Mac Mini OS X Server Proves Great for Small Businesses

Before low-power, low-cost ARM-based machines were being talked about, Apple unveiled Xserve – a line of rack unit servers. Within five years of its introduction, Apple abandoned Xserve and recommended users switch to a new version of its Mac Mini preloaded with OS X Server. The Mac Mini shipped without a display and was priced in the $750-$1,000 range, depending on specifications.

As of today, more than half a dozen facilities are either hosting their own Mac Minis for rent or offering colocation services for individual consumers and businesses.

One of those companies, Los Angeles-based Mac Mini Colos, announced it’s been seeing a strong growth in the second quarter of 2013. Mac Mini Colos offers medium priced hosting solutions exclusively to Apple Mac Mini customers. The company offers month-to-month billing, premium bandwidth and access to a top network of IP transit routes.

“We wanted to offer month-to-month billing as part of our standard offerings, because we want the customer to feel comfortable and not locked into a contract,” said a spokesperson for Mac Mini Colos.

The spokesperson went on to mention that while some of their existing customers have migrated from the Xserve platform to a Mini, most of the company's recent growth is attributed to new customers.

“Every one of our new customers has thoroughly enjoyed working with us to get their new Mini online properly,” the spokesperson continued. “When they evaluate what they are getting per month, and what they are paying per month, they are more than satisfied. Moving forward into the second quarter of 2013, we will continue to grow and positively affect the marketplace.”

The Minis are used for all sorts of activity, including mail. Websites for small businesses, or a VPN server for those in need of an IP address in the United States.

Even its home use has increased as more and more people look to cut the cord from their cable TV provider, using the Mini as a streaming home media server.

The hardware is proving itself reliable while also running faster and cooler thanks in part to a lack of an external power brick. The average lifespan of a Mini in a server environment is approximately three years, according to Mac Mini Colos.