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Open Directory in Mavericks no longer requires multiple processors
In Mac OS X Server 10.7.x and 10.8.x, there’s been an issue that Mac admins have run into more than once: “I’m trying to set up Open Directory in this VM, but the service won’t enable.” Profile Manager...
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Migrating Macs from one OpenLDAP domain to another OpenLDAP domain
A while ago, I needed to script a method for binding Macs running 10.6.x and later to our Linux-based OpenLDAP server. Recently, we needed to move our OpenLDAP domain to a different OpenLDAP domain as...
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Interested in a DC-area Mac Admins group?
Inspired by the folks over at macbrained, Tom Bridge and Justin Rummel are starting a DC-area Mac Admins group. If you’re interested in learning more, please sign up here and follow @mac_dmv on Twitter.
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Using DeployStudio as an Active Directory domain migration tool
As part of a domain migration project, I was recently tasked with figuring out a way to handle migrating the Macs from one AD domain to another. I had the following requirements: Unbind the Mac from...
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Upgrading a FileVault 2 encrypted Mac to 10.9 – Differences between...
I was recently wrong on the internet again, but as always making a mistake gave me a chance to learn from it. What I learned was the method Mac admins choose to use upgrading their Macs to Mavericks...
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Microsoft Lync keychain password prompt on login
One of my users ran into an issue recently when launching Microsoft Lync. When the Lync application logged into the Lync server, a Microsoft Lync wants to use OC_KeyContainer_username@company.com....
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Repackaging the LabVIEW 2013 Pro installer
As part of a project to assess the deployment options for National Instruments’ LabVIEW 2013 Pro, I was asked to see if I could deploy it through Casper’s Self Service. After some work, I was able to...
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Setting up a talk server on OS X
Before IRC, AOL Instant Messenger and Apple’s Messages, there was talk. talk is a Unix text chat program, allowing messaging between users of Unix-based systems. While it’s been largely superseded by...
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Apple OS updates for Mavericks automatically bypass FileVault 2 login screen
With Apple’s release of OS X 10.9.1, it looks like the automated FV 2 unlock process that Apple built into the Mavericks install process has been included with OS X updates. To illustrate, I’ve made a...
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Using a FileVault 2 institutional recovery key in Mavericks to generate an...
A change that occurred between Mountain Lion and Mavericks is that it’s no longer possible to add additional users with fdesetup by using a non-enabled admin user’s credentials. Instead, you must use...
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Creating Custom Guest Users on OS X
If you want others to be able to temporarily use your computer, but you don’t want to create an account for each user, Mac OS X allows you to create a guest account. This guest account allows a person...
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2013 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: The Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. This blog was viewed about 530,000 times in...
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Oracle Java 7 Update 51 blocks unsigned Java applets by default
Oracle released Java 7 Update 51 on January 14th. As part of the installation, the Java security level is set by default to High. With this security setting, self-signed and unsigned applets are...
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Java 7 Update 51 blocks older Network Connect Java applets
Older versions of Java applets used by Juniper’s SSL VPN may be blocked from working properly by security changes in Java 7 Update 51. When the applet is blocked, an error message like this will...
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Accepted meeting requests in Outlook showing as new meeting invitations on...
One of my users was having a problem with meeting invites on his iPhone and iPad, where he would accept a meeting in Outlook 2011 and the meeting would show up afterwards as a new invite on his...
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Managing Oracle’s Java Exception Site List
Oracle’s Java 7 Update 51 has introduced new security requirements for browser plugins for applets and web start applications. However, not all applets are able to run using the new requirements. To...
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End of the road for Apple’s Java 6 updates
It’s been a long time coming, but Java 6 on OS X has hit the end of the road for updates. Mike Swingler has posted a message to the Apple java-dev list that confirms that no further Java SE 6 updates...
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Disabling smart quotes in Mavericks
As I’ve mentioned previously, Apple does at least one thing with each new OS release that a) annoys me and b) makes me wonder about the thought process that went behind it. In Mavericks, it’s smart...
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Fixing Casper’s MySQL database with mysqlcheck
After some VMware host issues that were out of my control, the RHEL VMs that my production and test Casper servers are hosted on were unexpectedly rebooted a couple of times. When I checked the VMs...
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Deploying Canon print drivers with printer setups via Casper’s Self Service
In my shop, we use a number of Canon ImageRunner printers and have them set up in Casper’s Self Service so that our users can set them up themselves. All of the Canon printers in question have...
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