Push Notification Server

Question

Push Notification Server

Well, after seeing lots of posts asking for help with Push Notifications on Snow Leopard Server, which were all archived (and thus, non-modifiable), I wanted to ask if anyone is having problems recently.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think I have it configured correctly. There are no error messages in the logs that seem to indicate problems.

Before I get a flood or responses, if you are having trouble, please check:

1. In Server Admin, under the server name itself, click on the access tab, and then on iCal. Verify the the correct users are authorized. Also make sure that "Notification User" is listed. Do the same for iChat, and Mail.

2. Do not manually add the folder /var/dovecot/push_notify/ folder, whether via command prompt, or otherwise. This was mentioned in other places in the forums.

3 In Server Admin, under Firewall, make sure that the following ports are opened: "HTTP and HTTPS ports for Tomcat"... which are ports 9006, 8080, and 8443. also any ports for mail if using Mail, iChat ports if using iChat, and iCal ports if using iCal.

4. do not modify any config or plist files by hand.

5. Ensure that DNS is working correctly. If you are running Open Directory, then DO NOT edit DNS records while Open Directory is running as Master. If you must modify DNS, and have your server running as OD Master, then archive your OD records, change to Standalone, edit DNS as needed, and then re-enable your OD Master, and restore the archive/backup.

If you have checked these things, and still have problems, then please reply to this message, and I'll try to help.

Xserve, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on May 14, 2011 9:24 PM

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Answer 1

MrHoffman

Level 10

146,755 points

May 15, 2011 5:03 AM in response to Aaron Outhier

Part of the confusion: there are several schemes around, all called "push notification". Off the top, there's the Jabber stuff, the Microsoft ActiveSynch stuff, Apple's own Apple Push Notification Service (APNs), the IMAP IDLE command, and likely a few others I've missed.

There can also be differences between a WiFi connection and a cellular data connection.

Put another way, what types of client(s) are you (successfully) pushing to?

Pushing to (local, wired, WiFi) Mac OS X clients or to some other box that supports (for instance) IMAP IDLE or another of the push scheme should operate correctly with Mac OS X Server.

If you trying to push to iOS clients, is that via local WiFi or via cellular data connection? Are the mobile devices move around, and particularly between WiFi and cellular connections, and through cellular dead spots?

IIRC, ports 9006, 8080, and 8443 (all TCP, IIRC) are together used for Apache Tomcat and JBOSS, and 8443 is also used for iCal SSL, and 8080 often shows up as an alternate web server port.

One of the schemes for push notification out to iOS devices that I know works is via Microsoft ActiveSync via either Microsoft Exchange or via the Kerio Connect mail package, and that's using TCP 443 out to the clients IIRC.

For Apple documentation, also see Supported push mail accounts on iPhone and iPod touch (HT2625) and Mac OS X Server v10.6: Push Notification Server and supported applications (HT3947) for the official details. Per Apple and from the second article, there's this note: Currently, iOS Mail and Calendar apps do not support Push Notifications from Mac OS X Server v10.6.

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Answer 2

Tobit

Level 1

33 points

Jun 28, 2011 2:58 AM in response to Aaron Outhier

Adding the "Notification User" in the SACL for iCal solved my push notification problem.

Thank you very much!

It's strange (to me) than this system local user access is not set by default.

For other people lost as I was, you can "Show system accounts in user & groups browser" in your user & group list by going to the menu: "Server Admin" >> Preferences... >> select "Show system accounts in user & groups browser".

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Answer 3

tcsadmin

Level 1

31 points

Aug 19, 2011 5:53 AM in response to Tobit

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

Push notifications are now working - also with addition of "Notification User" added to the Access List on the collaboration server hosting iCal.

Can you believe it, Apple Tech Support wanted me to blow away my DNS settings and redo them to fix the problem!

This list is THE BEST!

John

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