What hardware you actually need to run FamilyCloud
The most common question we get about FamilyCloud: "what do I need to buy?" The answer depends on your library size and how many family members will be streaming simultaneously. Here's the breakdown.
The recommended server: Mac mini M4
The base Mac mini M4 ($599, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB unified memory) is the ideal FamilyCloud server for most families. Three reasons:
Power draw. The M4 Mac mini idles at 6W and peaks around 24W under load. Running 24/7 for a year costs roughly $10–15 in electricity. An equivalent Intel NUC or old MacBook Pro would cost 5–10× more to run.
Form factor. 5 inches square, 2 inches tall. Sits behind a TV, on a shelf, or in a drawer. Silent under all normal workloads — media transcoding, photo indexing, background backup — because there's no fan to spin up.
Longevity. Apple Silicon Macs receive software updates for 8–10 years. The Mac mini you buy today will run FamilyCloud through 2034.
Storage: external drives over internal
The Mac mini's internal SSD is fast but expensive per gigabyte and not replaceable. For media storage, use external USB-C or Thunderbolt drives. FamilyCloud monitors all attached volumes and can span the library across multiple drives.
Starting recommendations: a 2TB Samsung T7 Shield (~$100) is enough for most families for 2–3 years of photos and video. Add a second drive for redundancy — FamilyCloud will mirror your library automatically if you configure it.
For heavy video files (4K home movies, large Plex libraries): 8TB+ desktop drives connected via a USB-C hub. The Mac mini M4 supports up to three external displays and multiple storage volumes simultaneously via its two USB-C ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and HDMI port.
What about an older Mac?
Any Apple Silicon Mac (M1 or later) running macOS Sequoia 15.3 or later works as a FamilyCloud server. An old M1 Mac mini works great. A MacBook Air works fine but shouldn't be the primary server if it's also a daily driver — the always-on requirement means the lid should stay open or the machine should be configured to stay awake.
Intel Macs are not supported in v1.0. Intel support is on the roadmap but de-prioritized — the power efficiency gap makes Intel a poor choice for an always-on server.
Multi-site: two nodes
For the full FamilyCloud multi-site experience (automatic failover between two locations), you need two machines — one at each location. Both can be base Mac mini M4s. The replication link is encrypted and works over standard residential internet connections.
A simple multi-site setup: primary Mac mini at home, secondary Mac mini at parents' house. Full library on both. If your home internet goes out, the family keeps access through the parents' node. If the parents' internet goes out, the home node serves everything. Neither family experiences any disruption.
Internet requirements
FamilyCloud's CGNAT hole-punching protocol works on virtually all residential ISP connections, including Starlink, CGNAT cable, and most fiber plans. You don't need a static IP address. You don't need to configure your router. The only requirement: the server Mac must be connected to the internet (wired Ethernet recommended for reliability).
Minimum recommended upload speed for remote access: 10 Mbps. At this speed, two family members can stream 1080p video simultaneously. For 4K remote streaming, 25+ Mbps upstream is recommended.