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    Apple: SSH and FileVault

    (keith.github.io)
    507 points ingve | 13 comments | 18 Sep 25 20:15 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source | bottom
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    reader9274 ◴[18 Sep 25 20:47 UTC] No.45294811[source]▶
    So you're saying i can now have a fully remote mac mini server with auto-reboot on power outage without the need to physically log in with a keyboard attached? Awesome
    replies(11): >>45295194 #>>45295532 #>>45295803 #>>45295918 #>>45296499 #>>45298327 #>>45298862 #>>45298996 #>>45299462 #>>45300622 #>>45300893 #
    1. drusklo ◴[19 Sep 25 07:47 UTC] No.45298996[source]▶
    Honest question; why would you want a server with mac os? I am asking because I thought about getting a mac mini for that purpose, because the hardware is great, but running mac os vs linux is what is throwing me off.
    replies(8): >>45299024 #>>45299109 #>>45299128 #>>45299320 #>>45299496 #>>45299586 #>>45299754 #>>45300974 #
    2. dbdr ◴[19 Sep 25 07:51 UTC] No.45299024[source]▶
    Have you considered https://asahilinux.org/ ?
    replies(2): >>45299061 #>>45299542 #
    3. happymellon ◴[19 Sep 25 07:55 UTC] No.45299061[source]▶
    It sounds like they already are, and questioning what benefits having a remote MacOS server would give them.

    Time Machine backups could be one reason?

    replies(1): >>45299312 #
    4. mvanbaak ◴[19 Sep 25 08:01 UTC] No.45299109[source]▶
    A couple of reasons for me to run it: - time machine - photos.app backup (have photos.app download local copies of your iCloud photos library, backup the photos.app files) - build server for ios/ipados/macos apps
    replies(1): >>45299266 #
    5. fredsted ◴[19 Sep 25 08:03 UTC] No.45299128[source]▶
    I mean, why not? There's few drawbacks. Low power usage, high performance, stable OS that can about the same software Linux can. You get the added benefit of interfacing with Apple's ecosystem and iCloud, so you could e.g. back up your Photos database remotely. You can remote in and have a fully featured desktop available anywhere.
    6. rendx ◴[19 Sep 25 08:20 UTC] No.45299266[source]▶
    I use linux SMB targets for Time Machine and PhotoSync and it works just fine. There's also icloudpd, but it requires ADP off.
    7. rendx ◴[19 Sep 25 08:28 UTC] No.45299312{3}[source]▶
    Time Machine does not require Mac. You can point it to e.g. a SMB share as destination as well.
    8. drexlspivey ◴[19 Sep 25 08:30 UTC] No.45299320[source]▶
    I use it as a plex server and it can handle anything you throw at it. Previously plex was running on the synology NAS itself and it would choke with a couple concurrent transcodes
    9. rollcat ◴[19 Sep 25 09:00 UTC] No.45299496[source]▶
    I'm browsing for something to replace my M1 mini, possibly a non-Mac. With Tahoe around the corner, running a Mac headless seems to be the best option to cope with the redesign.
    10. rollcat ◴[19 Sep 25 09:07 UTC] No.45299542[source]▶
    Unfortunately they only support M1/M2 (last time I checked - hardstuck). It would be a great choice to repurpose existing hardware, but I wouldn't go shopping for Asahi specifically.
    11. egorfine ◴[19 Sep 25 09:13 UTC] No.45299586[source]▶
    I run a render farm on macs. I'm getting so much more performance from a basic Mac Mini that it's not even funny.

    Also a bit of CI on these because why not.

    Managing remote macOS instances is a constant PITA, including, but not limited to ssh access quirks.

    12. BatteryMountain ◴[19 Sep 25 09:43 UTC] No.45299754[source]▶
    Build servers.

    Currently, someone has to head down to the basement and turn the mac on manually if it dies/crashes for any reason. Huge pain in the psu.

    13. lxgr ◴[19 Sep 25 12:37 UTC] No.45300974[source]▶
    A Mac mini (or studio, or however it's called these days) is supposedly one of the more affordable ways to self-host LLMs these days.

    Being able to resume such a server after a power outage when traveling sounds great.