Ever since I've been playing with my Mac mini with OS X server 10.6.4 I have had on-and-off problems in the authentication/Open Directory area.
- Some accounts authenticate really quick, while others take minutes to authenticate.
- Accessing the Open Directory through the Workgroup Manager is as slow as a slow boat to China. Changing users (just by selecting them) takes another boat along the Pacific.
So it was time to start digging into the phenomenon called 'Open Directory'.
The manual from Apple isn't much help in troubleshooting a slow Open Directory, so it was time to search the interwebs and start experimenting. If it didn't work, I can always reinstall the entire server from scratch.
It has finally been done. I've switched off the old Windows 2003 server at home and officially replaced it with an Apple Mac mini server. For now... And with 'for now' I really mean for now. It turns out that Apple OS X Server doesn't resemble its client counterpart at all. Where the client is stable and intuitive, the server edition lacks both.
I'll try to explain why I think there's lots of room for improvement. Mainly stuff I ran into while configuring the server/services.
Since the Windows fulfilled several functions, I needed these functions to be available on the OS X server as well. These were;
- Networking services like DNS and DHCP
- Webserver
- Mailserver
- MySQL Database
- SSH Server
- File sharing on the internal network
- Public Key Infrastructure for issuing certificates
- Download station
Evaluating these functions, one would think that this shouldn't be a problem. Well it actually is.... At least some of those features.
After Apple updated the Mac mini to it's current form (mid 2010), I decided that it was time to start replacing my 'faithful' Windows 2003 server with something a bit less power consuming. The original Mac Mini was basically a consumer device, but a while back, Apple released a server version of the device. The main differences are:
- Only 1 CPU model available (2.66GHz at this moment)
- No DVD drive
- 2 * 500GB internal disks
- OSX 10.6.4 Server edition (unlimited clients)
Basically everything you could ever need for a server with a very small footprint.
The installation of Coldfusion is not straight forward. Not that I expected it to be [1], [2], [3], but one keeps hoping on an installer that actually installs the complete package, and where you don't have to edit files yourself to get it to work. It's not that it's the very first version of the scripting engine......
Anyway, the installer guides you through everything needed to INSTALL the software. Getting it to work comes next....
Most of the regular iPhone / iPod Touch users already know that there's no sign of porn or erotica to be found in the Apple App Store. Reason for this is (according to Steve Jobs);
You know, there’s a porn store for Android. You can download nothing but porn. You can download porn, your kids can download porn. That’s a place we don’t want to go – so we’re not going to go there.
So no porn for the iPhone (at least not the jailbraked versions), or is it? It seems that Apple facilitates the biggest 'app' for getting your porn 'fix'. The app is called 'Safari'. The good old browser. The application that made the Internet for what it is today. As an alternative you can use iTunes to provide you your 'fix'.
Note that eventhough I'm talking porn/erotica here, you can project this to any piece of content.
Before continuing, I must warn you. The complete article might have some explicit pictures, so continue at your own risk. I can't and won't be held responsible for the consequences.
With the release of firmware 3.1.3 the tethering option is back on the iPhone. After the reboot of the iPhone you get additional fields in the 'Cellular Data Network' section in the 'Network' menu (Settings -> General -> Network -> Cellular Data Network). Just enter the appropriate information in the APN field (for KPN in the Netherlands enter internet in the APN field) and the Internet Tethering option is back (w00t) in the 'Network' menu.
Apple released an update for the iPhone. Release 3.1.3 fixes some issues like;
- improves accuracy of reported battery level on iPhone 3GS
- resolves issue where 3rd party apps would not launch in some instances
- fixes bug that may cause an app to crash when using the Japanese Kana keyboard
- Tethering is back (even on the non exclusive carriers)....
Results may vary since not every carrier allows tethering (like T-Mobile in the Netherlands).
Apple iPadApple announced the iPad this week. Basically, it's an oversized iPhone/iPod Touch. It comes in several 'sizes'. Meaning different memory sizes (16, 32, and 64GB). The 3G option is an option on all versions (which sets you back an additional >$130).
The size is too big to put it in your pocket, but I think the device will find many owners in frequent flyers market. Smaller than a laptop, and bigger than the iPhone. Just the right size.
I do have my doubts about the device as a gaming platform. It's too big to cover the entire screen with your hands when you're holding it. The iPhone/iPod Touch can be held with both hands and you can access every part of the screen just with your thumbs (at least I can).
;)