Can't connect to the Software Update server (127.0.0.1)

Question

Can't connect to the Software Update server (127.0.0.1)

I'm running El Capitan 10.14.4

I am unable to see or download any apple updates from the App store. Everything else in the app store is running fine except updates and within updates I get 3rd party application updates but nothing from apple. If I click on the updates icon at the top of the app store I get the following error

Troubleshooting steps I have gone through so far

I have rebooted my mac a few times
I have done some googling and most posts talk about iworm, fortunately I have been unable to find any trace of an worm infection, I have scanned my machine using Sphos and ClamXav and neither has found anything relating to iWorm. I am also unable to find any of the files it leaves behind so I think I am safe in that regard.
I have checked the hosts file and there are no entries that shouldn't be there, hosts file copied below.

# Host Database

#

# localhost is used to configure the loopback interface

# when the system is booting. Do not change this entry.

##

127.0.0.1 localhost

255.255.255.255 broadcasthost

::1 localhost

The lines in /var/log/install.log that seem relevant are;

May 26 09:44:02 macbook-pro softwareupdated[435]: SUScan: Scan for client pid 435 (/System/Library/CoreServices/Software Update.app/Contents/Resources/softwareupdated)

May 26 09:44:02 macbook-pro softwareupdated[435]: SUScan: Elapsed scan time = 0.2

May 26 09:44:02 macbook-pro softwareupdated[435]: SUScan: Error encountered in scan: Error Domain=NSURLErrorDomain Code=-1004 "Can't connect to the Software Update server (127.0.0.1)." UserInfo={NSErrorFailingURLKey=http://127.0.0.1/content/catalogs/others/index-10.11-10.10-10.9-mountainlion-lio n-snowleopard-leopard.merged-1_disabled.sucatalog, SUCatalogFetchOverrideURLString=http://127.0.0.1/content/catalogs/others/index-10.11-10.10-10.9-mountainlion-lio n-snowleopard-leopard.merged-1_disabled.sucatalog, NSLocalizedRecoverySuggestion=Check to make sure your network connection is operating normally. If there are no issues with your connection, contact your network administrator for assistance., NSLocalizedDescription=Can't connect to the Software Update server (127.0.0.1)., SUErrorRelatedCode=SUErrorCodeScanCatalogNotFound, SUErrorUpdateServerName=127.0.0.1, NSErrorFailingURLStringKey=http://127.0.0.1/content/catalogs/others/index-10.11-10.10-10.9-mountainlion-lio n-snowleopard-leopard.merged-1_disabled.sucatalog, _kCFStreamErrorDomainKey=1, _kCFStreamErrorCodeKey=61}

May 26 09:44:02 macbook-pro softwareupdated[435]: Scan got error Can't connect to the Software Update server (127.0.0.1).

May 26 09:44:02 macbook-pro softwareupdated[435]: Ramped updates marked

I can ping swscan.apple.com and it resolves to 17.164.1.22 which is the same IP address that a mac next to me (that gets update) resolves too
I can telnet, on port 443, to swscan.apple.com and it connects.
I have a mac running yosemite next to me that can see updates so I suspect there is no issue with the service itself rather something on why machine.
I have booted into safe mode and while in safe mode I get the same error.

I'm at a complete loss of what to do next short of wiping and restoring from a time machine backup, can anyone help please

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)

Posted on May 26, 2016 5:04 AM

Reply

Answer 1

dialabrain

Level 10

136,043 points

May 26, 2016 5:15 AM in response to chrisfromguildford

You can try disabling the Sophos websheild and ClamXav's if it has one. Even better would be to uninstall both and test.

FWIW, it's never a good idea to have 2 av programs installed.

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Answer 2

May 26, 2016 6:17 AM in response to dialabrain

Hi dialabrain

Thanks for responding so quickly, neither of the AV programs were installed when I first encountered this issue. I only installed them because of the references to iWorm.

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Answer 3

dialabrain

Level 10

136,043 points

May 26, 2016 6:20 AM in response to chrisfromguildford

You're welcome. Hopefully someone will have another idea. Good Luck.

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Answer 4

May 26, 2016 6:33 AM in response to dialabrain

Thanks,

I will do as you suggested and then update this discussion, I'm just running a few scans at the moment. The whole iWorm thing got me a bit worried

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Answer 5

dialabrain

Level 10

136,043 points

May 26, 2016 6:41 AM in response to chrisfromguildford

FWIW, OSX was updated to protect against iWorm in 2014 if I remember correctly.

In the meantime, if you want to update to 10.11.5…

Download OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 Combo Update

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Answer 6

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

May 26, 2016 7:13 AM in response to chrisfromguildford

The system is configured to download updates from a private server, not from Apple. That server isn't working or isn't reachable. If you're bound to a network directory server, or if you're behind a firewall that doesn't allow downloading updates directly from Apple, your network administrator has to solve the problem. Otherwise, please do as follows.

Back up all data.

These instructions must be carried out as an administrator. If you have only one user account, you are the administrator.

Please triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:

sudo softwareupdate --clear-catalog

Copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C.

Launch the built-in Terminal application in any one of the following ways:

☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

☞ Open LaunchPad and start typing the name.

Paste into the Terminal window by pressing the key combination command-V. I've tested these instructions only with the Safari web browser. If you use another browser, you may have to press the return key after pasting. You'll be prompted for your login password. Nothing will be displayed when you type it. Type carefully and then press return. If you don’t have a login password, you’ll need to set one before you can run the command. You may get a one-time warning to be careful. Confirm. You don't need to post the warning.

If you see a message that your username "is not in the sudoers file," then you're not logged in as an administrator. Log in as one and start over.

Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign ($) to appear below what you entered. You can then quit Terminal.

Try again to update.

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Answer 7

May 26, 2016 7:30 AM in response to Linc Davis

Thats fixed it thank you so much Linc, I've seen you're posts many times today while looking into this issue and I (and I'm sure loads of other people) really appreciate your time and help.

Thanks

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