Right now I have a NAS running 24/7 for some self hosted apps (p2p, *arr…) and as primary storage for my multimedia files.
This NAS has some limitations because it has a low spec hardware and the OS is “propietary”, so sometimes I have issues with docker or I miss some random feature that “standard” Linux distros have.
I work in IT and deal with the technology at home sometimes feels like a second job. I’m thinking that maybe I could simplify my home hardware avoiding NAS servers and use only my main desktop running 24/7 . This could give me a lot of flexibility (a standard OS, VMs, standard docker, better hardware, faster file operations because no LAN involved…) and less hardware to deal with.
Does anybody went this way? Any recommendations in favor or against it?
Sorry for my english.
I wouldn’t have even thought to purchase a new Mac anything as a server. That is definitely not their target use case.
What are you running at home that requires “insane power?” I’m running a servarr stack on an old Xeon that cost a fraction of a Mac mini and it works just fine. And I have room in the case for full size HDDs.
I’ve heard of people using old Mac mini as servers, and I guess whatever makes you happy. I definitely don’t see how they’re the ultimate home server.
I can have a dozen people streaming from my Plex server and it doesn’t even break a sweat, while also handling all my *arr’s, homeassistant OS, and basically anything I would use a normal computer for.
With the power it has it will be able to handle basically anything I want to throw at it for the next decade, while sipping electricity like a light bulb.
I don’t see how a tiny, cheap, insanely powerful, insanely power efficient, full OS running machine isn’t the ultimate home server? What argument is there against it? What is a better one?
Personally, I want to properly isolate the services with virtualization. The main reason is I expose some of the services online, and I don’t t want to only rely on keeping all software up-to-date at all times. This allows me to limit the damage if one of the services is compromised.
I wouldn’t use MacOS as the virtualization platform, and instead use something else, like BSD, Linux, or xen-based for my servers
Mac’s can run docker you know?
Right, so it does basically the same thing mine does, and I don’t need an external DAS, and I can upgrade hardware, and it cost me a fraction of yours. I don’t know how much power mine uses because it’s a non-issue. My bill is the exact same as before I deployed it.
What’s yours look like?
Mine will last way longer than yours, it’s way more powerful than yours so can do a multitude of things that yours couldnt ever dream of doing, I don’t need a DAS either - I could just have easily kept using my NAS for the storage without issue, and while you can upgrade your hardware that costs more money and it still won’t be as good as mine (and with mine having multiple high speed thunderbolt ports, I can very easily just add dozens of TB’s of ultra fast storage that essentially acts as if it’s on-board). I don’t think you understand just how much better the Mac Mini hardware is than yours lol.
Oh wow you got a magical setup that uses no power? Can you let some scientists come check it out? My power bill reduced with my new setup.
The Mac Mini M4 is objectively better than your server. Objectively, not subjectively.
An Escalade is objectively more powerful than my car; doesn’t make it better at getting groceries, and it cost eight times as much.
Anyway, enjoy your thing, I guess.
Not a good analogy.
The Mac is more efficient while having significantly more power, and more use cases.
Your setup is fine, it does what you want. That doesn’t mean this isn’t better. Yes it’s more expensive, but that’s because it’s much better hardware. Not everyone wants a Corolla, some want a Lamborghini.