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

As for deleting iCloud account and removing data stored on it, Executive Customer Service said:

When the account is deleted from iPhone or Mac, it means that ACCESS to the account / data is no longer available BUT the data remains on iCloud. 

Of course. Why would you expect otherwise? iCloud is independent of all of your devices.

If you want to delete the data, go into the iCloud account, either from your device or from the Web interface, and delete the data.

James,

Thank you for your comment and suggestion.

Yes, you are correct, there are ways I could force the issue.  However, we are doing testing on a variety of platforms, software, hardware, etc to make decisions that will impact IT for the next decade.  As such I am not concerned about work arounds.  I expect work arounds at, or near, end of life when we are trying to squeeze every last iota of useability from the platfrom - NOT at the beginning.

This may be an example of Apple not fully understanding global commerical/enterprise environments. Stability, consistency and backward compatibility are critical.  Not to mention security.  However, will wait and see the outcome in updates.

In response

feinmeister wrote:

 

Spoke with Apple Executive Customer Service again and they said:

Use of OS X server as a local server will not be supported by Apple unless it is used with a business grade internet connection.  Without such a connection, the server is prone to crashes.  Additionally, the OS X server requires  regular routine maintenance and is not meant for us by the average consumer / Apple user.

 

Bottomline:

Apple is still waiting for more Mavericks feedback at www.Apple.com/feedback --  subject, Design & Ease of Use. Keep the feedback coming, don't give up -- Apple continues to make changes to Mavericks -- there is strength in numbers.  The local server workaround is meant for business / enterprise users not the general public, as it is a cumbersome and expensive option requiring a business grade internet connection and IT know-how.

 

I implemented OS X server directly on my iMac (I do not use a dedicated Mac server).

1. Absolutely no change on my OS X client previous install. Everything is running well as before.

2. No need for a business grade internet connection. I sync locally at home my iPad/iPhone devices through WiFi & Lan.

Calendars, Contacts, Notes & reminders.

3. No need to have strong IT know How. I just followed the instructions (about 30 mn max to setup):

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

4. I would recommend the OS X server solution. I tried previously Baikal & other solutions which are requiring more IT Know How and I was not able to set up quickly a local sync with these solutions.

5. I removed all iCloud sync, deleted manually the data still remaining on iCloud web interface.

6. I have the filling that the OS X server sync works faster & better than the previous local sync with Moutain Lion.

7. And now I am not only able to sync Apple devices I am also able to sync Android devices without any particular set up or third party app.

Thanks pedro ramon,

I had a feeling the "Executive" Customer "Service" agent was completely full of it with his comments on Server.

Do we know if Mavericks 10.9.1 update fixes the local synch? I've not had a chance to try it yet,

as I'm too scared to mavericks in the first place.

thanks

It wouldn't strictly be a fix since Sync Services has been withdrawn. It isn't broken as such. But the short answer to your question is no Sync Services has (have?) not been restored in 10.9.1 and USB based local syncing is still not available

James - this update (according to the Apple guy I talked to earlier) fixes the bug in Apple Mail - the one where gmail users have the situation when 'drag & dropping' emails received and sent from inbox, sent or other mailboxes into other mailboxes used for filing and they just disappear. Its been another infuriating issue since the Mavericks introduction.

Ref Sync services OSX Server looks the only way to achieve this - have not suceeded fully on it yet - but it is massively slow compared to the sync services in Info on iTunes pre-Mavericks. Ref this, one item appears important to mention - the need for a static IP address from your internet supplier - most household users in Europe have IP addresses which change with every time you go on and off internet. For OSX Server you need the same IP address each time or it does not work well.

Another difference between US and Europe users - Apple help people might be available on toll free call in USA, in Europe all seem to be on premium rate numbers.........

You don't need a static IP. You can use a host name which doesn't change, and can work on a local network without even having an Internet connection.

Would be really good to know (in simple terms as I am not a programmer) how to set this up. Any help would be appreciated.

Also is there any way to do this using a USB cable link?

Barney-15E's user tip linked in several places further up this thread gives you the setup. I have posted about transferring Calendars once you have done the set up. This will then work either on your home wifi network, or if you don't have access to that you can choose 'Create Network…' from the wifi menu on your wifi enabled Mac and sync via that ad hoc computer to computer network. I'm sorry not to post links, but I'm posting from my phone, and links are hard to do. James

applejpmc wrote:

 

Another difference between US and Europe users - Apple help people might be available on toll free call in USA, in Europe all seem to be on premium rate numbers.........

Looks like most EU numbers are toll free (0800 or equivelant).

http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57

It is in the user tips section as well James. Know what you mean about trying to give links on iPhone!

Cheers

Pete

applejpmc said:

Ref Sync services OSX Server looks the only way to achieve this - have not suceeded fully on it yet - but it is massively slow compared to the sync services in Info on iTunes pre-Mavericks. Ref this, one item appears important to mention - the need for a static IP address from your internet supplier - most household users in Europe have IP addresses which change with every time you go on and off internet. For OSX Server you need the same IP address each time or it does not work well.

This is WHY Executive Customer Service said that a business grade internet connection is necessary. OS X Server will not function properly, will be slow, and is prone to crashing as a result.

feinmeister wrote:

 

applejpmc said:

Ref Sync services OSX Server looks the only way to achieve this - have not suceeded fully on it yet - but it is massively slow compared to the sync services in Info on iTunes pre-Mavericks. Ref this, one item appears important to mention - the need for a static IP address from your internet supplier - most household users in Europe have IP addresses which change with every time you go on and off internet. For OSX Server you need the same IP address each time or it does not work well.

 

This is WHY Executive Customer Service said that a business grade internet connection is necessary. OS X Server will not function properly, will be slow, and is prone to crashing as a result.

You only need that if you are sending the server out into the wild blue internet.You assign it a static IP inside your router's network. It has no idea it is only serving out to the local network, which is what many servers do. There are servers that communicate with the world and pass traffic through the firewall into the servers on the internal network. Those servers provide Services to the computers on the LAN inside the firewall. To believe that Apple would create a Server that MUST be connected to the internet is completely assinine. I think you misunderstood the Executive Customer Service representative.

Maybe the Executive Customer Service agent was just making stuff up or feinmaster may have misunderstood, many things are possible.

Anyone concerned with where the truth is should probably try to understand the perspective that Apple has developed over the years of running Mac OS X server. The manuals are all available from the Help menu of Server app if you want to see the details, or go and hangout in the server forums, or read the OS X server essentials book.

If you take Apple's server course to become an official certified server admin they make it abundantly clear that stable DNS, DHCP & solid networking are vital to a running a server. Many of the setup tutorials go into detail about how local DNS must be setup correctly before you do anything else on the server.

These requirements are all to help run an Open Directory Master (ODM) - it's a database of user info with methods to authenticate and manage services etc. It's the brains of an Apple server.

All the users here who are only hoping to run caldav & carddav do not need to create an ODM or setup local DNS, they can just use the built in 'local users' (every Mac has a open directory DB to manage the users, but it isn't designed for advanced network usage).

Running in this mode is OK, but certain features won't be allowed, like using the VPN to connect into this server from another location (no big deal considering why people are in this thread).

Most users should be ok using the server.local name (the dot-local name) to setup iOS clients etc. It will also be fine for users who want to run a server at home (without any services visible via the internet). Take care to always use the .local host name, never use the IP address & you will be fine.

The trouble comes when a Mac server starts roving onto other networks, for example some wifi providers will heavily restrict what can be done on their network, they may attempt to dynamically assign hostnames to connected devices (suddenly your server has a new name, or two names).

They may decide to isolate or block Bonjour traffic, so now your iOS device cannot lookup the .local address of the server. They may also block connections to other devices on the same network (no more accessing port 8443 for syncing).

Combine this with slow throughput or long latency on bad wifi suddenly all bets are off.

The solution is to create your own adhoc wifi network to connect the iOS device onto for syncing, which overcomes the damage an unknown network can do.

I imagine Apple don't want to get the blame for the situations when 'it just doesn't work'. Also consider the scope for user error. A simpler solution would be for Apple to incorporate a basic CalDAV/ CardDAV server into iTunes, however that still doesn't address USB syncing.

The executive is probably aware that Apple own guidelines for server are in conflict with a user who wants to run it on their laptop to just make iTunes work like it did 3 months ago.