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iOliverC · May 28, 2005, 03:15 PM

I've tried searching the forums for something similar, but the search just keeps getting timed out.

Firstly, my idea is to buy a Mac mini, probably the base model with 512mb ram, and co-locate it as a server. I'd strip down all of OS X (get rid of Spotlight, Dashboard etc.) and run lighttpd as the webserver. I'm basically wondering how many people I would be able to hold simultaneously. The sites won't be receiving tons of hits, the sites hits range from like 10 hits to 5000 hits a day, so its pretty varied. Ideally, I'd love to be able to hold 6-7 sites simultaneously, but I'm not sure if this is possible with with the mini.

Thanks,
Oliver

chrisutley · May 28, 2005, 03:44 PM

You can handle 5000 hits per day on that setup easy, esp if all you are doing is serving up static HTML pages and the hits aren't concentrated over a very short period of time. You could even host some PHP and MySQL without breaking much of a sweat.

If you are running mission critical sites on there, I'd say forget it. I'd probably go with a cheap Dell running Fedora Core, as you will get much more for your money. However, I can understand from an ease of use perspective why some may want try the OS X/mini route.

fxmonkey · May 31, 2005, 01:36 PM

Hi there,

I would recommend using Apache, instead of lighttpd, mainly because that is what I'm comfortable with.

Running `ab' which is the Apache HTTP Server benchmarking tool, my Mac Mini (1.42Ghz, with stock 256MB ram), posts from 800-1000 requests per second with a 1.7Kb file. The Mini would be a perfect webserver for what you are trying to do.

-Eric

trip · May 31, 2005, 01:43 PM

Apache is a good choice and OSX has it installed already.
When you install OSX (at least Tiger I know) under your user directory exist a folder called "site" which contains 1 html file. load it and you'll get insttuctions on how to use the apple Apache to create your own webservice.

trip · May 31, 2005, 01:45 PM

Apache is a good choice and OSX has it installed already.
When you install OSX (at least Tiger I know) under your user directory exist a folder called "site" which contains 1 html file. load it and you'll get instuctions on how to use Apache to create your own webservice.

Note: you may want to upgrade the ram... not sure, but I would.

fxmonkey · May 31, 2005, 02:02 PM

The memory I had set aside to install in my Mini turned out to not work in it, and just haven't gotten around to buying something new.

-Eric

JoshuaZ · Jun 3, 2005, 03:46 PM

Wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to buy a Blue and White G3 or an old G4 as a webserver? Plus it would have PCI slots.

Works fine for me.

goMac · Jun 3, 2005, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by iOliverC

I've tried searching the forums for something similar, but the search just keeps getting timed out.

Firstly, my idea is to buy a Mac mini, probably the base model with 512mb ram, and co-locate it as a server. I'd strip down all of OS X (get rid of Spotlight, Dashboard etc.) and run lighttpd as the webserver. I'm basically wondering how many people I would be able to hold simultaneously. The sites won't be receiving tons of hits, the sites hits range from like 10 hits to 5000 hits a day, so its pretty varied. Ideally, I'd love to be able to hold 6-7 sites simultaneously, but I'm not sure if this is possible with with the mini.

Thanks,
Oliver

Why would you strip it down? We run a full feldged OS X Server install on 256 MB of RAM on ours and it handles just fine. You could handle 5000 hits easy. The only thing limiting on it is the slow hard drive, so no hosting huge file downloads.

Of course we plan to up it to a gig of RAM in a few weeks.