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Old Mac mini as NAS server (lemmy.ca)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I am looking for a good tutorial that explains how I can turn my older Mac mini into a NAS. I need something that’s easy to understand -ELI5 kind of style please. Long time Apple user but that seems daunting. Any ideas where to find some info?!

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I did exactly that with maybe the same mac mini. I don’t have a write up though :-(. Here is what I did: On a different computer (Windows), download OMV (open media vault).iso and use balena etcher to write to a bootable USB

Put it in the mac mini and started it holding down the option key to get the “choose your boot disk” selection and chose the USB

Followed the on screen installer accepting the defaults.

Under the hood it is installing Debian 11 with OMV running/controlling all the file sharing (and other) functions.

Sorry it isn‘t step by step with screen shots, but maybe enough to point you in the right direction?

Have fun.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thanks. Sounds manageable but now I hear that my mini might not be as simple … oh well I guess I’ll have to look for some hardware.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Interesting… I wonder what the issue is. I have run different linux distros on it before settling on OMV for the past few years. I run it as a headless server. I did recently by a Dell 7050 MFF off eBay as an ‘upgrade’ 🤣 and I am in the process of migrating to it. Good luck.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What year? Likely need to setup proxmox or similiar. Search your year and model number and linux. Plenty of tuts out there.

Im running ubuntu server on a 2018 mini

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It’s a 2011ish mac mini (2.3 ghz dual core intel core i5)?! I have seen several tutorials but I really need something easy to follow. I haven’t seen one that makes sense to me yet.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

2011ish mac mini

from what im reading 2011 minis are "problematic" installing linux. not for the faint of heart

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Ugh. I guess I abandon that project.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hey man don't give up! Well maybe give up on using the mac mini - i've never used one but if it's going to be a pain to install linux go grab something cheap on eBay or FB Marketplace if that's a thing in your area. I recently bought a cheap dell optiplex (I think?) on marketplace for like, ~$25? Not sure what your use case is, but if you don't need a super fast nas, most cheap desktop machines on your local buy/swap community purchase place will do the job just fine. Don't let the mac mini be what holds ya back!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I’ll have to reconsider what I want. I thought the Mac mini would be just a good use for it and I already have it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Get a dell or hp sff business pc off ebay for like 150 bucks. Great little machines to play with linux

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