Mac Server Series: Initial Set Up
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A few days ago I mentioned that I would be starting a video series on how to set up your Mac to act as a server. These will all be done using the Mac OS X client (not Mac OS X Server) so it won’t cost any more than an inexpensive Mac mini to be up and going.
Here is the first video in that series. It is titled “Initial Setup Of Your Mac Server.” A few of the points will be obvious to some, but it is important that we start out simple so that we are all on the same page for the future settings. Plus, missing any of these changes may cause some problems with your server later on. This is based on the experience I have setting up hundreds of minis at Macminicolo.net.
You can watch the video tutorial here.(I didn’t anticipate such high demand. Please be patient as they load.)
(Don’t forget to grab the FreeMacBlog RSS feed so you will be aware of the future videos. Upcoming videos will show you how to set up your Mac as a web server, a FTP server, and a mail server.)
August 15th, 2006 at 3:48 am
[…] In Mac Server Series: Initial Set Up Brian shares the first steps in a video on setting up a Mac as a server. He works for a web host that lets you send them a Mac Mini, and then you can run your web sites and email off of it. I priced it out, and it is definitely cheaper (and less expensive) then my current hosting provider, Rackspace. I think using a video to show the steps is a wonderful marketing idea. […]
August 15th, 2006 at 9:23 am
It would probably be a better advertisement for their hosting if the movie downloaded faster. I am getting about 35KB/sec on that 26MB file. Frankly, I can do that from home.
August 15th, 2006 at 9:25 am
Brett, As you\\\\\\\’d expect, we have a really large file being pulled by a large number of visitors right now. I added two additional links to help even out the demand. I\\\’ll remember this while creating video number two.
In regular day to day serving, the bandwidth is incredibly fast from Macminicolo.
August 15th, 2006 at 9:33 am
It’s a basic beginning, as you said. But it’s reassuring how clear you are. Thankyou for this series.
August 15th, 2006 at 12:26 pm
Hi Brian,
Excellent tutorial and I look forward to later installments. I am always looking out for good, simple, creative server solutions for my clients and I think you are hitting on something that many of us could use. I have been exploring colocation for some clients in the past and again, I think you have a very nice set of products and services to offer. I can appreciate anyone who has created a tutorial from the ground up as I produce OS X learning programs for new OS X users and I remember how difficult my first project was.
Thanks for the efforts!
August 15th, 2006 at 1:41 pm
Terry, thanks for the words of encouragement. You’re right, that first tutorial is a doozie.
August 15th, 2006 at 1:45 pm
Just downloading the movie now - look forward to watching it. I was wondering from what perspective the setting up of the web and mail server will be in your next videos? Using OS X Server or open source tools? I have a set up 10.4 server machine (done by a consultant) but would like to know how to rebuild it myself if necessary. I’ve read online and lots of books but have always found them lacking something - maybe your videos will fill in a few blanks!
August 15th, 2006 at 1:47 pm
Sorry, just re-read the main article - you’re using client. Oh well, still I’m sure your series will be very interesting!
August 15th, 2006 at 2:50 pm
This is great! I can’t wait for the rest. Thanks!
August 15th, 2006 at 2:53 pm
Burni, It looks like you answered your own question. We decided to go with Mac OS X Client so we can show how powerful a Mac can be out of the box.
If there is enough interest, we may do a Mac OS X Server series next.
August 15th, 2006 at 7:28 pm
Brian,
Thanks for this series. This will probably be the excuse I need to set aside my PM DP 2.0 for a spankin’ new MP 3.0 GHz
Keep them coming!
August 16th, 2006 at 1:59 am
Downloading teh first video now… really looking forward to seeing it and the rest of the series…
Would love to see a similar series down for Mac OS X Server as well…
Perhaps also a series customing the client and/or server versions with things like jabber servers, ical servers etc would be of interest as well
August 16th, 2006 at 5:17 am
What about uploding the video as a podcast.
August 16th, 2006 at 7:47 am
Hi there,
Thanks for this. Can’t wait for future videos and would just LOVE a server version.
Thanks again,
Peter
August 16th, 2006 at 9:11 am
Brian…
What software are you using to produce the video? I’d like to do something similar with Keynote and a voice-over to Quicktime.
August 16th, 2006 at 1:30 pm
[…] Start of a video series on turning your mac into an OS X Server. […]
August 17th, 2006 at 10:15 am
hey can you tell us when the next video will be out and i love it if the videos had an rss feeds just for themselves but not nesscrey and I would if you did mac os x server
August 17th, 2006 at 2:27 pm
sebastian, the videos will be released each monday.
August 17th, 2006 at 4:22 pm
thanks
August 18th, 2006 at 4:26 am
[…] Bueno, a lo que iba, ha publicado el primer video tutorial de una serie dedicada a hacer de nuestro Mac Mini un servidor. Aquà está la entrada correspondiente, y el video se puede ver aquà o aquÃ. […]
August 18th, 2006 at 6:10 am
[…] Mac Server Series: Initial Set Up (tags: Apple howto Mac macmini reference server tutorial Video videos) […]
August 23rd, 2006 at 6:33 pm
Here’s a great freeware that maybe should be mentioned in the video for a quick & easy setup (for dummies). It’s the MAMP project. Check it out! http://www.mamp.info/
August 25th, 2006 at 8:10 am
What software are you using to record the screen for the video? Great Job!
August 25th, 2006 at 8:20 am
Jordan, I ended up using iShowU. That was the best one I found in my tests.
http://www.freemacblog.com/mac-options-for-capturing-a-video-of-your-screen/
September 13th, 2006 at 11:24 am
[…] Mac (Mini) Server Series: Initial Set Up Brian at FreeMacBlog presents the first in a series of video tutorials on how to configure a Mac (with regular OS X) as a server. Brian works at MacMiniColo a Mac Mini hosting company (tags: Apple) […]
September 13th, 2006 at 12:25 pm
Thanks for the nice Mac server tutorials. I’m thing of using a Mac after 20 years of using IBM-PCs and 10 years of using Linux! What software did you use to create the tutorials?
Thanks Again!
September 14th, 2006 at 2:36 pm
I’ll have a look on this tonight.
Are you planning to cover a VPN server as well?
September 16th, 2006 at 9:17 pm
[…] Start of a video series on turning your mac into an OS X Server. […]
September 24th, 2006 at 11:29 pm
Hey I just watched your first tutorial…awesome! Although it was pretty basic the video/audio quality was great…I look forward to seeing more. Although I had a few questions:
- Can I host web sites using this technique?
- Is it possible or just a bad idea to use an airport connection rather then ethernet?
Thanks for your time I will be looking forward to the rest of the tutorial.
AdamTheAdmin
October 26th, 2006 at 1:42 pm
It’s funny but i already have had my Mac Mini up and running as a server for a while now (about a year [see pics on my website trm96.net]). Great tutorial though!
October 27th, 2006 at 1:53 am
[…] Initial Set Up Of Your Mac […]
January 8th, 2007 at 3:10 am
Can i use my iMac (intel core 2 duo)? or must i have a mac mini?
March 28th, 2007 at 9:00 am
Contrary to what is mentioned in the video tutorial, “Login Items” won’t start until you actually login under that account, not on reboot / power on after power loss…
I believe you would put non-system launch items inside /Library/LaunchDaemons/ using a special item.plist format (see /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/
January 22nd, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Thanks for the wise words…
I’m trying to get more out of my href=”http://www.c-h-a-o-s.com/2007/07/05/diy-ibook-server-booklet/”>custom iBook server