time Capsule is out.
Bob
Bob
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Bob Rockefeller
Midway, GA
www.bobrockefeller.com
gfsymon, thanks for the info, I have been looking for a Mac mini (used or refurb) but haven’t had much luck yet. I will take a closer look at those options,
Robert, I don’t really need a web server, I dabbled with it for awhile for fun, but far more time needed than I was willing to give. I have heard some negative things about Time Machine before, but I guess I need to give it a try myself.
Thanks!
Mark,
the only thing to watch for if buying used, is that you don’t buy a G4 based Mini. They are limited to 10/100 ethernet and slower wifi. Other than that, even a 1st generation Intel Mini will do a great job as a backup server.