I bought a Mac mini some time ago and a version of OSX server to experiment with. It sits in a closet without peripherals attached and I would like to keep it that way. In fact, while I could use the mouse an keyboard from my iMac, I don’t even have a monitor. And I am certainly not buying one for the mini server.
However since it is meant to experiment with, there is some need to reinstall the machine sometimes. While it took a little Internet research to find all information it turned out to be relatively easy. Some experience with ssh and unix commands come in helpful though.
Basically it these these steps. 1. Determine the mini’s ip adress 2. Log in with ssh 3. Start the installation 4. Activate Apple Remote Desktop 5. Perform software update
1. Determine the mini’s ip adress
Make sure you have DHCP running to handout IP-addresses. Turn on the mini with the install cd loaded. Wait a few minutes, it will then have obtained an IP-address. Check in your DHCP server the last address given out.
2. Log in with SSH
When the system has started up with the install cd you can login to it with ssh root@ip-address. As password use the first eight digits from the computer’s built-in hardware serial number. It will be at a label on the computer. For older computers without built-in hardware serial use 12345678. This works with XServer as well as other models. I did it with a Mac mini.
3. Start the installation
Just assuming you would like to install the system on the same volume as before, there is no need to repartition. Also assuming you are using a single dvd version., so there’s no disk switching involved. Just start the installation with
/usr/sbin/installer –verboseR –pkg \
/Volumes/Mac\ OS\ X\ Server\ Install\ Disc/System/Installation/Packages/OSInstall.mpkg -target /Volumes/Server/
The installer will locate the Package and start the installation. The progress will display in your terminal window. When finished, you will get a message saying the installation was successful.
Eject the install disk by issuing the following command:
drutil eject
Now restart the server by issuing the following command:
shutdown -r now
4. Activate Apple Remote Desktop
The easiest way to remotely manage the server is of course with the Server Tools. However there are situations that can be done easier with Remote Desktop, like configuring first time. Therefore we will activate ARD for root user. Just log in as you did in step 2 and on the command line type
/System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Resources/kickstart \
-activate -configure -access -on -users root -privs -all -restart -agent –menu
Open ARD on your computer and connect to the server. Use the same username and password as for ssh. You should see Server Assistant now being open on your server. Configure the server. When you do so make sure you select ARD to enable on startup or it be disabled upon completion of the configuration.
5. Run software update
For the installation it is not necessary to do it on the command line but running software update this way is nice. Just login with ssh again, now with the user you set as administrator in Server Assistant and type:
sudo softwareupdate –i –r
Source: Apple Server Documentation, specifically the document on Command-Line Administration and the Excellent Tutorial from AFP548. It is a bit dated on some file locations but nothing I couldn’t solve easily.
cheers dude, that helped me out! i only had an apple wireless keyboard so couldnt complete the installation. using your tips on activating apple remote desktop, saved me!
Thanks for taking the time to write this up. I’ve been in the situation a few times before with a Mac mini and no monitor around.
Cool!
BTW, do you know, if this might also work with a normal Mac OS X installation, or does it only work for a Mac OS X server edition?
solved: no it does not work for Mac OS X client-version – it only seems to work for the server edition…
Cool, installation worked out like a piece of cake :)
You can also use Screen Sharing or Apple Remote Desktop at the setup page by authenticating with the 8 digits password and NO username.
(Without ARD, choose “Connect to Server” from the Go menu in the finder (or command-k) and vnc://ip-of-computer
I used remote desktop to run mine which is very simple until…. I ran an update to Snow Leopard. Now I can’t see the machine which I guess means i will need to plug a monitor in.
Under Snow Leopard Server, you can make complete instalation in GUI – VNC server is launched after boot from DVD and you can connect from VNC clinet or Apple Remote Desktop. This is really cool. It’s oficial feature:
If you’re using an installation disc for Mac OS X Server v10.6, you can control installation from another computer using VNC viewer software. Open-source VNC viewer software is available. Apple Remote Desktop, described on “Apple Remote Desktop” (page 50), includes VNC viewer capability.
Try this tutorial for Headless Mac mini OSX Server, should be the similar for Snow Leopard (need DHCP) http://bit.ly/aNZ51F
I have a quirky related issue. Using iwork on a normal os x install.
Viewing a complex .numbers file through VNC I can only see the fields if a monitor and mouse are plugged in. Without a monitor when I remote in I can see the pages list on the left hand side but zero data is actually visible. If I unplug the monitor and mouse and restart my VNC client I can no longer see my data.
Any ideas? We work remotely on this computer only, but keeping a monitor plugged in means I only have a single monitor on my main computer. Productivity is zapped. Halp!
The SSH instructions to turn on ARD worked absolutely perfectly. Thanks!
The Apple RDP is superior to VNC and comes with MacOS X server. “Apple RDP” is sold by Apple as an add-on to ordinary Mac OS X. My understanding is that is currently selling for $299 which allows installation on 10 computers and $499 for unlimited computers.
When installing Leopard Server (10.5, not 10.6) you can use the App “Server Assistant” from the 10.5 Server Tools instead of going through the terminal. Once you have the Install-DVD booted up on the machine, and it has an IP, Server Assistant will find it via Bonjour and display it in a List. There you select it, enter the password (first 8 digits of the hardware serial number, as ususal) and click yourself through all the options. Server Assistant basically fetches the setup status via unix commands and display it in a gui on your client computer. So you have the same option screens, as if you are sitting in front of the real machine. Sans the network hogging vnc or remote desktop.
For whatever reason, apple decided to cut Server Assistant from the Snow Leopard (10.6) Server Admin Tools, however.
I have just purchased in the US a Mac Mini Server and am trying to set it up (here in Vietnam) without: a monitor, a mac PC, a keyboard or a DVI screen adapter cable. I do, however have an iPad. Can I do the setup? If so, how?
I’d rather not purchase ADR for $299 unless I have to. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Dave Saigon, Vietnam
Ahhh Works like a dream! Only had to remove the “/” from the ARD command line and all was perfect.