Mac Mini HTPC - Basic Setup and VNC (Apple)

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Mac Mini HTPC - Basic Setup and VNC (Apple)
(2007/07/27)

Mac Mini HTPC - Basic Setup and VNC
By Brad Trupp (c) 2007

OK. So I decided to buy a Mac Mini and hook it up as a HTPC or Home Theatre Personal Computer. The newer Apple TV product can do this but the Mac Mini and the right choices for software make it a much more powerful choice.

Basic Setup

OK. First step was actually putting together the Mac Mini and learning a little about the operating system.

In my case, the "tv" is a two year old Dell w3000 which is a 30" lcd tv with all the usual inputs including DVI so hooking up the Mac Mini was just like hooking up any old computer. I plugged in a usb keyboard and mouse for the time being. Later on, I will pick up some different audio cable so the sound will go both to the tv and to my stereo.

I picked up a Logitech EX110 cordless keyboard and mouse later for about $29. Once everything is set up over the next few weeks, I will be using the Apple remote with Front Row most of the time so the keyboard and mouse will be put away under a coffee table for infrequent use. For other tasks, I will being using remote access software.

This is a basic entry level Mac Mini with the 1.66Ghz Intel Core Duo. I ordered it with the memory upgrade to 1 gb from 512 mb and a 80 gb drive instead of the standard 60gb. This was mostly a guess on configuration -- I know more memory is always a good thing -- and the 80gb drive gives me well over 55 gb free space --even though I plan to keep most of my multimedia file on a NAS or network storage system.

The First Time...

This was my first time using a Mac so it definitely was an bit of an adventure. Run the Software Update a few times to get everything current. You find it by clicking on the little apple on the top left corner. One weird thing is that it wanted me to shut down itunes so it could install an update. Took me a few minutes to figure out how. Right -click in the iTunes icon to get the menu and select "Quit".

Why do you want VNC?

In my case the mac mini and the tv are one part of my house and my home office is in another. VNC or Virtual Network Computing allows me to control the mac from another computer.

Really, it is going to be a lot more convenient to install software, et al, from my desk than sitting on the couch in the living room. This way I can open open multiple browser windows on the main computer at the same time to research how to do things as I play and learn about the mac and its operating system.

To steal from Wikipedia for a moment --

In computing, Virtual Network Computing (VNC) is a graphical desktop sharing system which uses the RFB protocol to remotely control another computer. It transmits the keyboard and mouse events from one computer to another, relaying the graphical screen updates back in the other direction, over a network.
VNC is platform-independent — a VNC viewer on any operating system can usually connect to a VNC server on any other operating system. There are clients and servers for almost all GUI operating systems and for Java. Multiple clients may connect to a VNC server at the same time. Popular uses for this technology include remote technical support and accessing files on one's work computer from one's home computer.

VNC on the Mac Mini

I am told that there is a built-in vnc server in the operating system but the research I did indicated that the open source product OSXvnc Vine Server at http://sourceforge.net/projects/osxvnc/ was my best choice.

Another choice is Chicken of the VNC at http://sourceforge.net/projects/cotvnc/.

A few tips before installing VNC --

Set up your Mac Mini with a fixed ip rather than using DHCP. It will make is easier for you to find the mac from your vnc viewer on another computer.
Open up the VNC server port of the firewall. It is under System Preferences -> Sharing. Turn the firewall on if it is not already active. Click on the New button, change Port Name to Other, Enter TCP Port 5900 and give it a description of VNC Server.
If you are running the Mac Mini "headless" without a keyboard or mouse, you will want to go into bluetooth settings and turn off "Open Bluetooth Setup Assistant at startup if no input devices present" so it does NOT bug you at each and every startup to look for bluetooth devices.

Once you install OSXvnc Vine Server --

Make it load every time by clicking on the OSXvnc icon on the dock and selecting "Open at Login". Next, go into System Preferences -> Accounts and select Login Items and click the Hide box for OSXvnc Vine Server. This will minimize it so you do not see the OSXvnc Vine Server screen every time you turn on the computer. It will still be active on the dock.

Adding a VNC Viewer on Windows

My choice for a VNC viewer on my main XP machine is RealVNC at http://www.realvnc.com/. The personal edition for home use is free. I use it at my day job and it works well.

Just download the VNC Personal Edition Viewer for Windows Stand-alone Viewer since that is all you will need.

What's Next?

Next step -- extending Quicktime with additional Codecs...

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