2nd Ethernet Port needed for Gateway/Server plans - ideas?

[randfee]

Hey guys,

again and again I was very tempted to get me a MacMini as a Server. I can't justify having too many network machines running 24/7 though hence I'd love to be able to have Gateway and Server in one machine.
No matter what, I need two NICs and that is where the Mac Mini has always failed and still does.
I am aware of the very cumbersome usb to ethernet adapter from the MacBook Air. This is no option, it's slow and whatever... no, I'd rather not use anything like that.

So I thought, there must be others that ran into the same problem and maybe somebody here has a solution for this inconvenience?!



many thanks
randfee
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[center]mad scientist[/center]

[saul]

You are the perfect candidate for the new Thunderbolt display. It includes a Gigabit Ethernet port.

2nd option is to buy a Mac Pro that includes two Ethernet ports. But it is a power hog compared to the mini.

3rd option is to use the wireless. Goes to 100+ mb/s

I am curious as to why the 100mb/s USB Ethernet won't work for you.

[randfee]

hey, thanks... but sorry

I'm fully equipped with displays anyway... oh and plus, why would I want to buy an extra display for a 24/7 server machine that (the display) will NEVER get used?! ...
hehe

The USB to Ethernet adapter is just outdated ,I've tried it over a year ago and it is slooow. Even my internet-connection is faster so this is no option for a router/gateway setup.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3341
Apple should be ashamed of themselves that they don't offer a good breakout box with audio, dvi, vga, ethernet, cardreader... whatever, a multi-port network adapter... or just a Thunderbolt PCIe adapter, any would do I guess. ... Thunderbolt put to use, but no, nothing yet, at least I can't find it!

Thanks anyways, appreciate any ideas you guys might have.
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[center]mad scientist[/center]

[ez061111]

Apple does offer exactly what it sounds like you are looking for, the Mac Pro with Lion Server; it's expensive but it sounds exactly what you are asking for.

This is especially true if your network speeds are faster than the USB option which may not be good for LAN but is suitable for most people with their slower WAN speeds. I would agree that a $1000 adapter for ethernet is not really what most people are looking for that need 2 E-net ports.

Other than the 2 functional options, it does appear that Thunderbolt may have some network expandable capabilities...but we'll have to wait and see as with everything Thunderbolt.
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[randfee]

[ez061111]

Even though you have been given several options there really is no pleasing you. What you want, as you are currently well aware, Apple does not produce. If you want to vent, that's fine.

For most people the USB 100BT option works and is fast enough for most people but as you mention it's not fast enough for you. Perhaps another computer company is what you need as Apple probably no time soon will make a $999 Enterprise server. For home use Apple deems it not necessary to add a second NIC, but for a few bucks more you can currently do it with the USB. Most users that need the second NIC arguably would also "need" the other power that a true server would offer.

[randfee]

sorry... I apologize, did not want to flame around, seriously.
I just thought that for a "server" product (macmini server) there might be something like that available out there that I haven't considered yet.

Plus, TB has been out for over six months, I also considered that a long enough time for third party parts to have been releases... some that I also have not noticed. TB provides direct access to PCIe, it isn't very far fetched to assume somebody thought of connecting some PCIe devices then, at least I'd think so.

There is no need for me to "vent" or for you to assume that my tone is hostile, it actually is quite presumptuous to say so, no offense. I think my arguments against the possibilities discussed are rational and not driven by the will to rebel

[saul]

I think that this is just another one of those ideas that doesn't jive with Apple's vision. If you want a gateway for home use then the Airport Extreme is what Apple wants you to use. I believe that the reason that the Mac Pro has a second Ethernet port was to support XSAN, not do do anything users would want.

Bottom line: If you want a low-end server with dual gigabit ports then Apple is not going to have it because they don't think that it fits their vision.

[randfee]

i get that... but frankly: screw their "vision". They make many great products, yet they try to trap the user.
For example, their own server software does not provide Cisco VPN yet that's what you need to use VPN on demand with their own phone! Thank you Apple - great logic in that!

That is why I run an Astaro Firewall/Gateway on a self-build ITX-box AND a server. Yet all that functionality would fit nicely (performance wise) on a Mac Mini, the lack of a second ethernet port is keeping me from it. Sure I could just run a MacMini as server bind my firewall.... but I can't justify running so many single machines on a 24/7 basis.

Another example. I wouldn't need the server so much if Apple were to provice actual CalDAV support with their mobile me / soon to be iCloud. It just isn't CalDAV (even though they introduced it and always claim they stand for open standards) and it doesn't sync to open source software like Thunderbild/Lightning properly, fault on THEIR side, since it did a year ago.
If they'll ever start pulling shit like enforce the Mac-App-Store, I'm done... and I won't be the only one. So what's wrong with trying to get the best out of it and "customize" as much as possible, where needed? In this case I'm only looking for a rather small addon
My new MBA is just awesome... yet missing a similar thing: a multiple-port breakout-box. Apple started TB, they should kick it of and deliver, yet they're not. Seems to me they're going to repeat everything they did wrong with firewire... what a shame.

I like their OS and most hardware A LOT, just trying to find a way to stick with them and keep my device-pool tight!
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[center]mad scientist[/center]

[downwash]

You don't need to have two physical NICs. You can make a VLAN trunk to a switch which is 802.1q aware and you can get as many Ethernet ports as you need, for free. The only limitation is they will share the 1Gbps bandwidth of the NIC, of course. Basically you will only need to buy a switch supporting VLANs, and read up on the configuration process.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_LAN
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.1Q
http://www.google.com/search?q=mac+os+x+vlan+configuration

[macmanmacman]

I have a idea it's not the greatest but listen..

Are you planing on using the server to just save and distribute files to no internet sharing on the server.. or using it as a media hub there is a solution to this...

You can find online older macintosh xserves running tiger and even snow leopard server for around 80.00 to even 100.00 depends where you look and what processor you get i have a older g5 server running tiger server i got bored one day and turned it into a file server no need for internet no need for games just to share media and photo's and other data with...

and it works great for that it has two lan ports on it and might be a good solution for what you are trying to do.