Mac Mini rack turns on automatically using a Raspberry Pi
A Raspberry Pi is able to connect to servo motors that activate the power switches on two Mac Minis, effectively powering on the units without a human operator.
A Mac Mini rack that can power on automatically using a Raspberry Pi sounds like something out of a science fiction film. Maker and developer Ivan Kuleshov has done just that, with a little help from servo motors. The Raspberry Pi rig is able to connect to servo motors that activate the power switches on two Mac Minis, turning them on and effectively powering on the units.
“This is a rig for automatically powering on a Mac Mini,” Kuleshov writes. “It has been deployed into a production environment, powering on racks of Mac Minis.” The setup is able to power on 16 Mac mini units, with the Raspberry Pi acting as a mere power switch. However, due to the additional hardware required, the Pi is able to do much more than just power on the Mac Minis.
Kuleshov says the entire setup has been successfully implemented in a professional data centre setting, where the Raspberry Pi rig powers on three shelves of Mac Minis. The use of servo motors means that the Raspberry Pi doesn’t have to be physically present in the data center, and the setup could potentially be used to power on servers remotely.
The Raspberry Pi setup includes a PiKVM HAT, a Servo HAT, an OLED screen, and a heatsink and fan for cooling.
Kuleshov says the outer housing of the case is LEGO-compatible, with his team attaching a Stormtrooper figure. “You can build this with Lego, but we didn’t,” he adds.
For more details and a closer look at the project, check out the original post by Ivan Kuleshov on Twitter/X. You can also follow Kuleshov on Twitter/X or Instagram for updates on this project and future creations.
