Getting Started
Prep your Mac mini for the vault
Welcome to Mac Mini Vault! There are a few quick settings that you'll need to set prior to sending your mini to its new home. If you have any questions just reply to the instruction email. Everything lives in System Settings on macOS Ventura and later, and we also included notes on shipping.
01 / SYSTEM SETTINGS / ENERGY
Energy
Turn on Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off, Wake for network access, and Start up automatically after a power failure. Leave the other options off.
Recent macOS versions no longer include the schedule UI, so set a nightly start-up-or-wake event from Terminal instead:
sudo pmset repeat wakeorpoweron MTWRFSU 03:00:00This will power on a machine that’s accidentally been shut down outside of our free hands-on support hours. The schedule is ignored while the machine is powered on.
02 / SYSTEM SETTINGS / NETWORK
Network
Under Ethernet > Details > TCP/IP, set Configure IPv4 to Manually and enter the details included in your instruction email. Additional IP addresses used for Virtual Machines do not need to be added here. Please also turn Wi-Fi off.
03 / SYSTEM SETTINGS / GENERAL / SHARING
Sharing
Enable Screen Sharing and Remote Login. Remote Management (Apple Remote Desktop) is not needed: Screen Sharing covers day-to-day access, including clipboard sharing and drag and drop file transfers.
04 / SYSTEM SETTINGS / LOCK SCREEN
Lock Screen
Set Login window shows to Name and password, and turn off Show the Sleep, Restart, and Shutdown buttons. This increases the security of your login window.
We also recommend leaving FileVault (in Privacy & Security) turned off: an encrypted mini cannot complete an unattended reboot, because the disk stays locked until a password is entered at the console.
05 / SHIPPING
Shipping
Box up your mini and send it to the address provided in the instruction email. Do not include the power cord, but we do recommend using the original Mac mini box. We’ll store the box and return it to you when your Mac mini is shipped back. Make sure to properly pad and protect the box by placing it within a shipping box. Also make sure there is an insured value on the shipment that matches the value of your equipment.
Once the package is shipped reply to the instruction email with tracking details. Please note that the shipping/receiving department is not open on weekends or holidays. Once your Mac mini arrives we’ll process it and place it in the data center. You’ll receive an email when it’s online or if we have any questions.