Markus

Typically I have development websites, FTP, AFP, and SMB services running from my Mac, which is all fine an dandy, but I do like to reboot my machine now and then, for example into Bootcamp to <gasp> run Windows (shocking I know ), which means those services go out of the window.

I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for a small, ultra quiet and cheap server / mini pc type thing that I could use in it's place. *nix would probably the OS it'd need to run, but I'd love if I could hackintosh it.

Any suggestions.

brendy76

iTrader: (6)

The HP ML115 (AMD quad core) was a great little mini server which did the rounds 2-3 years ago, at one point they were sold retail for 99 quid and included a 250gb drive (non hot swap and no OS).
The equivilent ml110 (Intel) is £300+ now. If you could get one from the bay or wherever, great little machine.

IWatkins

Mac Mini?

tarmac terror

iTrader: (2)

Agree with Brendy, had several HP small business servers in my VMWare lab at home I think they were ML110's. ECC Ram is right and dear if you need to upgrade them though. Very quiet and quite powerful for what they are.

These replaced my DL380's as my wife was being driven made by the drone from the fans which could be heard almost anywhere in the house.

boomer

I am still kicking myself after these beauties were selling for less than GBP120 (including VAT after cashback) only a couple of weeks ago.

VMware-able, Windows home server-able for a few tens of quid and loads of potential disk capacity.

mb (waiting for the next price-deal, and won't hesitate this time!)

GC8

The cashback HPs keep appearing. They sell out quickly though. Whether theyre available with similar offers in North America is a different matter.

Graz

I have one of them running WHS 2011 and it's been excellent. Currently configured with 2x2TB drives mirrored (i.e. RAID1) so 2TB of storage + the 250GB drive that came with it running the OS. Can easily upgrade to 4TB when I run out of space

XRS

Another vote for the N40L. I have mine running OpenMediaVault, and I can't fault it.

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

What's you budget mate?

Markus

A very good question! $200 ish. Mac mini is an interesting suggestion and does make some sense, plus there are rumors of a refresh in the coming weeks, so existing models will be cheaper.

I'm also thinking a NAS might be interesting. I was reading more on the QNAP TS-219, which mentioned it could handle web / mysql / ftp, plus the usual media and data storage you'd associate with a NAS.