Colocation

What is the difference between colocation and a dedicated server?

The majority of our customers choose traditional dedicated server hosting where MacStadium provides the server hardware and hosts it in our data center. If you already own a Mac and wish for us to host it for you, you may use our Mac colocation service.

In both offerings, each subscription is required to pay a hosting fee each month which includes the Internet connectivity, custom rack space, power, remote management tools, remote hands support, and active DDoS protection.

There are many benefits to the dedicated server product offering, which include:

Instant Activation available to dedicated servers, so you can get started immediately. The latest version of macOS is available with no wait on our most popular Mac mini offerings.
MacStadium is 100% responsible for all maintenance on the servers. If your Mac has hardware issues, we cover 100% of hardware and labor costs.
You can change Mac models at any point during your subscription with no penalties; you’ll only need to pay any difference in price if upgrading.
When Apple releases new Mac hardware in the future, MacStadium will offer subscriptions to those models, and you can swap.
If you can’t predict the future (most of us can’t), then using our servers makes more sense than owning the hardware yourself.
Technology always depreciates. When you subscribe to a server from MacStadium, you don’t have worry about loss of value, shipping fees, or lost productivity time.
Businesses prefer to have an operating expense on the books vs. a capital expense for accounting reasons.

How do I configure my Mac for colocation prior to shipping it?

Static IP Address Configuration

Set Manual IP address

Open Apple Menu, and choose System Preferences:

Network
Select Ethernet on left sidebar (or create the connection)
Under Configure IPv4, select Manually
Enter the IP Address assigned to you
Enter the Subnet Mask assigned to you
Enter the Router / Gateway assigned to you

Use MacStadium DNS

Under DNS, click the + sign

Atlanta

DNS1: 207.254.1.254
DNS2: 207.254.1.253

Las Vegas

DNS1: 207.254.72.254
DNS2: 207.254.72.253

Dublin

DNS1: 207.254.25.254
DNS2: 207.254.25.253

Disable local wireless radios

Click Wi-Fi
Click "Turn Wi-Fi Off"
Uncheck "Ask to join new networks"
Uncheck "Show Wi-Fi status in menu bar"
Click Bluetooth
Click "Turn Bluetooth Off"

Other Recommended Settings

Desktop & Screen Saver

Set your background color to a solid color, or black
Set your screen saver to "never"

Security

Check "Disable remote control IR receiver."
In Users & Groups, select Login Options. Choose Name and password for the 'Display login window as:' radio button.
Also, uncheck Show the Sleep, Restart, and Shut Down Buttons

Bluetooth

Show All > Bluetooth
Click Advanced
Uncheck "Open Bluetooth Setup Assistant"
Click OK
Uncheck the "On" checkbox in the main Bluetooth window

Energy Saver

Set Display Sleep to "Never"
Set Computer Sleep to "Never"
Uncheck "Put the hard disks to sleep when possible"
Check "Wake for Ethernet network administrator access"
Uncheck "Allow power button to sleep the computer"
Check "Restart automatically after a power failure"
Click Schedule
Set Start up or Wake every day at 4AM (in case you ever accidentally shut your Mac down permanently)

Sharing

Check "Screen Sharing"
Check "Allow access for All Users"
If you are using a firewall, ensure you open Port 5900 to allow for Screen Sharing access
Check "Remote Login" (for SSH)
Check "Allow access for All Users"
If you are using a firewall, ensure you open Port 22 to allow for SSH access