I stumbled over this article on how to use a Mac Mini as a low-power idle and efficient home server with external SATA storage.
https://www.michaelstinkerings.org/mac-mini-as-a-low-idle-home-nas/
Using the Thunderbolt connectors with M.2 enclosures and M.2 to SATA adapter cards, is a nice solution, but of course a bit janky. But don't worry, it will get way jankier below. (Nota bene: for a home server, you would need RAID5, and the only way to do that on macOS is with OWC's SoftRAID.) To power the SATA drives, Michael is using a big dedicated PSU, which imho seems like overkill.
Personally, until now I had never seriously thought about using a Mac as a server, but since Docker on aarch64 is now very potent, including Rosetta integration and native virtualization, since SoftRAID seems to have become a lot more stable, with their driver even natively included in macOS now, and since even the Mac Mini is doing pretty great regarding local LLMs, I've been thinking about it more and more. You could in principle use a 2U server chassis, e.g. one of those modular ones from SilverStone, slap in the Mac Mini, use 5.25'' SATA cages, e.g. from Icy Dock, for the storage, add a couple of case fans for good measure, and you're good to go. Almost. You'd need to connect it all together, of course.
Michael has already covered the data connections (Thunderbolt to SATA via M.2 adapter cards). My focus here would be about the whole power thing. I haven't dug into it for very long, but this is how I currently would do it, especially with regard to the SATA storage and fans powering on when the Mac Mini powers on. (However, the Mini would be on 24/7, but it might be important, when it auto-reboots after a power loss.) Please correct me, if and where I am wrong.
I would add a passive USB-C to USB Type A dock to one of the two USB4 connectors on the Mac Mini's front.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6M8TXVG
(Nota bene: the other USB Type A ports on the hub could then be connected to the 2U chassis' front USB ports, leaving the Mini's remaining USB4 port unused, which could then function as a port for an external Time Machine drive.)
On the passive hub I would then plug in a USB Type A to Molex adapter cable.
https://www.amazon.com//dp/B0BR2W95CC
That cable would go into the Molex input of an Add2PSU.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FCKYGWH
Instead of a full-fledged ATX PSU, I would rather use a PicoPSU, because I'd only need to power SATA (mostly SSDs) and a couple of fans. The PicoPSU would connect to the Add2PSU with the 24-pin ATX connector, of course.
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/dp/B004QDP05C/
I assume that 90W would be sufficient to power one HDD, at least 6 SATA SSDs, with a maximum of 9 SATA SSDs, plus a maximum of 3 PWM fans.
First the fans: I would remove the small 12V ATX 4-pin connector from the PicoPSU, and insert the two wires into the 12V input on a thermostat PWM controller, so I can power the controller + fans.
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/dp/B091FC9YGJ/
Now for SATA power. Naturally, for so many SATA drives (all SSDs but one), I would need splitter cables to attach to the PicoPSU's SATA power and PATA power outputs.
PATA to 5x SATA power: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQS9V9HZ
SATA to 5x SATA power: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DBH44SC3
(Nota bene: I would use the PATA connection for powering the HDD + SSDs, and the SATA connection only for SATA SSDs. Furthermore, if I use 5.25'' SATA cages for the storage, they would come with their own fan or fans, so those would be powered over the SATA power connection too. Realistically, though, a 5.25'' SATA cage would only need two SATA power inputs, e.g. the ToughArmor MB998SK-B, so a 5-way splitter would probably be overkill, but on the safe side.)
So… it's janky for sure, but does this seem right to you, SATA power splitter cables and all? Tia for any input & corrections/criticism.
https://www.michaelstinkerings.org/mac-mini-as-a-low-idle-home-nas/
Using the Thunderbolt connectors with M.2 enclosures and M.2 to SATA adapter cards, is a nice solution, but of course a bit janky. But don't worry, it will get way jankier below. (Nota bene: for a home server, you would need RAID5, and the only way to do that on macOS is with OWC's SoftRAID.) To power the SATA drives, Michael is using a big dedicated PSU, which imho seems like overkill.
Personally, until now I had never seriously thought about using a Mac as a server, but since Docker on aarch64 is now very potent, including Rosetta integration and native virtualization, since SoftRAID seems to have become a lot more stable, with their driver even natively included in macOS now, and since even the Mac Mini is doing pretty great regarding local LLMs, I've been thinking about it more and more. You could in principle use a 2U server chassis, e.g. one of those modular ones from SilverStone, slap in the Mac Mini, use 5.25'' SATA cages, e.g. from Icy Dock, for the storage, add a couple of case fans for good measure, and you're good to go. Almost. You'd need to connect it all together, of course.
Michael has already covered the data connections (Thunderbolt to SATA via M.2 adapter cards). My focus here would be about the whole power thing. I haven't dug into it for very long, but this is how I currently would do it, especially with regard to the SATA storage and fans powering on when the Mac Mini powers on. (However, the Mini would be on 24/7, but it might be important, when it auto-reboots after a power loss.) Please correct me, if and where I am wrong.
I would add a passive USB-C to USB Type A dock to one of the two USB4 connectors on the Mac Mini's front.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6M8TXVG
(Nota bene: the other USB Type A ports on the hub could then be connected to the 2U chassis' front USB ports, leaving the Mini's remaining USB4 port unused, which could then function as a port for an external Time Machine drive.)
On the passive hub I would then plug in a USB Type A to Molex adapter cable.
https://www.amazon.com//dp/B0BR2W95CC
That cable would go into the Molex input of an Add2PSU.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FCKYGWH
Instead of a full-fledged ATX PSU, I would rather use a PicoPSU, because I'd only need to power SATA (mostly SSDs) and a couple of fans. The PicoPSU would connect to the Add2PSU with the 24-pin ATX connector, of course.
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/dp/B004QDP05C/
I assume that 90W would be sufficient to power one HDD, at least 6 SATA SSDs, with a maximum of 9 SATA SSDs, plus a maximum of 3 PWM fans.
First the fans: I would remove the small 12V ATX 4-pin connector from the PicoPSU, and insert the two wires into the 12V input on a thermostat PWM controller, so I can power the controller + fans.
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/dp/B091FC9YGJ/
Now for SATA power. Naturally, for so many SATA drives (all SSDs but one), I would need splitter cables to attach to the PicoPSU's SATA power and PATA power outputs.
PATA to 5x SATA power: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQS9V9HZ
SATA to 5x SATA power: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DBH44SC3
(Nota bene: I would use the PATA connection for powering the HDD + SSDs, and the SATA connection only for SATA SSDs. Furthermore, if I use 5.25'' SATA cages for the storage, they would come with their own fan or fans, so those would be powered over the SATA power connection too. Realistically, though, a 5.25'' SATA cage would only need two SATA power inputs, e.g. the ToughArmor MB998SK-B, so a 5-way splitter would probably be overkill, but on the safe side.)
So… it's janky for sure, but does this seem right to you, SATA power splitter cables and all? Tia for any input & corrections/criticism.
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