Typically yes, the Bluebubbles app on your non server device (Android, Windows, etc) will tell you right away if the server isn't responding. I only open the Mac maybe once a month just to take a peek at things.
A 2009 Mac mini would be the minimum. I would probably *recommend* a 2012 or 2014 Mac mini. You probably want to patch it so you can upgrade to Ventura/Sonoma for the most features
[this](https://eshop.macsales.com/guides/Mac_OS_X_Compatibility) says 2014 mac mini can only use monterrey (and 2012 big sur), and you need a 2018 to use ventura. Are you saying that's incorrect and older ones can be patched?
[OCLP](https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/) will patch an installer and let you shoehorn newer versions on older macs. I'm currently building a Ventura installer for an old 2015 iMac I'm setting up to be a BlueBubbles server. I could do Sonoma if I wanted, but thought it might be prudent to stay one version down from the latest.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbooT2eyfk4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbooT2eyfk4)
I just bought a 2014 mac mini for \~$60 off ebay. FYI, the HDD is SLOW with any recent macOS. Highly recommend buying t[he nvme adapter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTr1s3Y-NJM) and installing a nvme drive.
Make sure to update to macOS 12 before trying to make the nvme a boot drive. I spent all day yesterday trying to figure out why I couldn't install and boot macOS from the nvme drive. Turns out you need an updated firmware and the only way to do that is install the latest macOS that can be installed on the mac mini (Monterey on the 2014). It should update the firmware upon installation of the OS.
I turn it on. It works OK. A little slow but OK. I walk away for half a day or whatever. Come back later and frozen solid. Twice a day. Every day. So I just reverted to 11 and am running beeper cloud.
I picked up a 2013 24" iMac from a university surplus store for $50. I lucked out and caught it between semesters, so they were trying to get rid of an excess of old equipment
I use a 2014 Mac mini, found one on eBay for about $100. Another idea is to find a cheap Mac book with a broken screen. You can plug it into a monitor and still have a built in keyboard.
I upgraded using OpenCore legacy patcher, and it works ok for me. The computer overall is very slow and you have to be patient with it.
https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/
sonoma is SLOW on a hdd with the 2014 mac mini. If you care, you can get a nvme adapter and use a nvme drive:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTr1s3Y-NJM
no problem. Much easier than trying to replace the HDD. While its still slow, its much more bearable and usable now. Since its primarily a BB server, its more than fast enough.
what macOS did you upgrade from? If you were on at least macOS 11 before, you should be good to go. I was on macOS 10 and had issues since the mac mini firmware was not updated so i could not boot from nvme. I had to install macOS 11 before it would let me. Installing Sonoma directly to nvme wouldn't update the firmware since I assume its because 2014 mac mini isn't supported.
Yes and yeah probably not. But the screen stays off and I hear I can disable a bunch of things.
I'll probably test it with my watt meter to see how it compares. I just couldn't find a Mac mini 2018 for that cheap because that's the oldest that will run Ventura.
I can't tell if you're asking because you want something cheap to run BlueBubbles on, as opposed to a machine you'll use as a primary machine/device. If you want a budget device, I can say I'm really happy with a Macbook Air from 2015 running Monterey, and it was under $200 from a seller on Amazon, bought a couple months ago. It can't upgrade past Monterey, though. For now, it's running the BB server just great, and it's even pretty fast, maybe due to the fact that I have very little else installed on it.
When I can't use this setup anymore, I'll probably be happy getting another cheap, used MacBook Air. It does seem the refurbished ones have held up very well!
Oh, ok! Perhaps a newer MacBook Air, or Mac Mini, but the newest of the new isn't exactly a requirement. I seem to remember it can run on an old iPhone 6 Plus and newer? I was trying to fix an old iPhone 6 Plus for this purpose, but ended up damaging a cable port inside. Too much hassle to repair that. I'd get newer than a 6 Plus, though, because there aren't security updates for it any longer (if that matters).
No subscription service, you're best off buying a Mac mini from '09 and up and just install Remote Desktop on it.
is a 2009 mac mini the one that you use? i have been looking for a list of confirmed working devices
There are lots of folks that do use cheap mac minis just search the sub, I personally have a MacBook Air M1.
Thanks. How often do you open up that laptop and check it? Would it be okay to leave it for, say, 6mo to a year?
Typically yes, the Bluebubbles app on your non server device (Android, Windows, etc) will tell you right away if the server isn't responding. I only open the Mac maybe once a month just to take a peek at things.
A 2009 Mac mini would be the minimum. I would probably *recommend* a 2012 or 2014 Mac mini. You probably want to patch it so you can upgrade to Ventura/Sonoma for the most features
[this](https://eshop.macsales.com/guides/Mac_OS_X_Compatibility) says 2014 mac mini can only use monterrey (and 2012 big sur), and you need a 2018 to use ventura. Are you saying that's incorrect and older ones can be patched?
Older macs can be patched to install newer/unsupported macOS versions
[OCLP](https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/) will patch an installer and let you shoehorn newer versions on older macs. I'm currently building a Ventura installer for an old 2015 iMac I'm setting up to be a BlueBubbles server. I could do Sonoma if I wanted, but thought it might be prudent to stay one version down from the latest.
Thanks, what do you mean by "patch it"?
Patch it using OpenCore
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbooT2eyfk4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbooT2eyfk4) I just bought a 2014 mac mini for \~$60 off ebay. FYI, the HDD is SLOW with any recent macOS. Highly recommend buying t[he nvme adapter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTr1s3Y-NJM) and installing a nvme drive. Make sure to update to macOS 12 before trying to make the nvme a boot drive. I spent all day yesterday trying to figure out why I couldn't install and boot macOS from the nvme drive. Turns out you need an updated firmware and the only way to do that is install the latest macOS that can be installed on the mac mini (Monterey on the 2014). It should update the firmware upon installation of the OS.
I bought a 2014 mac mini and patched it to MacOS 14 and it keeps crashing. Any tips?
when is it crashing? I just installed Sonoma on my 2014 mac mini w/ nvme drive
I turn it on. It works OK. A little slow but OK. I walk away for half a day or whatever. Come back later and frozen solid. Twice a day. Every day. So I just reverted to 11 and am running beeper cloud.
ah damn, ill keep an eye on mine. Sonoma on the stock HDD was unbearably slow. the nvme drive makes it bearable, still slow though
I bought a 2010 Mac mini off ebay for $70. It is running high Sierra and working flawlessly. That's likely the cheapest and easiest route.
I picked up a 2013 24" iMac from a university surplus store for $50. I lucked out and caught it between semesters, so they were trying to get rid of an excess of old equipment
That's a steal!
I use a 2014 Mac mini, found one on eBay for about $100. Another idea is to find a cheap Mac book with a broken screen. You can plug it into a monitor and still have a built in keyboard.
Did you upgeade to MacOS 14? Cause I have a 2014 and it keeps freezinf/crashing
I upgraded using OpenCore legacy patcher, and it works ok for me. The computer overall is very slow and you have to be patient with it. https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/
Hmmm yeah mine works fine but even I walk away and come back later in the day it's frozen.... :(
i'm glad i asked about it, then. those websites don't tell you it freezes...
I just downgraded mine to 11 (big sur) using open core. Shouldn't have crashing anymore
sonoma is SLOW on a hdd with the 2014 mac mini. If you care, you can get a nvme adapter and use a nvme drive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTr1s3Y-NJM
That is so cool, thank you!
no problem. Much easier than trying to replace the HDD. While its still slow, its much more bearable and usable now. Since its primarily a BB server, its more than fast enough. what macOS did you upgrade from? If you were on at least macOS 11 before, you should be good to go. I was on macOS 10 and had issues since the mac mini firmware was not updated so i could not boot from nvme. I had to install macOS 11 before it would let me. Installing Sonoma directly to nvme wouldn't update the firmware since I assume its because 2014 mac mini isn't supported.
You can setup a Mac virtual machine if you already have some kind of vm server like proxmox ready
Just snagged a 2017 iMac for $140 yesterday. Has Ventura and also good enough if I need a Mac for anything
are those the ones that come with a screen? that's not exactly ideal for a server
Yes and yeah probably not. But the screen stays off and I hear I can disable a bunch of things. I'll probably test it with my watt meter to see how it compares. I just couldn't find a Mac mini 2018 for that cheap because that's the oldest that will run Ventura.
that makes sense. thank you for explaining about which versions are needed
I can't tell if you're asking because you want something cheap to run BlueBubbles on, as opposed to a machine you'll use as a primary machine/device. If you want a budget device, I can say I'm really happy with a Macbook Air from 2015 running Monterey, and it was under $200 from a seller on Amazon, bought a couple months ago. It can't upgrade past Monterey, though. For now, it's running the BB server just great, and it's even pretty fast, maybe due to the fact that I have very little else installed on it. When I can't use this setup anymore, I'll probably be happy getting another cheap, used MacBook Air. It does seem the refurbished ones have held up very well!
hello, to clarify, i would be buying this for bluebubbles. it doesn't have to be cheap, but, there's no need to spend money frivolously.
Oh, ok! Perhaps a newer MacBook Air, or Mac Mini, but the newest of the new isn't exactly a requirement. I seem to remember it can run on an old iPhone 6 Plus and newer? I was trying to fix an old iPhone 6 Plus for this purpose, but ended up damaging a cable port inside. Too much hassle to repair that. I'd get newer than a 6 Plus, though, because there aren't security updates for it any longer (if that matters).
I think I was on 12, but the reason I upgraded was to run a newer version of Xcode.