Best Hardware for Software Distribution Point 2024

[dtmille2]

Hello all,

I will be purchasing some new hardware for local software distribution points for both content caching servers using Apple's content caching service, and for software distribution points for lab installs.  We do a lot of Adobe CC installation, and other larger software packages.

What do you use in your environment?

Opinions on using a Mac mini?  Does the amount of RAM or processor speed in a Mac mini make a difference between either of those use cases?

Thanks!

[talkingmoose]

RAM and processor shouldn't make much difference. It'll be disk space, disk speed and network bandwidth you'll need.

Today, Mac minis come with SSDs, so disk speed isn't an issue. Get a drive that will comfortably host all your packages plus room to grow.

You definitely want to give your mini the biggest network pipe you can throw at it. If all your computers are running at the same network speed, installs will slow down the more computers you try to install.

Apple offers a 10 GB wired network port instead of 1 GB. If your other computers are 1 GB wired, then you can have roughly 10 computers installing at the same time before the mini's output is saturated. Of course, that means you need to connect your mini to a 10 GB network port too.

[agungsujiwo]

@dtmille2 
I use a Mac Pro and iMac,

but after reviewing the 10Gb port, SSD options (with a minimum capacity of 1TB or more), and overall cost,

I found the Mac mini to be the best choice.