Actuator for Mac Mini on/off button

[Che_Guitarra]

I'm planning to rackmount a Mac Mini to use as a dedicated Pro Tools rig.  Fixing the MM to a rackmout case is easy enough, but I don't want the inconvenience of reaching behind the rack to turn it on each and every time I use it.  How would you suggest I actuate the on/of button from the front panel?

 

[[silent:arts]]

http://sonnettech.com/product/rackmacmini.html

 

[Che_Guitarra]

I've seen that option floating around - it's the right idea, but I only plan to buy one Mac Mini, and it won't have a CD/DVD drive.  Things like an empty bay with dead buttons on front, and CD slots to nowhere are the kind of thing that'll irk me.

If I build my own I can get it exactly as I want it, it'll be a bit of fun to make, and I can get probably get it done for a half the price.

 

[[silent:arts]]

Without a CD Drive just mount the back to the front?

 

[Che_Guitarra]

I'm thinking something more like this.  It just occurred to me that I could use remote control parts to get the job done.

 

[peterc]

Or else, so as to see as little of the cabling as possible, mount it side-on with the power button close to the front of the rack.

 

[goetzmd]

Under System Preferences -> Energy Saver you could enable your Mac to automatically boot after getting disconnected from power. Enable this and hardwire the Macs power cable to a switch on the front. Wouldn't this work without the need to modify your Mac or building some complicated mechanics?

Cheers,
Goetz

 

[Walrus]

No, that doesn't work if you shut down the Mini normally. I just tried it to see......

 

[[silent:arts]]

Under System Preferences -> Energy Saver you could enable your Mac to automatically boot after getting disconnected from power. Enable this and hardwire the Macs power cable to a switch on the front. Wouldn't this work without the need to modify your Mac or building some complicated mechanics?

It is always a good idea to shutdown a computer correctly.
And if you do it the right way, this doesn't work.

Sadly you can't do start up on LAN etc too.
Have tried many solutions, since our computers are in machine rooms - sometimes even in another building.
And users are lazy ...

 

[keefaz]

No Wake on Lan for mac mini?

 

[Andy Peters]

No Wake on Lan for mac mini?

Not from power off, only from sleep.

-a

 

[Winetree]

Hey, if looks don't matter, Turn he unit around, then all the plugs and on/off switch will be on front.
No more having to reach around the back to replug things or turn it on. YMHO.

 

[MixedByEirik]

Che_Guitarra that looks exactly like the power trigger on the sonnettech I bought.  It's great, but like you said, I only have one. I wound up using velcro to mount external drives on the other side and using the USB passthroughs for my keyboard and ilok, but for much less you could buy a blank rack spacer, mount some neutrik USB passthroughs with a knock out punch, and mount that in front of a rack shelf in the same space. Hope this helps. First post (at 2am) WOOHOO!
Eirik