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added link to 8GB RAM module
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udance4ever
udance4ever
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Assuming you do indeed have a mid-2010 Mac Mini Server (didn’t see any comments confirming which model you have), it came with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server 10.6 (which you confirmed on the sticker)

If it came with its stock pair of 500GB hard disks, I’d replace the boot drive with a 240GB SSD. It’s fine to leave the other a spinny HDD - it’s been plenty fast for a simple media server. I now use the other 500GB drive to mirror the internal 500GB DATA drive every once in awhile (a 15 year old hard disk running 24/7 won’t spin forever!)

I’d also upgrade the RAM - mine came with two 2GB modules (total 4GB). I’d have to open my machine up but I think I just bought a 8GB modulethis 8GB module and the machine has been running fine on 10GB (2+8GB) for the past 3-4 years (despite the tech specs saying it maxes out at 8GB)

If your goal is to make this machine useful again, you can go one of two routes:

  1. install Linux on the machine
  2. install macOS Catalina and use a patcher (eg. dosdude1)

Both will allow your machine to be a file server for your FLAC files or support a media server (eg. Emby) just fine.

While I went down the macOS route for a few years, I personally don’t recommend this option given how old macOS Catalina is right now as it leaves you open to security risks. I discovered over the last few months, this mini rocks Linux really well and is 10x more secure.

I installed Ubuntu Server 22.04.4 LTS on my mid-2010 mac mini server and use it without a monitor. CasaOS is a web interface you can add that does wonders to provide the same type of “simplified” toggle-switch server interface OS X Server once attempted to provide at a whole new level thanks to advancements in containerization technologies like Docker that was just startingdidn’t start transforming the emerge in 2010world until 2013. Fast forward to today10 more years and you have an Apple-worthy interface (CasaOS) on top of a very robust system (Docker) for managing server components in Linux.

With a bit of tinkering, you’ll have your going on 15 year old machine back up in a jiffy ready to serve files, stream media, be backup server and not be stuck in the closet (or landfill!)

You also get 5 licenses of Ubuntu Pro for personal use to help keep your machine secure with live security patches.

Of course, if you are new to Linux, there will be a bit of a learning curve but I think it’s well worth your time to start learning if you haven’t already.

Have fun when you decide to come back to this project - long live in the mini! 🍎

Assuming you do indeed have a mid-2010 Mac Mini Server (didn’t see any comments confirming which model you have), it came with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server 10.6 (which you confirmed on the sticker)

If it came with its stock pair of 500GB hard disks, I’d replace the boot drive with a 240GB SSD. It’s fine to leave the other a spinny HDD - it’s been plenty fast for a simple media server. I now use the other 500GB drive to mirror the internal 500GB DATA drive every once in awhile (a 15 year old hard disk running 24/7 won’t spin forever!)

I’d also upgrade the RAM - mine came with two 2GB modules (total 4GB). I’d have to open my machine up but I think I just bought a 8GB module and the machine has been running fine on 10GB for the past 3-4 years (despite the tech specs saying it maxes out at 8GB)

If your goal is to make this machine useful again, you can go one of two routes:

  1. install Linux on the machine
  2. install macOS Catalina and use a patcher (eg. dosdude1)

Both will allow your machine to be a file server for your FLAC files or support a media server (eg. Emby) just fine.

While I went down the macOS route for a few years, I personally don’t recommend this option given how old macOS Catalina is right now as it leaves you open to security risks. I discovered over the last few months, this mini rocks Linux really well and is 10x more secure.

I installed Ubuntu Server 22.04.4 LTS on my mid-2010 mac mini server and use it without a monitor. CasaOS is a web interface that does wonders to provide the same type of “simplified” toggle-switch server interface OS X Server once attempted to provide at a whole new level thanks to advancements in containerization technologies like Docker that was just starting the emerge in 2010. Fast forward to today and you have an Apple-worthy interface (CasaOS) on top of a very robust system (Docker) for managing server components in Linux.

With a bit of tinkering, you’ll have your going on 15 year old machine back up in a jiffy ready to serve files, stream media, be backup server and not be stuck in the closet (or landfill!)

You also get 5 licenses of Ubuntu Pro for personal use to help keep your machine secure with live security patches.

Of course, if you are new to Linux, there will be a bit of a learning curve but I think it’s well worth your time to start learning if you haven’t already.

Have fun when you decide to come back to this project - long live in the mini! 🍎

Assuming you do indeed have a mid-2010 Mac Mini Server (didn’t see any comments confirming which model you have), it came with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server 10.6 (which you confirmed on the sticker)

If it came with its stock pair of 500GB hard disks, I’d replace the boot drive with a 240GB SSD. It’s fine to leave the other a spinny HDD - it’s been plenty fast for a simple media server. I now use the other 500GB drive to mirror the internal 500GB DATA drive every once in awhile (a 15 year old hard disk running 24/7 won’t spin forever!)

I’d also upgrade the RAM - mine came with two 2GB modules (total 4GB). I just bought this 8GB module and the machine has been running fine on 10GB (2+8GB) for the past 3-4 years (despite the tech specs saying it maxes out at 8GB)

If your goal is to make this machine useful again, you can go one of two routes:

  1. install Linux on the machine
  2. install macOS Catalina and use a patcher (eg. dosdude1)

Both will allow your machine to be a file server for your FLAC files or support a media server (eg. Emby) just fine.

While I went down the macOS route for a few years, I personally don’t recommend this option given how old macOS Catalina is right now as it leaves you open to security risks. I discovered over the last few months, this mini rocks Linux really well and is 10x more secure.

I installed Ubuntu Server 22.04.4 LTS on my mid-2010 mac mini server and use it without a monitor. CasaOS is a web interface you can add that does wonders to provide the same type of “simplified” toggle-switch server interface OS X Server once attempted to provide at a whole new level thanks to advancements in containerization technologies like Docker that didn’t start transforming the world until 2013. Fast forward 10 more years and you have an Apple-worthy interface (CasaOS) on top of a very robust system (Docker) for managing server components in Linux.

With a bit of tinkering, you’ll have your going on 15 year old machine back up in a jiffy ready to serve files, stream media, be backup server and not be stuck in the closet (or landfill!)

You also get 5 licenses of Ubuntu Pro for personal use to help keep your machine secure with live security patches.

Of course, if you are new to Linux, there will be a bit of a learning curve but I think it’s well worth your time to start learning if you haven’t already.

Have fun when you decide to come back to this project - long live in the mini! 🍎

Source Link
udance4ever
udance4ever
  • 70
  • 7

Assuming you do indeed have a mid-2010 Mac Mini Server (didn’t see any comments confirming which model you have), it came with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server 10.6 (which you confirmed on the sticker)

If it came with its stock pair of 500GB hard disks, I’d replace the boot drive with a 240GB SSD. It’s fine to leave the other a spinny HDD - it’s been plenty fast for a simple media server. I now use the other 500GB drive to mirror the internal 500GB DATA drive every once in awhile (a 15 year old hard disk running 24/7 won’t spin forever!)

I’d also upgrade the RAM - mine came with two 2GB modules (total 4GB). I’d have to open my machine up but I think I just bought a 8GB module and the machine has been running fine on 10GB for the past 3-4 years (despite the tech specs saying it maxes out at 8GB)

If your goal is to make this machine useful again, you can go one of two routes:

  1. install Linux on the machine
  2. install macOS Catalina and use a patcher (eg. dosdude1)

Both will allow your machine to be a file server for your FLAC files or support a media server (eg. Emby) just fine.

While I went down the macOS route for a few years, I personally don’t recommend this option given how old macOS Catalina is right now as it leaves you open to security risks. I discovered over the last few months, this mini rocks Linux really well and is 10x more secure.

I installed Ubuntu Server 22.04.4 LTS on my mid-2010 mac mini server and use it without a monitor. CasaOS is a web interface that does wonders to provide the same type of “simplified” toggle-switch server interface OS X Server once attempted to provide at a whole new level thanks to advancements in containerization technologies like Docker that was just starting the emerge in 2010. Fast forward to today and you have an Apple-worthy interface (CasaOS) on top of a very robust system (Docker) for managing server components in Linux.

With a bit of tinkering, you’ll have your going on 15 year old machine back up in a jiffy ready to serve files, stream media, be backup server and not be stuck in the closet (or landfill!)

You also get 5 licenses of Ubuntu Pro for personal use to help keep your machine secure with live security patches.

Of course, if you are new to Linux, there will be a bit of a learning curve but I think it’s well worth your time to start learning if you haven’t already.

Have fun when you decide to come back to this project - long live in the mini! 🍎