Internet radio station - iMac needs to run 24/7

[innfield]

Hi, everyone ... dumbish newbie question here: I'm launching a new internet radio station, and my (new) iMac will need to run on a 24/7 basis in order to keep feeding it. I've read that some 'sleep' their Mac overnight, for example. Ought I to do this - as (a) I don't want the station to go off air, and (b) I obviously don't want to risk harm to this expensive new iMac by running it continuously.

Input, please?

 

[ferrarr]

I have been leaving all my PC's, macOS and winOS on 24/7 for the last 10 years. Only restart for OS updates, or maintenance/issues. I will have the display shut off after 15 minutes of no mouse movement.

 

[IWT]

Ditto.

Ian

 

[Raz0rEdge]

What sort of software do you need to run to feed the station? You might be able to make do with a cheaper machine (perhaps with no screen) to keep your bills low. You can remote desktop into the machine as needed. Dedicating an iMac to this purpose seems overkill IMHO.

 

[MacInWin]

+1 for what Raz0rEdge said. A Mac mini, running headless (no monitor) should be able to do the job. You can connect a monitor and keyboard if you ever need to do maintenance/reboot/etc. Unless the station software really needs the full power of an iMac.