Subscription Workflow

After I sign up for a single dedicated Mac, what happens next?

After creating an account and selecting a Mac server subscription, the following information is provided:

Full access to the customer dashboard
Specific subscription information including IP addresses

Then, a new provisioning support ticket is created to track the release of the server.
A new server is provisioned (according to the selections made during checkout).
Instructions are sent, via email, and the ticketing system in the customer dashboard contain instructions for accessing the server.

Due to the potential for delays, new users should first subscribe to a Mac mini with instant availability to test network connectivity, latency, and the speed of the hosted Mac.

For custom orders (hardware, networking, or operating system), our technicians will begin configuring the server upon checkout. This may take up to 24 hours, depending on parts and availability.

How do I connect to my Mac for the first time?

All Mac mini subscriptions are pre-configured to connect using the following methods:

macOS Screen Sharing: Open Safari and type vnc://192.168.1.186 (replacing the IP address with one provided in your install ticket)

VNC: Download your favorite free VNC viewer/client such as Apple’s Remote Desktop app, RealVNC, TightVNC or others

SSH Terminal: Use your OS’s built in terminal, or download a SSH solution for Windows like PuTTY to gain console access

After the initial connection to the Mac, install other common remote access solutions such as SplashTop, TeamViewer, or LogMeIn.

Mac configuration assistance?

Our remote hands service covers basic hardware and OS setup to ensure access to the Mac via remote SSH, VNC, or screen sharing.

MacStadium is a fully-staffed service organization with technicians and engineers available around the clock - many of whom are highly trained on solutions which involve Apple hardware.

If you need further, more-specific help setting up more detailed aspects of the OS or included software, we will try to help if we can provide guidance. But, MacStadium is an infrastructure services provider, and not an IT support organization. For this reason, we often refer more advanced support issues dealing with custom configuration of your OS or software to one of our partners who specialize in IT configuration and management.

How do the different Mac computers compare?

Please see our MacStadium Bare Metal Mac Benchmarks for detailed comparisons between machines.

Can I use a remote Mac for iOS development?

Yes, our service is popular among individual developers and large teams developing apps for iOS.

Certain forms of application development require that a physical iOS device is connected to emulate and test the application. This can be done over the wire (across the internet) using a USB over IP solution. One common solution that other customers have recommended is Eltima's USB over Network for Mac software.

Can a hosted Mac server offer a virtual desktop at 4k resolution?

After some minor upgrades, a hosted Mac can make a great virtual desktop interface. By connecting a GPU enabler to the unused HDMI port, we can make the Mac believe it's connected to a display. This simple addition causes the Mac server to then enable GPU acceleration by emulating a display. New, high-definition display resolutions are then available for users connecting via screen sharing, VNC, or remote desktop.

By default, we include a fit-Headless GPU enabler on every new dedicated server. The GPU enabler we provide offers up to 1080p resolution. We have small and large customers who either send in or request that we custom order GPU enablers that can support up to 4k resolution or 4k plus high refresh rates. fit-Headless offers HDMI GPU enablers for this purpose.

Do I have root and admin access to subscription-based Mac servers?

For every subscription to a hosted Mac running macOS, we provide an administrator account and the ability to modify system-level files. Login as administrator to a Mac running macOS and you have complete control over the system.

SSH and VNC access are enabled by default on dedicated servers so you can access them from any device. It's no different than if the server were on your local network.

We do require that you follow the guidelines set in our Terms of Service and Acceptable Use Policy which you must agree to during checkout.

Do I need a VNC server installed on my Mac?

One of the more popular free VNC tools used by our clients, RealVNC, now offers their server product under the name VNC Connect. Customers often ask us whether they need VNC Connect on their Mac running macOS.

Apple’s macOS also includes a built-in default VNC server. We enable this for every hosted Mac running any version of macOS before releasing the server to a customer.

To connect to one of our Mac servers running macOS, you need a VNC client like the one RealVNC offers, VNC Viewer. VNC Connect is not required.

Is there macOS software to replace the popular web hosting software offered by Linux VPS providers?

Below are some tools that allow users to exploit the power and reliability of the Apple macOS platform, and still have the familiar *NIX-type experience.

Homebrew is the most widely used package manager for macOS, and offers a wide selection of both macOS-specific and standard UNIX/Linux software.

MAMP / MAMP Pro is similar to Linux LAMP. “MAMP” stands for Macintosh, Apache, MySQL and PHP. MAMP can be installed on macOS 10.10 or greater and includes a friendly user interface.
MACPorts is a more advanced method that provides a command-line method of installing software packages under BSD to access thousands of ports and greatly simplifies compiling and installing open-source software on your Mac.

What is instant provisioning and how long does it take?

Instant provisioning is MacStadium developed technology that allows us to deliver ready-to-go dedicated servers to customers 24x7x365 within seconds of checkout.

When you complete checkout, an installation ticket is opened. If the requested server is available for instant provisioning, the ticket will be automatically closed by our systems and an email sent to you which includes your server's IP address and user login credentials (username and password).

We strive to keep our most popular subscription models available for instant provisioning.

Why are coreaudiod and launchd using a high amount of resources?

Disclaimer: We are an infrastructure provider and can only offer a minimal amount of help for software issues. We can not guarantee this fix works for all users or offer support for it. Please contact the software developer (Apple, in this case) for further help. We can also provide a list of vendors that we work with to support you.

We found a confirmed solution with the help of a customer:

"I figured out what the problem was in case you all are seeing this in other places. The bluetooth daemon had crashed. I'm not sure why that made coreaudiod and launchd go crazy, but the fix is this:

$ sudo launchctl unload -w /system/library/launchdaemons/com.apple.blued.plist

If the daemon crashes you may see a message like this: /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.blued.plist: Could not find specified service. Next, run this:

$ sudo launchctl load -w /system/library/launchdaemons/com.apple.blued.plist

Once blued is running properly, coreaudiod and launchd both "settle down."

Does MacStadium offer a hosted iMac Pro?

We have deployed iMac Pro for certain customers in the past as part of a limited program. We find that in most cases, the Mac mini is a better fit from a cost/performance standpoint, especially with the introduction of Apple silicon.

How do I order multiple servers at one time?

After your registration is complete, you can order up to five machines directly using the customer portal. If you need five or more machines, please open up a support ticket with the Other type and submit your request to our support team.

What’s the OLA on rebooting a dedicated Mac host?

Our operational-level (OLA) standard on a reboot of a dedicated Mac is two hours, though in most cases it is completed in less time.