Installation and Use FAQ

Time Machine - File System Format
Most people just accept the default settings when setting up OS X, if so Time Machine should work as expected.  However, if for some reason you decide to format OS X disk using Case-sensitive (Case-insensitive is default), Time Machine then becomes very picky.  Time Machine must be used with a primary and backup disk that use the same Case-sensitibity setting.  Otherwise it will adroitly alert you that it will not work.  Even just trying to copy Time Machine files to a different disk where the Case-sensitivity is different won't work.

Legacy Systems
7500-9600 system are not officially supported by OSX. However XPostFacto does a good job of filling the gap.

One thing to note, the INTERNAL SCSI controllers on older systems seem to have more compatiblity issues that than the external SCSI controllers.
• Old OSX Hardware notes

Allow root access

Default OS install disables access to root shell.  With 10.6.X, the System Preferences > Account panel offers a way to access controls that enable root login access.  Until 10.5.X and later, use Directory Utility after authenticating with an existing Admin enabled account.  For OS X 10.4.X and before use NetInfo Manager, menu: Domain; Security to change this.

As of at least OS X 10.3, it seems the graphical login can be used to gain root access. However, only the standard users will be displayed.  Holding Option Return, then clicking a user will present a password + username prompt (typically only password prompt is presented) - so root user and password can be entered.

Also, if root user is enabled using NetInfo Manager, the graphical login will present an Other User which will directly present username + password prompt.

File Sharing 1: Basics
Default OS install does not include an easy way to share arbitrary folders. With a little extra effort NetInfo Manager can be be used to create share configurations that work just like classic MacOS file sharing.

Lets say you have already created a /public folder (either directly via shell or by opening Desktop Hard Disk icon and creating new folder from OS menu). To enable file sharing on this folder use NetInfo Manager to view ...

/ config SharePoints

Now Select SharePoints and use Menu: Directory to create a new sub-directory. This should create a sub-directory called new_directory. Rename new_directory -> public (name of sub-directory is irrelevent - that it exists and is unique name is all that really matters). Now Select public. It probably already has a property called name. With public still selected, Menu: Directory to create a new property. Ok here the deal - every shared folder needs to have a sub-directory under / config SharePoints and two properties under the sub-directory called name and directory_path.

name public
directory_path /public

name is what remote users will see when browsing your file shares. directory_path is what will map to the share name. You may need to toggle File Sharing On using System Prefs - Sharing.
TIP: may get more reliable sharing if System Prefs - Energy Saver set to never sleep

File Sharing 2: Disabling User Shares
To disable file sharing for a user called henry, use NetInfo Manager to view / users henry.
Now rename sharedDir -> sharedDir0

sharedDir0 Public

You may need to toggle File Sharing On using System Prefs - Sharing

File Sharing 3: OS X (10.3)
With OS X 10.3 additional fields are required to enable file sharing for Apple Talk. There are freeware tools that help adjust the necessary settings. It should still be possible to set this up using only NetInfo manager - stay tuned.

Change Hosts Settings
Default OS install disables /etc/hosts and instead uses Netinfo Manager to control equivelent functionality. Use NetInfo Manager to edit / machines . Often duplicating an exiting entry then editing to suit your needs works nicely. If you need to have several hosts with same IP address, use a single entry and add additional name properties. Note: property serves ./local does not seem pertinent but it doesn't hurt either