Mac Mini Server Changes Everything About Servers.

Apple extends a proven formula, commoditization, miniaturization, and simplification, into the server market.

The formula worked gradually with digital music hardware and downloads. The formula surprised many, including Apple, with the rate of acceptance in the smart-phone, smart-handheld hardware and applications market. Now Apple is commoditizing SERVER technology, completely transforming the experience, making it simple for end users to setup, manage, and use.

• No geekery required.
• Minimum possible space and power requirements.
• Unrestricted access to the full power of the system for an unlimited number of users.
• Everything needed for collaboration, sharing, document storage, and system backup is included, pre-installed, and mostly pre-configured.
• Powerful processor, plenty of RAM, 1000 gigs of storage included in the box. Terabytes of high speed storage are easily and inexpensively added.

Lessons from the Touch

The ipod Touch competes favorably with netbooks in the areas of miniaturization, first cost, apps that get things done and power consumption. The Mini Server follows the proven path into the small business server market.

Compared to traditional business servers, it is less than half the size, less than half the cost, and consumes a small fraction of the power. Everything needed to accomplish typical server duties like collaboration and document sharing is included. Following setup, tools to monitor the system exceed even Apple's own reputation for ease of use.

The Touch is a paradigm shift in mobile computing technology for individual users. But it offers few possibilities to extend the device. The Mini Server package offers practically unlimited extension possibilities.

Toaster Simple, Rock Solid, Priced Right

Choose any three from the list.

Simple means different things to different levels of users. Casual tech users can use Server Preferences for setup.

A server gives users and groups, access to services, with system info available for monitoring and reporting.

• Row 1 users.
• Row 2 services.
• Row 3 server info.

There is just no way to simplify a server interface any further. A server provides services to users. Somebody must tell the server who are the users, and which services the users may access.

When server customizations beyond bare bones simple are needed, graphical tools Server Admin tool and Workgroup Manager are available. These tools display logical groupings in more classic server setup screens for those who understand server technologies.

Old school sysadmins think simple means secure shell access. They want to be able to admin a server with a few typed lines in a command window. The Mini Server does that kind of simple as well.

Three kinds of simple. Each designed to suit a particular style of system administration.

Rock solid means unix. Unix was designed as a multi-user, multi-tasking, server system forty years ago, continuously refined since. Unix gives great utility for server functions, is conservative with resources, low in maintenance, and proven rock solid reliable.

The purchase price for a reasonably powerful unlimited client server is little above the hardware cost for a decked out Mini. After purchase, the mini keeps saving with power consumption far below the norm for similarly powerful servers. Certainly no reason ongoing maintenance and monitoring efforts should be any higher than for other servers.

Mini Servers, because they are mass standardized, may be easily transported, re-configured, and re-purposed as requirements change. A half dozen may be transported in a backpack. Mini Servers will bring something else unheard of in the server market, high resale values. If past demand for used mini hardware is any indication, buy it, test it, if it doesn't meet the need, re-sell it into a hungry market.

Apple hardware assures top notch components mated to a famously reliable and easy to use operating system. Server technology is now possible in environments, and for applications, where it was formerly impossible due to cost, size, power consumption and training requirements.

Plug It In, Turn It On

Plug it in, turn it on, start using it. If it is not that simple, don't you have to ask yourself "why not"? Get something that just works, just the way you need it to work.

A worldwide network of trained consultants is available to tailor server systems installation and configurations for specific needs. Look for the ACTC certification and membership in the Apple Consultants Network. For personal service in the Southwest, MO area, contact doug.brethower@lakedata.net to discuss your specific needs with an Apple Certified Technical Consultant.