Install apps on network share?

I'm curious on if Mac OSX supports installing applications on a network share... are there any potential problems with this? Also, is it possible to do the same on a Windows machine?

 

You can put a .app file on an external HD. However, the settings of the application will be lost if you use another computer to access the app, as the preference files will be located in the Library folder on your PC.

In Windows it is perfectly ok to install an application in a folder located on an external disk, but the application might not work at all if you try to run it using a different computer. This would be because the application needs certain libraries/registry keys that would be not present on the other computer.

 

thanks, just what i wanted to know.

here's my plan: on an external hard-drive, attached to my potentially upcoming mac mini, i wanted to setup a few shared folders for each computer i have (3, counting the mac mini). the mini will act as a file-sharing, general computing machine. my current desktop has Windows on it for software development and gaming, and I have an MBP as well for mobility. the mac mini will run all the time. also, the mac mini will be the central store for my media stuff as well.

think all that is doable on a mini? i like the idea that if my disk-space needs change i can just daisy chain those external disk drives on the mini using the Lacie external mac mini units. its cool that the mini has a "modularity" aspect to it, though its not intended to be that way.

 

A Mac Mini will be able to handle the tasks you have listed above. Although I would recommend you upgrade the RAM to 2GB. Although you do need some skill if you decide to upgrade it yourself.
Do note that if you someday decide to turn your house into a huge LAN, a Mac mini would not be suitable as a NAS or server.

 

I don't intend on doing that, but should an opportunity present itself... then thoughts of a Mac Pro will happily spring up in my noggin .

 

I don't know that it's that tough to upgrade the Mini, but probably not for everyone. You'll need a putty knife and be prepared to put a couple marks on it though they're on the bottom so no one will see them.

The memory slots on the Mini are on the bottom so you'll need to take everything off like the hard drive, optical drive, etc.

 

Most app's don't take up that much room, it might be easier to put your media files etc on the external drives and leave the app's on the internal.
I had thought about doing a similar thing to you...ie use a mini as a media server, but in the end I just got myself a lacie big ethernet disk (1Tb). Works really well with my Mac's, just plugged it into my router and now I have all my media, photo's etc accessible across the whole network. Further it was a hell of alot cheaper, and it consumes less energy, and I don't need a monitor for it!
Might be an alternative
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