How to locally sync an iPhone with OS X Mavericks? iCloud is NOT an option.

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me.

That's how I ended up talking with Apple Support and was told that it no longer works on Mavericks because Apple has deleted the functionality that lets you back up in any way except iCloud.

CONFUSION ... local backup, music sync, app sync, etc still works locally, this is not a problem discussed here.

The problem is with other info sync, notably calendar and contacts ... whatever was under INFO button that has disappeared from iTunes under OSX 10.9.

If you have a solution for this, I am all ears … 🙂

Its not only a matter of growing fears.

It is important for me, to have my own control of my own data.

I need to sync, without having Internet connection.

And last but not least, I have all my customers data with me.

I dont want, that my customers are afraid, that I put their data on an US Servers.

So I cannot use my iPhone when I am out at customer visits.

Instructions and configuration for OS X Server 3.0

As I wrote on page 21 here's the translation from an instruction in the german apfeltalk.de forum for installing and configuring OS X Server 3.0 and the client devices written by plan2do on 26.10.2013 - link to original post

I was not able to verify this instruction yet, since my new Mac will not arrive before mid of November and I'm still running 10.8.5 on an older machine.

So please use this instructions on your own risk!

I tried translating at my best, but there may be some false translations concerning the right terms used in the english interface of Mac OS X.

I therefore appreciate your help and will correct those terms in a second, final post. As well, if we find additional features, let me know and I will add them to the final post.

There are some few points in his instruction, which I don't understand at the moment, so please try to understand yourself.

And be sure to have at least !! one BACKUP !! of all your data before starting.

blue - german author plan2do

grey - annotations/additions by me

Here you go -

===========================================================

Wow, when using OS X Server it (local syncing) is quite simple and runs smoothly.

I. Hardware:

- Mac mini Late 2009 with Mavericks

- iMac 7,1 with SL 10.6.8

- MacBook Pro Mid 2012 with Mavericks

- iPhone 4S with iOS 7.03

II. Software

Install OS X Server 3.0 downloaded from the App Store

It's an independent app (?) and not an OS, which can be started and stopped at any time (?)

III. Server configuration:

OS X Server installation on the Mac Mini (free machine, used as mediaserver and not used as a workstation)

The following settings were made:

1. Server: "hostname" and "computername"

tested and adjusted, in my case:

--> local network

--> computername "osxserver"

--> hostname "osxserver.local"

2. Accounts/Users

created new, explicit user for Contacts and Calendar

--> accountname: "osxserver-user"

--> password: "******"

--> plus E-Mail etc.

3. Services / Calendar

--> switch on

4. Services / Contacts

--> switch on

That was the server configuration

IV. Diverse clients (iMac, MacBook Pro, iPhone and Mac mini itself!)

1. Contacts, SL

Preferences - Accounts - Add:

--> accounttype "CardDAV"

--> username: "osxserver-user"

--> password: "******"

--> serveradress: "osxserver.local"

2. Contacts, Mavericks

Preferences - Accounts - Add - Other Contact Account:

--> username: "osxserver-user"

--> password: "******"

--> serveradress: "osxserver.local"

3. iPhone 4S, iOS 7.03

Preferences - Mail, Contacts, Calendar - Add Account - Other - Contacts - Add CardDAV-Account

--> username: "osxserver-user"

--> password: "******"

--> serveradress: "osxserver.local"

Now it's going to be boring. It's always the same and works perfect. No comparison to all the other attempts I had with the other CalDAV- and CardDAV- servers.

4. to 6.

Same procedure for Calendar on SL, Mavericks and iOS. Only the three above-mentioned specifications are needed.

V. Functionality

Like always: save and export Calendar and Contacts as archive before starting to sync. Afterwards try some test-syncing with testdata.

The sync works fine and fast with all devices and operating systems. Groups and single Contacts- and Calendardata are synced to the devices with all changes, photos, notes and attachments without any mistakes.

The Calendar syncs depending to the preferences (1 or 15 Min.) immediately. Changes in Contacts on other devices don't show up until close and new start of Contacts. I haven't found a possibility to start the sync. But nonetheless it works.

Contacts and Calendar on the device, on which OS X Server is running, are also synced. I.e. OS X Server could also run on a MacBook Pro to sync with an iPhone/iPad.

I tested the sync only on my home network via cable and WLAN. It's possible to open the server for access outwards. I didn't do that due to security reasons.

VI. Conclusion

- no sync via USB-cable!

- sync needs WLAN or Ethernet

- for the sync away on business or holiday it's necessary to establish your own network

- I havent't found a possibility to sync Safari Bookmarks. I'm missing this very much. Maybe somebody else knows, how to solve this with all the other features of OS X Server?

- OS X Server has a bunch of other features (TimeMachine, VPN, Profilmanager, Push, etc. etc.). I didn't take a look at those until now.

All in all: Super! Works perfect! I'm content.

===========================================================

Does anybody know if it's possible to sync the yellow notes with OS X Server 3.0 too and how?

Sorry but every day there are user, proposing to use a server OS.

This is nonsense.

Since years of using iTunes, I sync my personal data with cable, without Internet

on my standard Macintosh, on my own desk.

Why the **** we should set up a server system to do such a simple task.

I am not willing to do that, not for free.

Rather I export my data and import them on another device.

This is unconfortable, but I would prefer that.

I may ask Apple, If they prefer to offer a unconfortable OSX for users, who do not agree with

the new way of handling personal data.

Ok, sounds *oh* so easy ...

I read on in this german Apple forum and plan2do is now helping some other guys to configure their servers properly. Some of them have lost their Contacts or Calendar data or even both. Having no backups ...

So please !!! Backup your data !!!

before doing anything else -

As per my post on previous page …

I've used your link (thank you) and translated the German instruction to English using Google, it saved me from wondering and discovering.

After installing the OSX Server and testing … I could sync, but I could NOT import the archive contact data to server. The import killed/corrupted the "calendar/contact" account every time … but I could sync the test entries I have made to server set. The problem could have been because the server and calendar client were running on the same computer.

Anyhow … I am rolled back to OSX 10.8.5 … sync works like a charm without server overhead, and without some 80 accounts created for various server processes. It is not a solution for a personal computer even if the contacts archive would have worked.

Still hoping the solution is in the works somewhere, someday ...

I am playing with my new note3, I like the phone better than iphone but other than teh sync problem I like the apple software better. I guess after all this I am going back to the previous osx. How do I know on my time machine what date I chaged the osx so I can go back a day?

Check that article … it is for OSX 10.8, but the roll back works same way in OSX 10.9:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ph11181?viewlocale=en_US

Before you proceed make the Time Machine backup. I also did a second manual backup of all downloads, updates, documents that changed since my OSX upgrade. Archive your Calendar and Contacts as well … never hurts.

Once you reach the point 5 in the article, you will see all the Time Machine backups you made and OSX versions. I had my notes, but the presentation on screen assured me.

Good luck!

handsOFFmydata and hubertusbe — and everyone else here -

here is my workaround for this silly situation, apple’s removal of the possibility of non-icloud syncing for calendar and contacts.

thanks for the posts. i have read almost all. whew.

i have bought and installed os x server and set it up for calendar sync. only that. it works fine, but know that i did it yesterday, and i am no experienced server admin or whatever.

it went a bit like this——

Install the server app on the laptop. I only started up the calendar service, nothing else, by simply turning the switch on. doesn’t get much easier than that. then i enabled push notifications, because i am under the impression that to sync over my local wifi network, that must be on. Then i saw a new server name under Access, ending in .local

I opened up iCal, and in the prefs subscribed to this new server ending in .local.

in the normal iCal window made a new calender from that. i went on later to make all new calendars under the section of this new subscribed server, to match all the [now non-syncable] old calendars.

Then in the iphone, in the system prefs, in Email, Contacts, Agenda’s, make a new account. in there choose ‘other’, and there choose add CalIDAV account. there you must enter the name of the server which you can see in the laptop under Access, ending in .local. you must also fill in your username for your account on your computer, and password.

When you have done that, you should see the new account/calendars show up in the calendar app on the phone. In the app, select the Calendars button at the bottom [not sure exactly, mine’s in dutch and says ‘Agenda’s’] and there you should already see the list of new calendars. it may take a few minutes to update from you computer. you can also drag down and release to update manually.

that’s it. use the new calendars from now on and they will update automatically on your computer, when it’s on, server is running and phone and computer are connected to the same wifi network.

Questions:

One concern for me is security. i do not know enough about this to say if this is secure from outside access and interference. that is the subj f more research in the coming days. if you are worried enough about that, don’t do this yet until you understand it. any information anyone has here, please post and it will be greatly appreciated.

Another question is if it is possible to update from another network, will there be access to my computer if i leave it running, and if so how, and is it secure.

I am running all this on iphone 5s, iOS 7.0.3, and an old macbook pro from about 2007, 2,4ghz, 4gb RAM, OS 10.9. my real one is in the shop….three weeks already…..

Sorry for my non-technical explanation, hope it is clear enough.

ah, and an article by a real person about this --

http://securityspread.com/2013/10/27/setting-sync-server/

Hi,

are you saying that Apple delete their copy of the data when one stops using iCloud? I thought someone else said they archive it.

If they delete it my method is better than I thought, the data would only be exposed for the short time it is on their server. However, it still does use some broadband data allowance but only while I have it turned on rather than continually.

I'm thinking a script to run might be an interim solution (to save my old brain having to remember all the steps and commands). Not sure I would want to do it for my business contacts though, there are lots of them, and I wouldn't want to expose that data until I know more about whether Apple do delete it.

Server users:

Why dont you simply ask Apple to bring the simple sync feature back to OSX ?

If you like to administarte servers, fine.

But this is good for a seperate thread for server owners.

You can aditionally use Windows to sync, cause on WIN this feature is still alive.

You are like Android people, who needs to show, how they can manage the depth of their OS.

Snopdoz, your comment is really nonsense.

I gave the WIN comment, to show you, that you are in the wrong thread and to give additional information,

that today only OSX Mavericks users are out of this service.

People of you do, that nothing changes in the world.

If you want things changing, you must select and comment.

And by the way, Apple is looking this forum, because they delete messages, they dont want.

But, our discussion here is out of topic.

For that reason, I ask to get back to topic, and the topic is OSX, not server.

I for one reverted back to Mountain Lion specifically due to this issue. If anyone else wants to, here's how (if you've been using Time Machine):

http://support.apple.com/kb/ph11181?viewlocale=en_US