Does Mac OS X require online activation?

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Level 1

8 points

Does Mac OS X require online activation?

Hey all,

I am looking at Mac OS X as a potential platform to port some of our 3D virtualization software to (originally developed for OpenBSD). We have a lab that is needing a large number of machines and due to the consistency of Apple hardware (and OpenGL implementation), it looks to be an ideal option.

These machines will remain offline for their lifespan (and will likely be replaced with spare models if there are any faults) and I have seen Apple's combo update installers which look perfect for an offline site install. So can I confirm if Mac OS X requires connection to the internet when installed on a fresh blank hard drive? Either for technical or anti-piracy reasons, this might throw a spanner in the works.

If it does require activation. Is there provisions for doing it offline? Such as through a phone or license file?

Cheers,

Karsten

Posted on Jul 25, 2014 6:40 AM

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Answer 1

Kurt Lang

Level 9

68,568 points

Jul 25, 2014 6:53 AM in response to kpedersen_

No. The general Mac OS has never required any kind of activation. Only older Server versions had a serial number to enter.

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Answer 2

kpedersen_ Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 25, 2014 7:13 AM in response to Kurt Lang

Thanks, that is good news.

I wonder if you can suggest why this specs page (https://www.apple.com/uk/mac/compare/desktops.html) has the following:

"2. Requires Internet access. 802.11ac is based on an IEEE draft specification."

I don't imagine we will be using wireless in the lab but is there a reason why this feature in particular requires internet access?

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Answer 3

Kurt Lang

Level 9

68,568 points

Jul 25, 2014 7:17 AM in response to kpedersen_

What it's stating in a rather "Well, DUH!" way, is you need Internet access in order to use Wi-Fi. Which of course is wireless Internet.

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Answer 4

kpedersen_ Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 25, 2014 7:24 AM in response to Kurt Lang

Haha, well it fooled me!

Thanks a lot for clearing that up.

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Answer 5

Kurt Lang

Level 9

68,568 points

Jul 25, 2014 7:26 AM in response to kpedersen_

Haha! 🙂 Yeah, it's one of those "clear as mud" descriptions.

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Answer 6

CT

Level 7

24,239 points

Jul 25, 2014 7:31 AM in response to Kurt Lang

And, of course, it's not only confusing but it's wrong - one can use "WiFi" for networking purposes without using the internet.

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Answer 7

Jul 25, 2014 7:39 AM in response to kpedersen_

kpedersen_ wrote:

...I have seen Apple's combo update installers which look perfect for an offline site install. So can I confirm if Mac OS X requires connection to the internet when installed on a fresh blank hard drive?...

Apple's combo update installers are for updating a preexisting installation, not a new install on "a fresh blank hard drive." Since the introduction of Lion, OS X 10.7, the OS has either come pre-installed on the Mac or the installer is downloaded from Apple's App Store and then run locally on the Mac, after which the installer is automatically deleted. The installer can be captured prior to the installation process and subsequent deletion. Note that prior to Mavericks, Mac OS X was not free.

Once the OS is installed on your Mac(s), the combo updater can be downloaded and then installed locally on each machine to bring it up to the latest version of that OS (i.e., the 10.9.4 combo updater will update 10.9.x to10.9.4).

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Answer 8

Kurt Lang

Level 9

68,568 points

Jul 25, 2014 7:39 AM in response to CT

And, of course, it's not only confusing but it's wrong - one can use "WiFi" for networking purposes without using the internet.

Beat me to it! I was just coming back to mention that. Yes, you can use Wi-Fi to talk to other Ethernet connected computers, printers and such without ever accessing the Internet.

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Answer 9

kpedersen_ Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 25, 2014 7:41 AM in response to CT

I notice the Mac Mini (only up to 802.11n) does not have the same "internet required" note next to it. Perhaps because 802.11ac is currently a draft spec, Apple is making their users connect online to download the very latest firmware or driver? I probably agree with this so that the final 802.11ac standard is enforced.

But so long as we are not made to do this at install time, this doesn't really cause us any real issues.

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Answer 10

kpedersen_ Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 25, 2014 7:53 AM in response to FatMac-MacPro

FatMac>MacPro: Oops, yeah I should have been more explicit about that. Basically I was under the impression that I could install Mac OS X 10.9.x and then use the latest combo update to get the machine up to date without using a rolling release type system such as Windows Update or yum / apt-get that are both heavily tied to an external internet server.

Because the lab is offline it doesn't need to be so up to date or secure, however the workstations do need to be the same version as one another so that any issues with our software is slightly more deterministic. So I basically want to be able to get a new or refreshed Mac up to the same version as the others quickly.

I am a software engineer, not much of an administrator so the simpler the better 😉

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