proxmox on new mac mini?

[xavster]

anyone tried proxmox on the new mac mini server version?

 

[bogomolov]

Apple Store dont give a clue about which processor model come this days on MacMini, but this guys¹ says the old versions are based on T2xxx series, so probably its compatible with proxmox kernel (vmx support starts on this series²).

1 - http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/mac_mini_core_2_duo_swaps.html
2 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86_virtualization

This maybe helps:
http://sowerbutts.com/linux-mac-mini/

[]'s

 

[murat]

Since some time I am also planning to install proxmox on the new mac mini.

About the cpu; according wikipedia the new mac mini has either of the following three cpus:

Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo 2,26Ghz = P7550
Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo 2,53Ghz = P8700
Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo 2,66Ghz = P9600

An important thing is whether these cpus support Intel-VT (hardware accelaration for Virtualization). This is required in Proxmox to use KVM.

According to Intel the last two cpus do support Intel-VT. The first one doesn't BUT the Mac versions should support it according to this info.
To be sure I have sent an email to apple. I'll post the reply as soon as possible.

I also have gathered some information about the installation of Ubuntu/Debian on the new mac mini:

- http://mac.linux.be/content/installation-ubuntu-mactel-computer
- http://www.123macmini.com/
- http://sowerbutts.com/linux-mac-mini/
- http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=418403

Still didn't bought a mac mini but I will in the next couple of weeks.

Why do you want to use the mac mini as your proxmox server and not a conventional server?

Let me know if you make any progress.

 

[xavster]

I like the mac mini because of it's small size.

 

[nick]

Remember, macmini allow 2GB maximum RAM memory...so, you are very limited!

 

[xavster]

Remember, macmini allow 2GB maximum RAM memory...so, you are very limited!

this is the mac mini config I'm looking at, planning to run a couple of openvz vm's on it, I like it for it's size and light weight (1.3 kg) so I can take it with me when I go out

2.53GHz : Dual 500GB
2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB memory
Dual 500GB hard drives
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
Mac OS X Server Snow Leopard

 

[murat]

this is the mac mini config I'm looking at, planning to run a couple of openvz vm's on it, I like it for it's size and light weight (1.3 kg) so I can take it with me when I go out

2.53GHz : Dual 500GB
2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB memory
Dual 500GB hard drives
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
Mac OS X Server Snow Leopard

Mac mini supports even 8GB! (4GBx2).
Enough for at least 8 VM's. Proc speed is sufficient too.

You can even replace the harddisk with an SSD for ultimate performance and lower power consumption.

Power consumption is important if you are paying per amp of electricity you consume. My recent 1U server (single quad-core Xenon, dual HD) was consuming about 0.75 amp when idle. The mac mini consumes only 0.10 amp in idle! I'm currently paying about 4 euros per 0.1 amp per month. The mac mini will save me a lot of money. This is my main reason to switch to a mac mini.

 

[murat]

According to the following sites the P7550 in all macbooks support intel-vt. Suppose that the mac mini with the same proc will support intel-vt too.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10005976
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=729110