Can a 2014 Mac Mini Be Connected to an Older Mac Mini for the Use of the Latter's DVD Drive?

The short answer is yes, a 2014 Mac Mini can use the DVD drive of an older Mac Mini by leveraging network sharing. However, the steps you need to follow can vary slightly depending on your specific model and operating system configurations. Below, we outline the detailed process to ensure a seamless integration and use of the older Mac Mini's DVD drive on your newer device.

How to Share an Older Mac Mini's DVD Drive with a Newer Mac Mini

Step 1: Share the DVD Drive on the Older Mac Mini

First, you need to enable DVD or CD sharing on the older Mac Mini. Follow these steps:

Go to System Preferences on your older Mac Mini. Select Sharing from the preferences menu. Check the box for DVD or CD Sharing. Under settings for DVD or CD Sharing, you will find an option to choose whether you want to allow others to connect automatically or ask for permission every time.

Step 2: Access the Shared DVD Drive on the Newer Mac Mini

Once the older Mac Mini is properly set up for sharing, you can access the DVD drive from your newer Mac Mini:

Open Finder on your newer Mac Mini. Go to the Devices section in the left sidebar. Select Remote Disc to view all available shared optical drives. Connect to the shared DVD drive based on the prompts.

Additional Tips and Troubleshooting

If you do not want to prompt the user every time the DVD drive is shared, you can choose the automatic connection option when you configure DVD or CD sharing on the older Mac Mini.

Another method to achieve this is to utilize network file sharing. Turn on network file sharing on the older Mac Mini and access it as a server on your new Mac. The disc will then show up as an option similar to a hard drive, making it straightforward to navigate and utilize.

Conclusion

Connecting an older Mac Mini's DVD drive to a newer Mac Mini via network and file sharing can be a useful solution if you need to repurpose the DVD drive without upgrading the older machine. By following these steps, you can ensure seamless and reliable access to the shared resources.