HT202030: Using OS X Server's Software Update service with multiple Mac OS X client versions

Learn about Using OS X Server's Software Update service with multiple Mac OS X client versions
zshew

Q: How to point managed clients back to the public Apple Software Update Server

Hi there,

 

I have a 10.8.5 Mountain Lion machine running as a Software Update server.  I have configured roughly 20 Mavericks desktops here in the office to point to that ML server using Profile Manager.  Recently we've been running into a conflict with FileMaker Server 13 and the Server App in Mountain Lion, and have had to remove the Server App from that Mountain Lion server, effectively killing in-house software updates. 

 

No big deal, I'll just point the desktops back to the public Apple Update Servers. 

Oh Wait......how does one go about doing that?  In Profile Manager, simply removing the Software Update element from the profile on the machines doesn't seem to do anything - they all still try to connect to the internal server.  Also, I've tried the whole "sudo defaults write....URL" command to no avail.  Any ideals? 

 

I just want to point my machines back to the public Apple software update servers.

 

Thanks in advance for any hints and advice!

Mac mini, OS X Server

Posted on Feb 25, 2014 2:08 PM

Close

Q: How to point managed clients back to the public Apple Software Update Server

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Strontium90,Helpful

    Strontium90 Strontium90 Feb 25, 2014 7:32 PM in response to zshew
    Level 5 (4,077 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Feb 25, 2014 7:32 PM in response to zshew

    If you have removed the Profile containing this value and you have stopped any MCX that may be pushing it, then you should be able to simply delete the /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist file.  This assumes you've been managing this at the device level.  If you have been managing at the user level, you may also need to look in ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist. 

     

    Now, if you have pushed this via MCX, you may have stagnant MCX cache.  You can dump the MCX cache and reboot, allowing the device to pull down a new payload of MCX.

     

    R-

    Apple Consultants Network

    Apple Professional Services

    Author "Mavericks Server – Foundation Services" :: Exclusively available in Apple's iBooks Store

  • by zshew,

    zshew zshew Feb 26, 2014 2:27 PM in response to Strontium90
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 26, 2014 2:27 PM in response to Strontium90

    How does one go about dumping the MCX cache?

  • by paulfromburwood,

    paulfromburwood paulfromburwood Feb 26, 2014 3:45 PM in response to zshew
    Level 1 (90 points)
    Feb 26, 2014 3:45 PM in response to zshew

    A really simple way is to kill the plist file:

     

    Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist

     

    And give your macs a restart

     

    Or jump into terminal:

     

    sudo defaults delete /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate CatalogURL

  • by Strontium90,Solvedanswer

    Strontium90 Strontium90 Feb 26, 2014 4:38 PM in response to zshew
    Level 5 (4,077 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Feb 26, 2014 4:38 PM in response to zshew

    You can just remove the /Library/ManagedClient folder and reboot.  This is only needed if you were using MCX to set the value.

  • by mitchmonkey,

    mitchmonkey mitchmonkey Mar 3, 2014 10:06 AM in response to zshew
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 3, 2014 10:06 AM in response to zshew

    I have the same problem but removing the /Library/ManagedClient forlder did not solve the problem.

    I log in as the adminsitrator to the client and delete the above and all preferences for com.apple.softwareupdate.plist from both the /Library and /User/.../Library.

    I have even gone to Users and Accounts and unbound the network accounts.

     

    But when I log in or restart the /ManagedClient folder reappears and sure enough in it is a reference to the old software server.

     

    Any ideas?

     

    Thanks

     

    Mitch

  • by zshew,

    zshew zshew Mar 3, 2014 10:45 AM in response to mitchmonkey
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 3, 2014 10:45 AM in response to mitchmonkey

    I've noticed this happening on a few machines as well.

  • by ESEMBEE,

    ESEMBEE ESEMBEE Mar 5, 2014 12:49 PM in response to mitchmonkey
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 5, 2014 12:49 PM in response to mitchmonkey

    the instructions from paulfromburwood will probably fix your issue.

  • by mitchmonkey,

    mitchmonkey mitchmonkey Mar 5, 2014 8:36 PM in response to ESEMBEE
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 5, 2014 8:36 PM in response to ESEMBEE

    I did that.  For both the /Library and for the /Users/Username/Library..... and the MCX folder.

    Reboot and presto the files are recreated on restart.

     

    Mitch

  • by paulfromburwood,

    paulfromburwood paulfromburwood Mar 5, 2014 9:03 PM in response to mitchmonkey
    Level 1 (90 points)
    Mar 5, 2014 9:03 PM in response to mitchmonkey

    Hi Mitch, is the Mac still enrolled with the server?

  • by mitchmonkey,

    mitchmonkey mitchmonkey Mar 6, 2014 5:30 AM in response to paulfromburwood
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 6, 2014 5:30 AM in response to paulfromburwood

    Hi Paul,

     

    After trying all the above, I went to Directory Utility and remove the Filserver from the list. i.e. the computer is no longer enrolled with Server 3.0.  I then delete all the preferences and  MCX files as above. Reboot and presto.  Everyhting is back!!. 

    BTW I have deleted all the computer and computer group accounts on the Server.  But the data still persists somewhere in the Open Directory.  If there was a way to delete those records on the Server, that should solve my problem .

     

    Very strange.

     

    Thanks for your help.

     

    Mitch