Using a Mac Mini for backup options - ℅ OSX Server

[Cassady]

Hello all,

Given we now have two Mac laptops, several iPhones and iPads in the house – plus a 2012 Mac Mini, I've started looking seriously at centralised back-up options.

The wife's laptop was stolen a few weeks ago (signal jammers >> right out of the back seat of her car literally within metres from her, as she walked the 10–odd metres from the car, back to the entrance of a 24-hour Woolies to arrange a pack of wood! ) – and thankfully, she did not lose her iPhone with most of her photos on it.

Whilst I use external HDDs to backup/clone, the wife and daughter are not nearly as studious to do it regularly, without my reminding them.

I started looking at various external options – beginning with the Drobo, which comes highly recommended. But given the ZAR exchange rate at the moment, it's ridiculously expensive – with the Orange store being the cheapest, but still eye-watering [and don't even bother checking the price of the Drobo 4-bay Network connected model!]

The Apple 3TB Time Capsule is even more ridiculous – yes, it includes a router, but you're limited to a max of 3TB – and what happens if that HDD fails?

So I popped up a query over on MacRumors – and it confirmed the possibility of installing OSX Server on the Mini, and plugging a simple HDD enclosure into it, and running the TM backups through it?

I'm looking at something like this from Wootware – will it do the trick? Would it be necessary to purchase/install additional RAID software to manage the multiple disks, or would the Server do the trick for me?

Anyone gone this route that can offer any pointers, first-hand advice, would be welcomed!

 

[bwana]

Interesting question - we've got an ageing Mini that could find a second, or third, lease on life.

Time machine is a non starter for me but something like that would be perfect for the missus and kids laptops.

Then again I could always plug an external drive into my Airport and leave it at that.

I'll follow this thread and see what others suggest.

 

[Cassady]

Interesting question - we've got an ageing Mini that could find a second, or third, lease on life.

Time machine is a non starter for me but something like that would be perfect for the missus and kids laptops.

Then again I could always plug an external drive into my Airport and leave it at that.

I'll follow this thread and see what others suggest.

Cool – hoping something useful pops up, but regardless, will give this a bash in the next few months, and share my experience.
Currently have 16GB RAM in the Mini, and bought the iFix SSD upgrade kit – will pop in a SSD in the next few months when the prices look right, and consider setting up a hybrid drive.

With the OSX Server installed, will then consider playing around with the Software/Update cache feature as well, and look more closely at sharing a music library off it. Might need to fork out for a UPS of sorts, to try to buy some time in load-shedding situations as well, for proper shutdowns etc.

R2k for enclosure (although, could get away for cheaper), plus another R2k for HDDs already sees me up up to R4k, but for at least 4TB of space, all in – as opposed to R4,3k just for the DROBO enclosure.

R200 for OSX Server, another R1k(?) for a UPS, sees 5k +/- all in... Not cheap, but something that will probably be able to last me several years, if not indefinitely, assuming the enclosure holds up... Spending less on the enclosure could also save some money upfront – so looks to be a no-brainer in relation to the Drobo or Time Capsule...

ONLY thing I can think of is that both the latter options, pricey as they are, appear to be very much set-&-forget/plug-n-play setups, which is appealing. Going the alternative route will be cheaper, but I hope it's not going to be something that requires constant tuning/maintaining/TLC... hoping someone who's done it already, can confirm if aftermarket RAID software would be advisable, to minimise the upkeep effort...

 

[creeper]

I bought a Western digital MyCloud 4TB. It allows for timemachine backups and also a function to plug in another hard drive for additional space or additional backup of the NAS. It has a few glitches at the beginning but is working fine currently.

It is a poor man backup solution. But it works.

I forgot to mention. Ensure that you have it plugged into the router and have a good wifi network

 

[Cassady]

I bought a Western digital MyCloud 4TB. It allows for timemachine backups and also a function to plug in another hard drive for additional space or additional backup of the NAS. It has a few glitches at the beginning but is working fine currently.

It is a poor man backup solution. But it works.

Thanks for sharing. Saw those on Takealot, many seem to allow the option of creating your own cloud as well. But can imagine it might be tricky to setup.

Hoping a 'dumb' system (of simple 'point me to 4TB of available space') might be easier for me to manage?

 

[SauRoNZA]

Cloud Storage.

Even if you have a local backup...that can fail and probably will.

So start looking at Onedrive or Copy as a solution or even just paying for iCloud.


Mac Mini is easily converted to a Time Machine backup with the OSX Server upgrade so that is a good option yes, but doesn't solve your iPhone problem really.

****

If you really want to get hardware...buy a Microserver and setup Unraid on it.

http://lime-technology.com/

Start with a 4TB drive and you can expand it as you go along then, as long as you don't add bigger than 4TB that is.

 

[creeper]

Thanks for sharing. Saw those on Takealot, many seem to allow the option of creating your own cloud as well. But can imagine it might be tricky to setup.

Hoping a 'dumb' system (of simple 'point me to 4TB of available space') might be easier for me to manage?

It is really easy to setup. It took me about 5 minutes. The cloud part is quite nice. All it does is allow you to access your files remotely via The Internet on nearly any device. Mine is switched off though.

 

[SauRoNZA]

It is really easy to setup. It took me about 5 minutes. The cloud part is quite nice. All it does is allow you to access your files remotely via The Internet on nearly any device. Mine is switched off though.

So if the device dies you are still buggered.

Not really a cloud then is it?

 

[Cassady]

Cloud Storage.

Even if you have a local backup...that can fail and probably will.

So start looking at Onedrive or Copy as a solution or even just paying for iCloud.


Mac Mini is easily converted to a Time Machine backup with the OSX Server upgrade so that is a good option yes, but doesn't solve your iPhone problem really.

****

If you really want to get hardware...buy a Microserver and setup Unraid on it.

http://lime-technology.com/

Start with a 4TB drive and you can expand it as you go along then, as long as you don't add bigger than 4TB that is.

Cloud would be an option, but not on my ADSL line. My upload speeds are a joke.

I have 50GB available on Copy/Cudadrive, another 20(?) on Box [might be the otherway around], still have an account with that crazy Dot.com dude somewhere. And there's OneDrive as well.

Last week, decided to opt in on the 1TB offer at Flickr.
Backing up my photo albums to the private photoviewer cloud. Been running pretty much non-stop since Wednesday – currently, still have 23,570 photos to go, down from 33,000. It's taken a WEEK to upload 10k photos – about 30% of the total 65GB library. So looking at about a month(??) to get 65GB into the cloud. Granted, thereafter it will be much quicker, but bottom line remains that cloud backup viability is largely dependent on upload speeds, and right now – photosynthesis will give me a run for my money...

So physical options remains the best/only(?) options. Will have a looksie at LimeTech, thanks.

That all being said – having a look around at the more premium products, such as Synology etc., and the Drobo doesn't look that disproportionally expensive anymore... Goodness, a comprehensive backing-up/storage system is not cheap!

 

[Cassady]

So if the device dies you are still buggered.

Not really a cloud then is it?

If I was to go for a "personal" cloud, I'd get this Transporter!

 

[vinodh]

The only issue I had with OS X server on my Mac Mini was performance: it made the Mac Mini run so slowly that I eventually just formatted and got rid of OS X server. You don't have to run OS X server to have Time Machine available on network drives anyway.

 

[Cassady]

The only issue I had with OS X server on my Mac Mini was performance: it made the Mac Mini run so slowly that I eventually just formatted and got rid of OS X server. You don't have to run OS X server to have Time Machine available on network drives anyway.

Hmm. Hoping 16gb RAM, SSD and the i7 2.3 quad-core will be able to fight-off sluggishness??!

But surely the OSX Server would help if I want to backup 3 different machines, to 3 TM locations? Or can that also be done in the absence of the Server?

 

[Noseworthy]

thinking about doing this as well

 

[vinodh]

I had 4GB RAM and a HDD so your extra hardware should help a lot. Time Machine automatically backs up different Macs to the same location without conflict. I had one 3TB drive connected to my Mac Mini and could backup the Mac Mini itself and two MacBook Airs to it. If you accessed the drive in Finder, you will just see separate folders for each Mac. Server is not needed at all.

 

[Cassady]

I had 4GB RAM and a HDD so your extra hardware should help a lot. Time Machine automatically backs up different Macs to the same location without conflict. I had one 3TB drive connected to my Mac Mini and could backup the Mac Mini itself and two MacBook Airs to it. If you accessed the drive in Finder, you will just see separate folders for each Mac. Server is not needed at all.

Good to know, thanks

Given that OSX Server only comes in at 200ZAR, might get it in any event. As mentioned, if it gives hassles, can simply remove it.

 

[vinodh]

Good to know, thanks

Given that OSX Server only comes in at 200ZAR, might get it in any event. As mentioned, if it gives hassles, can simply remove it.

True. OS X server has several other features that you might find quite handy. The caching server for example works quite well once you get it configured.

 

[Cassady]

Can someone please enlighten me regarding how important HDD selection is for this scenario?

Would it be significantly wiser to use WD Green or Red HDDs, as opposed to (7200rpm) Seagate Barracuda's – the latter seeming to be 'traditional' internal HDDs, as opposed to the WDs, that appear to be better suited(?) for NAS/RAID setups?

 

[Cassady]

Ordered the Vantec 4-bay, should have it early in next week. Managed a good deal on WD Red 2tb's, so able to start with 2x2TB - which will get things going nicely.

Will need to figure out how/if possible to 'partition' things, so as to store both TM backups, and media (photos/movies etc) on it.

Will look at a UPS next, to keep the server running during ESKOM hours. Think the Mini only sips power, will need to check things on the enclosure.

 

[vinodh]

Will need to figure out how/if possible to 'partition' things, so as to store both TM backups, and media (photos/movies etc) on it.

Setup Time Machine first and then use the drive normally thereafter for photos/videos etc. Time Machine creates a folders called "backups.backupdb" with subfolders containing backups for each Mac. This means that Time Machine uses the drive as is and does not use any sort of custom structure and won't need to be separated from the rest of the system via partitioning.

Also, you can manually browse the Time Machine backup folders to search for files if you don't like the Time Machine interface.

 

[Cassady]

Setup Time Machine first and then use the drive normally thereafter for photos/videos etc. Time Machine creates a folders called "backups.backupdb" with subfolders containing backups for each Mac. This means that Time Machine uses the drive as is and does not use any sort of custom structure and won't need to be separated from the rest of the system via partitioning.

Also, you can manually browse the Time Machine backup folders to search for files if you don't like the Time Machine interface.

Thanks for the reply. I wasn't sure how the RAID drive would be "seen" by the OS, but from what you say, I gather it's simply treated as any other drive – i.e., one moves/copies XYZ over onto it as you would with any other external, and the RAID software/hardware takes care of the rest.

I'm starting with 2x2TB drives – that I hope to add to within the following month. Will probably(?) mean I'll have to go with RAID1 initially, and after I add drive 3, then I will need to start over again with RAID5. That's a bit of PITA, but don't really see how I can avoid it...

Again, from what I gather, once I'm in RAID5, I can presumably simply add the 4th drive without any concerns, the rebuild should then happen automatically.