Meeting Notes - Mar 19, 2003

What's New by Mikio Moriyasu

New Apple Software
Java 1.4.1 Component in Mac OS X adds several enhancements including the following: improved Java applet support for Safari and other web browsers that support the Java Internet Plug-In; up-to-date with the latest Java release from Sun, with hundreds of new features, including built-in support for XML-based web services, enhanced client functionality, and improved performance and reliability; Java applications take better advantage of Aqua and Quartz Extreme; Java applications now fully leverage the built-in Universal Access features of Mac OS X v10.2; Java applications can now be controlled through AppleScript, via the new UI Scripting technology.

Mac OS X 10.2.4 Server update delivers enhanced functionality and improved reliability for the following applications, services and technologies: AFP, SMB and NFS file services, DHCP, NetBoot, Open Directory, Sendmail and Workgroup Manager. It prevents Xserve drives from being unmounted while locked, provides Digest authentication for WebDAV, management of Energy Saver settings, and supports NetBoot images greater than 2 GB in size. The update also provides the latest Security Updates.

Security Update 2003-03-03 for Mac OS X 10.2.x. addresses a security issue in sendmail where a remote individual could gain access and control of the system. Although sendmail is off by default in Mac OS, it is recommended that all users install this Security Update. This update also includes a newer version of OpenSSL that provides improved data confidentiality by addressing a recently-discovered security issue. Update can be done through the Software Update mechanism.

X11 0.3 is a complete X window system to run X11 apps. The new release has Pseudocolor (8-bit) visual plane support and an option to quit X11 without presenting warning dialog.

Software Notes
Carbon Copy Cloner, 2.1.4b fixes an issue that prevented the creation of startup disks that could boot Mac OS X-only booting Macs. The problem apparently stems from some folders (including /private/etc/) not being copied in the synchronization process. Read more.

Apple is offering an up to date program that allows PowerBook 12-inch owners to obtain a free iLife CD if the software was not included in the box with their new portable. Redemption forms can be downloaded at - http://www.apple.com/ilife/uptodate/. The offer ends on March 29.

Hardware News
Apple has begun offering a "end of life" recycling program that is currently available to all Apple customers. According to Apple, this process diverts 85 - 90% of each unit from the landfill and into beneficial uses in other markets. Read more.

Apple has begun offering a hardware solution for the Power Macintosh G4 excessive noise problem. From February 21, 2003 until June 30, 2003, owners of Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors) computers can get "The Power Supply Exchange Program Kit". Available at no charge (shipping and handling is $19.95 (US). For more information, visit Apple's newly established Power Supply Exchange Page.

Apple has posted a two part FAQ to its Knowledge Base regarding module swap out procedures with the new Xserve RAID. Part 1, Part 2.

New Xserve "cluster node," with dual 1.33GHz PowerPC G4 processors, 2MB L3 cache per processor, 256MB DDR333 SDRAM, 60GB ATA/133 ADM, Mac OS X Server (10 client), and Gigabit Ethernet. It's priced at US $ 2,799.00. Read more.

Problems
A sudden failure with the iBook's logic board can cause pixel artifacts across the LCD followed by strange patterns and image ghosting. Ultimately, the computer loses responsiveness, apps crash, and network sessions time out. Upon reboot, some systems will work or a few minutes then quickly die. Systems under warranty are receiving new logic boards from authorized repair centers.

FireWire ports on various PowerBook G4 Titanium models are failing at a high rate soon after users have plugging in a variety of powered and unpowered devices. One independent analysis points to a fault with Apple's circuit design. Apple attributes the problem to users' lack of knowledge about how to properly plug and unplug a firewire devices. One solution is a an isolator firewire cable (missing the power + pin 6) inserted at the G4 port.

PowerBook/iBook battery life may be substantially diminished after upgrading to Mac OS X 10.2.4. Downgrading the OS does not seem to fix the problem leading to complete battery replacement. It is possible that the affected batteries reached the end of their operational life. AppleCare is aware of the issue and that it is being worked on. They believe it is just poor communication between the battery and the power manager.

10.2 in Brief
For those with subscriptions, MacFixit Has started to troubleshoot issues users have encountered while using the latest software updates from Apple including: Mac OS X 10.2.4, iMovie 3.0.2 Mac OS X Java 1.4.1, Security Update 2003-03-03, AirPort Extreme 5.0.3.

For those with subscriptions, MacFixit has just released their Mac OS X 10.2.4 Special Report covering a variety of issues. A few of these include: The Date constantly resets to 1970; Networking Problems with Windows AFP & SMB transfer corruption; Resetting NVRAM for sleep problems; DVD player problems; ScanDisk- Mac OS X 10.2.4 testing not done; and many others.

General News
IBM will deliver its next-generation Power5 RISC microprocessor architecture sometime in mid-2004. The processors will deliver four times the performance of the current Power4 chips and will feature technologies that support application-specific performance boosts and mainframe-like partitioning capabilities. Read more.

Chips for building PCI Express into computers will begin to come out at the end of the year, with complete PCs arriving in 2004. PCI Express runs at 2.5GHz and transfers far more data per second than the existing standards. PCI Express could eventually hit 40GHz. Read more.

Oregon could become the first state to require that open-source software be considered by its agencies as an alternative to any proprietary solution if "The Open Source Software for Oregon Act" introduced this week passes muster. Read more.

Cool Stuff
WiebeTech Stand-alone Bus-powered FireWire Bridge is a complete bus powered FireWire bridge for 3.5-inch hard drives and will support ATA-6 drives with capacities to 250GB. Its unique design allows direct connection of bridge to drive, eliminating the ribbon cable. Cost is $159.95 (US). Read more.

Mikio's entire presentation including a complete list of new Apple and third-party software since February, new Apple hardware releases, Apple retail news, and other Apple related topics can be found on the main Mac Managers web site at: http://www.macos.utah.edu or select from the options listed below:

Campus 802.1x Deployment by Terry Simons

The 802.1x standard is a port-based authentication mechanism that is currently in the planning stages of deployment by various departments at the University of Utah.

You can find more information about the participating departments at http://utahgeeks.sourceforge.net. This page will be regularly updated with extensive notes regarding 802.1x, it's deployment on the U of U campus, and various other related ongoing projects.

Mac OS X - Poor Installers & Applications by Scott Doenges

Despite Apple's repeated recommendations that software developers make their applications work from read-only directories, many developers have failed to do so.

In order to function properly, many apps need write access to individual files within an application's directory, to the entire directory where the app resides, or to files/directories elsewhere in the file system (such as /Library/Application Support).

This creates potential problems for Mac Admins who don't want to give Joe User write access to these areas.  Ideally, applications should only need read/write access to files and folders located within a User's home folder, such as ~/Library/Preferences or ~/Library/Application Support.

Scott's presentation is based work being conducted as part of Student Computing Labs ongoing conversion to Mac OS X. His complete report is available for viewing on the main Mac Managers web site at: http://www.macos.utah.edu in the "Documentation" section. You can also select from the options listed below:

X Window and Mac OS X by Dan Sinema

The X Window System, or more simply 'X' or 'X11', is judged worldwide to be one of the most successful open source, collaborative technologies developed to date. It is the de facto standard graphical engine for the UNIX* and Linux* operating systems and provides the only common windowing environment bridging the heterogeneous platforms in today's enterprise computing. (From "About the X Window System" at www.x.org)

Apple X11 (Beta)

X11 for Mac OS X offers a complete X Window System implementation for running X11-based applications on Mac OS X. Based on the de facto-standard for X11, the open source XFree86 project , X11 for Mac OS X is compatible, fast and fully integrated with Mac OS X. It includes the full X11R6.6 technology including a window server, libraries and basic utilities such as xterm.

Key Features:

• Based on Xfree86 1.2.1
• Utilizes the XQuartz window manager
• OpenGL accelerated
• Quartz native
• Rootless operation only (no Full mode)
• It is FREE

It is very simple to use (the most simple of the available managers). It is ideal for someone who needs to run an X11 app but does not need to do anything fancy. For advanced users there are pluses as well. Currently, because it is still a beta, the only technical support is a users mailing list

XonX XFree86
XFree86, a free implementation of the X Window System, that has been ported to Darwin and Mac OS X.

Key Features:

• It is very extensible because of its Open Source architecture
• Quartz native
• Full and Rootless operation
• The IO kit mode for Darwin can run as a window manager
• OpenGL accelerated
• It is FREE
• Like X11, Technical Support is done through a users mailing list

It is not recommend to run Xfree86 and X11 on the same box. It is possible to do so but users need to set X11 to show in one display and XFree86 on another. Things can get goofy if they don’t.

Tenon Xtools
Tenon Xtools is a full implementation of the X Windows system running on Mac OS X. Based on X11R6.6, Xtools inherits the clean, fast, stable, and portable code-base from Xfree86. Integration with the Aqua environment is enabled by building the X server on top of Cocoa and QuickDraw, providing a rootless X windows display while still retaining the ability to use native applications.

Key Features:

• Full and Rootless operation
• Aqua window manager
• OpenGL accelerated
• Includes CDE fonts
• It costs money but users do get full Technical Support

Powerlan eXodus

Powerlan's eXodus software delivers seamless access to a wealth of X Window applications residing on enterprise and workgroup host computers.

Key Features:

• It features integrated Secure Shell Services
• Compressed PCF font support
• Rootless or Full Screen operation
• Open GL accelerated
• It costs money but users do get full Technical Support

OroborOSX
OroborOSX is an X11 environment, including an Aqua-like window manager, designed to provide better integration of X11 with Mac OS X. It is intended to be used in rootless mode with XDarwin and XFree86 on Mac OS X.

Key Features:

• It started as a project to try and make X Window behave like Mac windows
• X11 windows are interleaved
• X11 application icon support (i.e. double-click). It can be used to build an X11 bundle which can be launched (Most others have to run using the command line)
• Matlab uses this manager
• It is sort of “drag & drop”

TK / Tcl
Tcl (Tool Command Language) is used by over half a million developers worldwide and has become a critical component in thousands of corporations. It has a simple and programmable syntax and can be either used as a standalone application or embedded in application programs. Best of all, Tcl is open source so it's completely free.

Tk is a graphical user interface toolkit that makes it possible to create powerful GUIs incredibly quickly. It proved so popular that it now ships with all distributions of Tcl.

Tcl and Tk were created and developed by John Ousterhout. Developers all over the world followed his example and built their own Tcl extensions. Today, there are hundreds of Tcl extensions for all manner of applications.

Key Features:

• Tcl and Tk are highly portable, running on essentially all flavors of Unix, (Linux, Solaris, IRIX, AIX, *BSD*, the list goes on and on) Windows, Macintosh, and more.
• The latest version is 8.42
• Aqua support is built-in
• Uses binary installer

Why does Apple support X11?

• It makes it easier for Linux and other *NIX developers to bring over their applications.
• In past, Apple has had to ask developers to bring over their core and then make a GUI. X11 makes it easier to bring stuff over (Matlab is a good example).
• Makes it easier for OS X to fit into UNIX environments.
• It is easy to use (Users can copy and paste between X11 and OS X)

Additional Information

• www.xdarwin.org has compiled apps ready to go (NOTE: These are all binary installers)
• For a complete history and information regarding the X Window System, please visit http://www.x.org/
• Currently, there is no information on if Apple will ship X11 bundled with the OS.
  

Dan's presentation provided a general overview of what is available for OS X users who need to use an X Window implementation. He also briefly demonstrated a few of the above applications.

If you have any additional questions regarding X Window and Mac OS X, you can contact Dan at dsinema@apple.com.

Enterprise Directory Integration by Darren Davis

A significant feature of Mac OS X is its built-in directory support. A couple of large higher-ed institutions have been able to leverage support for other popular enterprise directory solutions and use them with Open Directory for their specific directory needs.

A recent webcast regarding Enterprise Directory Integration presented by Gordon Shukwit (Apple Computer), Jason Prell (University of Iowa), and Jeff Greene (University of Colorado at Boulder) is available for download at www.macosxlabs.org.

Darren's complete presentation contains two parts. The first encompasses directory integration with Mac OS X while the second presents a case study of directory integration performed by the University of Utah. The first part, which is similar to the Apple Webcast, was presented at the Mac Managers Meeting and can be accessed through the from the following options:


The second part will be presented at the upcoming Integrating Mac OS X on Campus seminar being held in the University of Utah Marriott Library Gould Auditorium on May 1, 2003.

Other Issues

Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2003
San Jose, CA - May 19th to the 23rd, 2003

Apple will use the 2003 Worldwide Developers Conference to boost its emerging Xserve presence. Read more.

Comprehensive development tracks of interest include Enterprise IT, Apple Developer Tools, QuickTime, Application Frameworks, Core OS, Hardware, Graphics and Imaging. Read more.

Apple will also run an exhibit fair giving smaller vendors a chance to show off their products. Read more.

In addition, the company is offering the WWDC Getting Started Bundle providing interested developers with: WWDC 2003 ticket, an ADC Select membership, an ADC Select hardware discount, and more, for $2,195(US). If you're already an ADC Select member, enter your Apple ID and password to purchase the special "WWDC 2003 Select Renewal Bundle" for US $ 1695. Read more.

Click here for registration information.

Integrating Mac OS X on Campus
University of Utah Marriott Library Gould Auditorium - Salt Lake City, UT

May 1, 2003; 9:00AM - 4:00 PM (MST)

Apple Computer and the University of Utah is sponsoring a day-long conference that will demonstrate how easily Apple Mac OS X can be integrated into mixed computing environments.

Attendees will learn how UNIX-based Mac OS X integrates with Active Directory, LDAP v3, and Kerberos, and discover open source client management tools, including Radmind and RsyncX.

Members of SCL Mac Support staff will be presenting on Bulk Imaging, Directory Services, Radmind, and Security.

Lunch will be provided.

Click here for registration and additional information.

If there is a topic you would like to see discussed at a future Mac Managers Meeting, please let us know here.