Mac Mini Server RAID1 Configuration
There have been some questions recently regarding how to configure the new Mac Mini Server for RAID 1 mirroring. Out of the box the Mac Mini is setup without RAID. You have two identical 500GB disks so RAID is possible. To make this work you’ll need another Mac computer running firewire because the device lacks a CD/DVD drive.
EDIT: Some people have asked “Why run RAID 1 mirroring when you already have a solid backup strategy?” The answer is simple: Downtime is bad and costs money … some people a lot of money! Running a RAID 1 mirror on production environments is essential to maintaining high up-time. Hard Drives can and do fail so its better to be prepared for it. Restoring files from backups and locating a replacement disk is not fun at 5AM. If a RAID mirror disk dies you can plan a time to repair it, you won’t have that option if you only have backups.
Step 1: Start the Mini in Target Mode. Press the T during start. In a few seconds the firewire logo will appear on your screen.
Step 2: Go to your second Mac. Connect the firewire cable between second Mac and Mini.
Step 3: On the second Mac start the disc utility. The two identical drives on your mini will show. Create a new Raid set (mirrored = Raid 1). Include both drives. Confirm the warning that all data on the mini will be lost.
Step 4: Make sure your second Mac has CD/ DVD sharing option installed. This is to use the super drive to install OS X Server on the mini.
Step 5: Shutdown both Macs
Step 6: Start your second Mac in target mode. Make sure the firewire cable is still connected.
Step 7: Start the Mini with the option key pressed.
Step 8: Insert the OS X Server install disc in your second Mac.
Step 9: wait till the drive logo appears om the Mini. Continue the install. Will take about an hour.
An even easier option is to purchase or borrow a USB DVD drive and just boot from that.
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Source: HT2559
Thanks for this. I had to configure one for a client using this target mode. It was very helpful.
I did run into a large problem myself though. When I was installing OSX, the installation appeared to freeze at around 15% (I had left it for almost 2 hours). After a bit of troubleshooting, unplugging the non-Mac keyboard (logitech) and mouse (microsoft) seemed to kick start it again.
Other comments on this article would be to mention that the ‘Option’ key is ‘Alt’ on non-Mac hardware. I’m a bit of a Mac noob so I had to quickly find that out.
Might also be worth linking to a guide on how to enable CD/DVD drive Sharing (although it seemed to be already configured on the second Mac that I used).
Thanks again
The external USB DVD drive is the best option! You can boot from the install DVD, then run Disk Utility to create the RAID1 set without even worrying about finding another Mac (or a Firewire cable).
I do so many of these I ended up buying a USB super drive which does make things easier.
this tuto is good, I don’t have an external DVD drive, but unfortunately no firewire cable any more…
But it’s what I was looking for.
Thank you.
Be big boys and girls and use the terminal… here is a non destructive method of mirroring:
diskutil list
diskutil appleRAID enable mirror disk0s2
diskutil appleRAID add mirror disk1s2 disk2
(Go get some coffee… this will take hours)
where disk2 is the new RAID volume you created… you’l see it if you run diskutil list again.