Mac OS X Update 10.3.1 Available

Milanek writes "Mac OS X Update 10.3.1 is available via Software Update. It includes both security updates and it should also address problems with FireWire 800 drives." Apple recommends that you update your firmware updates for your FireWire / Oxford 922 / firmware 1.02 drives, even with the fixes in 10.3.1. The update also includes fixes for printing, WebDAV, and FileVault. TiVo writes "SecureMac is reporting that Panther's FileVault does not securely delete the files after encryption." Anyone know if this is fixed in 10.3.1?

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Re:I Wonder ...

[bpbond]

This has been discussed previously on apple.slashdot. The short answer, as I remember, was yes, you can usually do one-by-one reloads of the appropriate libraries, drivers, etc., without a restart--but why would you go to that trouble? (Unless you're super-anal about your uptime.) Restarting is fast and easy.

Also, the installer doesn't force you to restart that instant; just hide it, go on working, and restart at your convenience.

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Re:I Wonder ...

[segvio]

Command-Option-Escape. Force quit software update once it has done the install. You can also 'kill' the process the *nix way. You can now reboot when you want, with out the nagging dialog box.

/usr/sbin/softwareupdate

[babbage]

For those that haven't seen it yet, updates can be done from the command line. The interface for the command has changed with Panther; it will accept a --help argument now, for example, and called with no arguments you get the help text (where under Jaguar this would have retrieved a list of current pending updates).

The command for the 10.3.1 upgrade is

sudo softwareupdate -i MacOSXUpdate10.3.1-10.3.1

Now go upgrade your work machine from home, or your home machine from work... :-)

Re:FileVault

[burns210]

well, as long as you back things up, you should be able to have your laptop harddrive get nuked(or stolen, since it is suppose to be for security use) and not have a problem...

it is sad though, that such a cool feature is having initial difficulty. hope everything gets ironed out completely by Apple.

Re:FileVault

[NaugaHunter]

This is already possible. Use Disk Copy to make a Disk Image with encryption. You can then make this as paranoid as you want - either highly: manual opening, and don't save the password in Keychain. Or low, with Applescripts to automatically open and close it during login and logout. Used with aliases and/or links it could probably be made fairly transparent. However, I've had one of these get hosed when it was automatically ejected after clearing a screen-saver, so your milage may vary.

Re:window selection

[BitGeek]

You're talking about expose.

If you have apple's X11 server installed (comes with panther, but not installed by default) the xwindows are just like regular windows and expose cleans them up and lets you pick the one you want-- along with all the other open windows. Or just among the open x windows if you choose the "pick from apps windows" version of expose.

The x integration seems pretty well done, though I haven't used it much.

Re:Lack of secure erasure upon enabling verified.

[BoboTheMonkey]

just created a new user account, created a new testing text file directly saved into the home folder of the new account, copied it a couple of times for good measure, enabled filevault, ... booted off of the norton cd, and indeed those files where found and recovered... so, securemac is correct in its advisory.

"From my limited experience with FileVault, it securely deletes files...Or at least it did to me, when it nuked my entire keychain and nearly required a reinstall to repair" the issue of files being destroyed in FileVault is another bug entirely, ... even though I hate being pompus, rtfa next time ... .or, if you're trying to be humorous, it's very, very dry humor.

New terminal how-to

[djupedal]

[Mine:~] metoo% softwareupdate -l
Software Update Tool
Copyright 2002-2003 Apple Computer, Inc.

Software Update found the following new or updated software:
! MacOSXUpdate10.3.1-10.3.1
Mac OS X Update, 10.3.1, 1292K [required] [restart]

==========
The 10.3.1 Update delivers enhanced functionality and improved reliability for the following applications, services and technologies: FileVault, Printing, WebDav, and FireWire 800 drives. This update also includes the latest Security Updates.

Important Note: Apple has identified an issue with external FireWire hard drives using the Oxford 922 bridge chip-set with firmware version 1.02 that can result in the loss of data stored on the disk drive. Even with the improvements available in this update, Apple recommends you update the firmware on your FireWire drive. Please contact your drive manufacturer for more information.

Re:Installed

[Demolition]

Well, in the case of lullabud's Ethernet issues, Apple may deserve blame. See the following Apple Knowledge Base article:

Mac OS X 10.2.8: Can't Connect via Ethernet After Installing Update [apple.com]

His other statement (about waiting a few days before installing an OS update) is good advice, echoed by Mac troubleshooting websites such as MacFixIt [macfixit.com] and MacInTouch [macintouch.com]. Both offer excellent coverage of (and cures for) issues brought about by Mac OS updates. Reading the troubleshooting reports before installing an update can prevent a lot of unnecessary grief.

I'll also note that Apple's own Discussion Forums [apple.com]) provide a place to seek troubleshooting advice and/or a place to vent your frustrations. Since Apple employees monitor the discussion threads, it's possible that at least some of what's posted there is noted and acted upon.

D.

Notify me of incoming calls

[macmurph]

Ever since installing Panther, I haven't been notified of any incoming calls while I am online. The feature is turned on in the System Preferences>Network>Modem Tab... but incoming calls to my v.92 PowerBook modem aren't triggering the proper "answer, ignore" dialog box.

The 10.3.1 update did not fix this bug either.

Anyone else having problems with this flakey feature?

It used to work for me in Jaguar reasonably well.

Re:/usr/sbin/softwareupdate

[DonnarsHmr]

I went through the same troubles until I noticed a stange dialog box on the screen when I got home. The QuickTime 6.4 installer prompts for user input part way through. If you're doing the upgrade remotely over ssh, the dialog opens on the remote screen. You have to physically access the machine, or use a protocol like VNC, to access the GUI remotely. AFAIK, there is no was to do this install solely through the command line. You have to access the GUI one way or another.

Active directory roaming profiles

[Hunts]

Since Installing 10.3.1 update, I've been unable to to use any logins that are taken from active directory. A bit of a problem since I use my windows login for my main account :/. I'm now having to login to my mac using the admin account.
Anyone else having this problem?

Don't assume...

[Cadre]

It's not possible for someone to reset your password to circumvent FileVault.

It's a symmetric encryption system and your password is being used as a key to encrypt your home directory. If somebody were to boot single user and change your user's password then login they'd just get an error because the new password couldn't unencrypt your home directory.

This release looks like it cleaned up those nasty home-directory-gets-nuked bugs and is probably pretty solid.

Re:FileVault

[Graff]

I would love to just encrypt my documents dir and leave my music available.

That's easy enough to do, just make an encrypted disk image using Disk Utility (Disk Copy in pre-10.3). Copy everything you want encrypted to it. Then just open it when you need your stuff, it takes only a second to open. You can even make it a login item and save the password in your keychain so it automatically opens on login.

The only difference is you'll have a documents volume instead of a documents folder, no big whoop there since it all pretty much works about the same. If you want to make it look like it is in the same old spot then make a soft link [ic.ac.uk] from the Documents folder to the Documents volume.

Re:Installed

[lullabud]

i never said that the update alone caused the problems. in fact, i know that the update along with transparent dock caused the problem, however, knowing that was no consolation when my dock was crashing before my eyes and i had to ssh into my box to fix things. that experience has given me hesitance to update, lest i end up in some other problematic situation, whether it's cause is purely apple's or not. placing blame or even finding the cause is still not a solution, so i choose to try to not have problems in the first place.

Lid closes versus open

[SuperBanana]

This is strange. Ever since I installed 10.3.1, my powerbook's sleep light (y'know, the one on the button to open the screen) has been much, much dimmer. Either my PBG4 is about to explode or Apple decided to chill it out a bit.

Close the lid, instead of choosing sleep- or close the lid while it's asleep. Believe it or not, "lid open" sleep mode uses a much dimmer light.

I suppose it's possible Apple got a lot of complaints about the brighter mode(I know it was annoying as hell at night in my bedroom, felt like I was about to be abducted by aliens) and just set it to dim all the time.

Don't update Panther Beta

[pr0nbot]

If you're running a Panther Beta, you'll see the 10.3.1 update in software updates. DON'T INSTALL IT. The kernel extensions it installs aren't compatible with the Beta kernel and your machine won't boot.