Stan's List

After installing the Mac OS X 10.4.8 update, Intel-based Macintosh computers may not be able to obtain IP addresses from some third party wireless routers.

In this event, the Mac is generally able to associate with the wireless network, but it will obtain a self-assigned IP address (169.254.x.x) and will not be able to connect to the Internet. More …

Apple has updated its remote access and control application, Remote Desktop 3.1. Fixes and features in this release reportedly include:

• Install Package task now supports installing Apple Installer packages that have packages outside the .mpkg
• PCI Reports now called Expansion Card Reports
• You can now power on an Xserve with Lights Out Management
• Improved support for using right mouse buttons to invoke contextual menus
• Copy Items action now also works with computer lists More …

ZDNet’s Open Source Blog brings us news of a “new” IBM-sponsored study on Linux, which offers an explanation as to why Microsoft and Oracle have of late embraced the open-source operating system.

The war is over and Linux won. The truth of the assertion is in a chart near the back of the report. It shows that 83 percent of companies expect to support new workloads on Linux next year, against 23 percent for Windows. The move is slower for larger enterprises, but the direction is clear. More …

Erik Eckel covers the 10 things you should know about when connecting Macintosh OS X systems to Windows networks. Eric starts by saying “Thanks to improvements within Apple’s OS X operating system, admins face fewer headaches when they need to connect Macs to Windows networks. But there are still some issues to deal with, like enabling File Sharing and creating Windows user accounts on the Macs, configuring printer sharing, and working with File Services For Macintosh.” More …

You can create a PDF by printing the article and choosing “PDF” (if you have a Mac) in the print screen. The “PDF download” on the web page will take you to a “free subscription” page.

DATAMATION’s John Welch offers an overview of Mac OS X 10.5 Server (Leopard): “If I had to give an overall ‘feel’ for Leopard Server, I’d say that in many ways, it’s a shot across the bow of Microsoft’s dominance in the small to medium business (SMB) market. The new features, while quite useful in Apple’s traditional market, are even more useful for businesses tired of paying the never-ending chain of CAL taxes that Microsoft vacuums out your pocket.” More …

Server Admin Tools 10.4.7, contains administration software and tools for remote control of a Mac OS X server. Included are Server Admin, Workgroup Manager, System Image Utility, Server Assistant, Gateway Setup Utility, QuickTime Broadcaster, Xgrid Admin, and QTSS Publisher. More …

MacInTouch has several links to articles about breaking into a computer using wireless networking vulnerabilities. The links includes a video by security researchers David Maynor and Jon Ellch show they can break into a MacBook which is using a 3rd party wireless card. A little disturbing is a report by a Washington Post blog that Apple twisted some arms to keep the Mac OS drives out of the picture.

Breaking Into a MacBook video - Cnet

Black Hat: MacBook hit with wireless hack - Computerworld

Hackers Expose ‘Critical’ Wi-Fi Driver Flaw - eWeek

Hijacking a Macbook in 60 Seconds or Less - Washington Post blog

Follow-up to the Macbook Post - Washington Post blog

Linux Box Admin: In 1995, Microsoft added long file name support to Windows, allowing more descriptive names than the limited 8.3 DOS format. Mac users scoffed, having had long file names for a decade and because Windows still stored a DOS file name in the background. Linux was born with long file name support four years before it showed up in Windows. Today, long file names are well supported by all three operating systems though key differences remain. More …

Arizona State University’s online journal, Insight, is covering the demise of one computer industry’s longest-lasting technologies—AppleTalk. According to ASU’s University Technology Office, the networking protocol on the institution’s core network will be discontinued from July 12:

• Outdated technology
• A decline in AppleTalk usage
• Increased costs to continue support

A NewsForge article discusses how to set up Mac-Linux printer and file sharing using NFS and SSH. “Setting up printer sharing is fairly easy. Either the Mac or the Linux machine can physically host the printer.” More …