Apple OSX OS updates - Caching

[shadow_man]

Hi,

Starting to see more and more Mac's in our office and need to do some sort of apt-cache server.

Would one use Squid for this or would I need to make use of Apple Update Services on an OSX server box?

EDIT: I see squid can do this with a refresh pattern. Not sure how reliable this is long term - obviously for short term updates it makes sense, but may need to do Apple's way for the long term.

Thanks,
J

 

[ozziej]

Yup, squid works really well. Just set your maximum file size and disk cache size quite high and it won't trash stuff.
Obviously the best way is to get osx server, and use that, but squid is a slightly cheaper way of doing it.

 

[GreGorGy]

Yup, squid works really well. Just set your maximum file size and disk cache size quite high and it won't trash stuff.
Obviously the best way is to get osx server, and use that, but squid is a slightly cheaper way of doing it.

If he has a recent era Mac available, with OS X server so cheap...


Why not just download the combo updates directly though? And then store those.

 

[shadow_man]

If he has a recent era Mac available, with OS X server so cheap...


Why not just download the combo updates directly though? And then store those.

That is an option, but with the number of macs growing monthly its not really something I want to have to follow up on or look for manually. I'd rather it got cached or I setup an update server.

 

[shadow_man]

I've since found a better solution and am busy with testing.

This is the back end:
https://github.com/wdas/reposado#readme

and this is the front end:
https://github.com/jessepeterson/margarita

This will allow me to manage Apple updates on a Linux VM. No need for extra hardware / squid caching config / $$$ for Apple stuff.

I'll do a walk through with setup later if anyone is interested.

 

[ponder]

Interesting.

 

[shadow_man]

Started blogging and thought this would be an interesting one to blog.

http://jerome.co.za/reposado-a-custom-apple-software-update-server/

Reposado – A Custom – Apple Software Update Server!

https://github.com/wdas/reposado

Reposado is a GIT project with the aim, to replicate key functionality of Mac OS X Server’s, Software Update Service. It’s brought to us by none other than the people at Walt Disney. The Walt Disney Animation Studio to be exact!

The beauty of this project is that:

1.) It doesn’t need to run on a Mac.

2.) There is a cost saving as a result. No need to spend your hard earned $$$ on overpriced hardware.

3.) It can provide updates to any OS X version, whereas Apple’s Mac OS X server can only provide updates (not strictly true, but not easily!) to its current version or below e.g. your OS X 10.6 server can only provide to OS X 10.6 or below – it can’t cater for your OS X 10.7 or OS X 10.8 clients. Reposado doesn’t have this pitfall, it caters for all!