ANU Mac OS X Software Updates

This service allows you to download and install Apple software updates from a local server rather than the Apple servers (saving you external network traffic).

I have packages that should update a machine from a base OS 10.2.0 to current. If you have 10.1 or 10.0, you will need to install 10.2 first (as it is paid software, not an update).

To participate in the trial, contact matt.gray@anu.edu.au to get a copy of the applications.

The updater consists of a GUI application and a command line application, both of which do the following:

• Contact the Apple server to see which updates are needed for the machine.
• Download corresponding packages from a local server rather than Apple.
• Install the packages, and reboot if required. Packages may be removed or left on the desktop, depending on preference.

The GUI version allows you to select which packages to install - the command line version just installs them all.

This service has some limitations:

• Currently BETA software, and not tested widely.
• Must be run from an administrator account, and requires an administrator to enter the password for the account they are logged in as (this may change in the future if I can get authentication working properly).
• Does not give the detailed information that Apple's Software Update gives about packages.
• No 'Hide this update' feature like in the Apple Software Update.
• No ability to verify the authenticity of the package. You will just have to trust me. :-)

Instructions

1. Contact matt.gray@anu.edu.au to participate in the beta testing. I will tell you how to get the software.
2. To use the application, log in as an administrator user. Double click the application.
3. Click "Check for new updates".
4. Select the packages you want by ticking boxes.
5. Click "Install updates". A terminal window will open, and you will be asked to enter the password of the currently logged in user (who must have administrator rights).
6. Once the installs have finished, reboot if needed, and run the app again to check for new software again (some software will not show up the first time due to dependencies).
7. Contact me if there are problems.