This week, I take a look at a new edition to the Mac family - The new Mac mini Server with Snow Leopard Server.

Apple surprised everyone with the recent introduction of a refreshed Mac mini, optimised for duties as a full blown server.

With an increase to 500GB disk capacity, the addition of a second 500GB drive and the removal of the superdrive, the Mac mini turns out to be a surprisingly fully featured server platform, intended for small businesses or workgroups. Along with the hardware changes, Apple also supplies a full copy of the latest version of its flagship server operating system - Snow Leopard Server. Not only that, Snow Leopard Server is supplied with unlimited client licences!

All for just $999 or £799 - altogether an incredible package and amazing value!

But is the Mac mini Server for you? Do I need Snow Leopard Server for my home network? What advantages does Snow Leopard Server bring over the desktop version of Snow Leopard?

In this overview show I reveal all, answering all these questions and more. As well as providing some background information, I demonstrate a standard installation of SL Server onto the Mac mini, using the very smart built in remote capabilities. Once installed, I explore some of the server tools and features of Snow Leopard Server.

The full 40 minute show covers:

• The Physical Differences Between The Mac Mini Range
• Comparative Server Supporting Up To 100 Users
• Snow Leopard Server For Home Use?
• Installation Options
• Installing Server Admin Tools On An Administrative Computer
• Remote Server Installation Via Server Admin Utility
• Drive Configuration Considerations
• Server Utilities Overview
• Server Admin
• Server Monitor
• Server Preferences
• Web Technologies Quick Peek

Hopefully by the end of the show, you'll have a full appreciation of the capabilities of the new Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server.

Discussions: Forum

Extra! Members Version formats	1280x720 - Full HD Resolution 1280x720 - Full HD Resolution with overscan 960x540 - HD Resolution 640x480 - iPod and iPhone Resolution All versions with embedded chapter markings and available via iTunes, Miro or by direct download from the Extra! members site
Free Version Formats	This show is only available to ScreenCastsOnline Extra! members

Become a ScreenCastsOnline Extra! Member
Extra members get access to full versions of the show in AppleTV (HD), ED and iPod resolutions.
Click here for more details on becoming a ScreenCastsOnline Extra! member

To View the Trailer for the Members Show
Subscribe to either the free versions of the shows in iTunes, and have this trailer plus subsequent free shows delivered to your computer each week by clicking the links below!
Free High Definition version of the show in iTunes or Free iPod version of the show in iTunes



Watch the free trailer of this show from this web page by clicking on the videos below

---

It's well established that Solid State Drives offer incredible performance over traditional hard drives. Cool running and with no moving parts, an SSD drive can significantly boost any computers performance, turning your previously adequate laptop or desktop machine into a screaming powerhouse. Add in silent running, low heat generation and increased reliability, SSDs can make an enormous difference to your day to day computing experience.

SSDs are now becoming mainstream with major manufacturers and vendors supplying SSDs in standard 2.5" drive enclosures for simple installation in to a variety of machines. Apple has been installing SSDs in the MacBook Air since its launch and now has build to order SSD options for the MacBook Pro.

The performance benefits of SSDs do come at a price, however. The higher capacity SSDs are expensive with 256GB SSDS commanding a price of $600 to $800 but these prices will fall significantly over the next year or two.

This weeks show introduces you to SSDs and explores several options on how you could utilise an SSD in your laptop, cost effectively.

If you can afford the higher capacity SSDs, great, but I take a look at how you might utilise a smaller, and consequently cheaper, SSD to gain performance increases, yet enable you to break free from the constraints of a lower capacity drive.

In summary, this weeks Extra members show covers:

• Preparing to replace your Hard Drive
• Backing up to a Voyager Q Docking Station
• Replacing a SATA drive with an SSD Drive in a MacBook Pro
• Installing an SSD Drive in a Mac Pro with MaxConnect
• Removing your Optical Drive
• Adding a second Drive to a Laptop with MCE Optibay
• Moving Your Home Directory to a secondary Drive

This week's show includes live video taking you through all the stages of installing an SSD drive and replacing your MacBook Pro optical drive with an MCETech Optibay to add a second drive to your laptop.

The technique illustrated in this weeks show is to replace your standard high capacity standard drive with a smaller SSD drive to act as a fast boot drive. Using the OptiBay, it's possible to then remove your usually under utilised optical drive, and re-install your standard drive as a secondary drive for your data. The show also includes detailed instructions for moving your Home directory to the secondary drive, so space is not a problem.

The MCE OptiBay also allows you to use standard drives for various RAID options, or booting multiple operating systems as discussed in the show.

Links:
MCETech Optibay
Moving Home Folder BlogPost
TheMacScreenCastGuy Need for Speed Series

Discussions: Forum

Extra! Members Version formats	1280x720 - Full HD Resolution 1280x720 - Full HD Resolution with overscan 960x540 - HD Resolution 640x480 - iPod and iPhone Resolution All versions with embedded chapter markings and available via iTunes, Miro or by direct download from the Extra! members site
Free Version Formats	This show is only available to ScreenCastsOnline Extra! members

Become a ScreenCastsOnline Extra! Member
Extra members get access to full versions of the show in AppleTV (HD), ED and iPod resolutions.
Click here for more details on becoming a ScreenCastsOnline Extra! member

To View the Trailer for the Full Free Show
Subscribe to either the free versions of the shows in iTunes, and have this trailer plus subsequent free shows delivered to your computer each week by clicking the links below!
Free High Definition version of the show in iTunes or Free iPod version of the show in iTunes



Watch the free trailer of this show from this web page by clicking on the videos below

---