Is there a step by step 'idiot's guide' to installing and running Roon on a Mac Mini?

Roon Software Discussion
22

Indeed. Pretty sure My 100TB NAS with 8 spinning disks and two fans running 24/7 consumes a multiple of that amount. :sunglasses:

23

I’ve been using a Mac mini 2018 then M1 with Roon. It is the most affordable and simplest way to enjoy Roon. Nothing beat it. Absolutely nothing. Over the last 6 years, I l’ve never had any issues. I restart it from time to time but honestly it is as I forgot about it which is the best compliment you can give to a piece of tech. It just works.

24

I found these suggested settings which are working well for me on a M4 Mac mini:

Optimal settings and adjustments for using a Mac mini with Apple Silicon as a dedicated Roon core server:

Mac Hardware Setup

  • Use an apple silicon m1, m2, m3, or m4 Mac mini with at least 16GB of RAM for best performance. Consider more RAM if you’re thinking of using HQ Player on this Mac.

  • Connect the Mac mini to your network via Ethernet for stable connectivity.

  • Use an external SSD for music storage to save on internal storage costs.

Clean Mac OS Installation

  • Perform a clean installation of macOS on the Mac mini.

  • Remove unnecessary applications and services.

Mac Energy Saver Settings

• - Check “prevent automatic sleeping when display is off”

• - Uncheck “put hard disks to sleep when possible”

• - Check “startup automatically after power failure”

• -

Mac Sharing Settings

• - Turn on sharing: System Settings > General > Sharing turned on, click “i” next to sharing toggle to allow access to music SSD and other preferences such as screen sharing depending on your setup. This sharing will allow you to manage your music library from another computer and keep the Mac Mini “headless” if you choose.

• -

Roon Server Installation

  • Backup Roon if you are migrating from another computer, ROCK nuc, or Nucleus

  • Download and install the latest version of Roon for Desktop which will include the option to set up as a Server.

  • Plug in your backup in the Mac mini and choose “Restore From Backup” in the bottom center of the Roon login screen. Consult Roon’s Migration webpage for more instructions if needed.

  • Set Roon Server to “launch at startup”.

  • Go to Roon settings, backup, and setup a backup to the Mac’s ssd and/or other storage.

Mac System Preferences

  • Disable automatic updates for macOS and apps.

  • Turn off unnecessary background services and startup items.

  • Configure Time Machine or another backup solution to protect your Roon database and music files.

These settings are a good start. Light adjustments might be needed depending on your setup.