Apple Mac Mini
How-to
Links
| • | Apple Computer |
| • | Introduction to the Mac Mini Developer Note |
![[Debian]](images/debian-logo.jpg){kind=logo}
Introduction
![[Linux]](images/linux-on-mini.jpg)
I run my own Linux server at home 24/7.
I use it to receive/send e-mail,
do a little web serving,
and
serve music
to my home stereo.
I've always used Mac hardware for my servers
since I use Macs running
Mac OS X
for my desktop
and, whenever I upgrade my desktop Mac,
the old Mac becomes my new server.
However, PowerMacs are sort of big and their fans make noise.
When the Mac Mini
was introduced, I ran out and got one to be my new Linux server.
One of the first questions you might ask is,
"Why run Linux on a Mac instead of Mac OS X?"
Because:
- Linux runs quite happily in the default 256 MB memory of a Mini; Mac OS X really needs at least 512 MB.
- One never knows exactly what Mac OS X's Software Update is going to do, specifically what configuration files or directories it will modify. (In the past, it's messed with symlinks I've put into /usr/local.) In contrast, when I do an update under Linux, I know exactly what's going to happen. Also, I get to install (or not), run (or not), and upgrade (or not) whatever versions of whatever software I want when I want and not whatever and whenever Apple decides to release a new software update.
- The thing that makes Mac OS X nice is the GUI. Since the Mini is being used as a "headless" server, the GUI is irrelevant.
