Mac mini NAS

Mac mini with USB drive as NAS

This describes how to setup a Mac mini with an external USB drive as a NAS.

Hardware

• Mac mini with Mountain Lion
• Monitor dongle as described here
• WD My Passport 2TB USB drive
• PC/Mac/iPad running a VNC viewer to remotely control the NAS

For initial setup ONLY, a monitor, keyboard and mouse will need to be connected to the Mac

Setup headless server

• Enable screen sharing
  • Preferences -> Internet & Wireless -> Sharing
  • Enable Screen Sharing service
  • Ensure screen sharing is ON
  • Make a note of the address to connect to
  • In the Computer Settings dialog
    • Check both the boxes
    • Enter password to use for connection

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• Enable auto-login
  • Preferences -> Personal -> Security & Privacy-> General
  • Ensure Disable automatic login is un-checked

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• Disable downloaded from internet warning
  • Start terminal
  • Finder -> Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal
  • Enter the command defaults write com.apple.LaunchServices LSQuarantine -bool NO and press enter

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• Restart Mac and ensure it starts up and logs in without user intervention
  • Apple -> Restart

Configure Remote Access

• Install a VNC viewer on the PC/Mac to be used for remote access
  • On Windows suggest RealVNC
  • On Mac suggest Chicken VNC
  • On iPad there is VNC Viewer for £6.99, but this is untested

• Open the VNC client and check connection to the Mac
  • Check the Mac is viewable and controllable from the VNC viewer

Check Operation

• Close VNC viewer (F8 to exit full-screen mode)
• Shutdown the Mac

• Make headless
  • Disconnect monitor, keyboard and mouse from Mac
  • Connect the monitor dongle (described above) to Mac

• Check operation
  • Power up Mac
  • Wait until powered up (after jingle)
  • Connect remotely using VNC viewer as described above

If this can now control Mac then headless operation is correctly setup