Apple Mac OS X Update With Local Servers

Normally, Apple Mac OS X computers are set up to contact servers at Apple, Inc. to check for updates. This fails at NHM, either in contacting Apple, or in retrieving the updates.

However, you can redirect a Mac to look at a more “local” server for retrieving updates. We maintain such a server and you are welcome to use it.

Note: these updates are only for Mac OS X machines. No MacOS prior to OS X will be able to use this service.

Second Note: the instructions here are for version 1.3 of the software. I assume it's similar for the new version.

Switching to the local Apple update server

• Download this small piece of software to your computer:
       SoftwareUpdateEnabler104.dmg
• Install it using the standard Mac procedure:
  • Double-click on the DMG file.
  • Drag the application inside (Software Update Enabler.app) to your desktop or “Applications” folder
• Run Software Update Enabler by double-clicking it, then:
  • Select: All Users on This Computer
  • Fill in: Update Server: http://anulap.nhm.org:8088/
• Click “Save”
• Quit the program

Now when you run Software Update (from the blue apple at the top left of the desktop or from System Preferences), you'll see that the top bar on its window reads: “Software Update (anulap.nhm.org)” indicating that it is checking our local server instead of Apple's.

If you get an error

If you get an error message when you attempt an update that reads something like: “Cannot install, could not expand package correctly”, then please let us know (see bottom of page). It most likely means that the patch file got truncated on its way to the NHM. We can delete our copy and it will automatically be refreshed.

Send us the exact name of the offending patch as listed on the Software Update screen (e.g. something like: “Security Update 2007-004 (PowerPC)”. We'll need that name to locate and delete the appropriate files.

Try the update again tomorrow, after we “fix” things.

To revert back to the Apple servers

If you'd like to go back to the default Apple servers (good luck), here's the procedure:

• Run Software Update Enabler by double-clicking it.
• Select: All Users on This Computer
• Click “Restore Default”
• Click “Save”
• Quit the program

Dean Pentcheff dean@crustacea.nhm.org