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Six Tips for Homemade "Dot Mac" Servers

Posted by pudge on from the as-opposed-to-macdot dept.

lisam writes "Alan Graham has an article on O'Reilly's MacDevCenter offering tips for homemade dot mac servers. Tips include creating a central file server, how to set up a central repository for iTunes, sharing images, collaborating with WebDAV, etc."

5 of 30 comments (clear)

  1. *ack!* by Draoi · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Not good. Reading the drijf.net article reveals that iTools backs up in the clear across the 'net. Furthermore, authentication can be spoofed as backup doesn't check the authentication of the server cert. Scary ...

    Thanks for the links, BTW!

    --
    Alison

    "It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education." - Albert Einstein

    1. Re:*ack!* by Greedo · · Score: 4, Interesting
      • You are right, the server cert could be anything ... I use the Snakeoil one myself
      • iTools uses MD5 to "encrypt" your password, so that's relatively safe
      • I haven't used ethereal or anything to see if the actual backup data is encrypted (beyond SSL)


      Still, I'd rather my backups were going to a server that I control, than one I don't.

      Oh ... and faking an iCal server is pretty easy too. I'll write it up if you are interested.
      --
      Tuus crepidae innexilis sunt.
  2. yes its mostly configuring built-in tools by ihatewinXP · · Score: 3, Interesting

    but i for one (of _many_) had no idea that i could add a network drive to my login items and have it mount. between that little trick and how to save itunes prefs and playlists when moving to a completely new drive/machine - i just figured that out on my own yesterday (through much trial and error) and was honestly going to write up the experience because i had not seen these details anywhere. honestly, thank you sir for the write up, i had many of these idea floating around in my head, now i not only know they are possible but whenever i get some money for a new 12" powerbook that they will be a reality.

    --
    ---- The real Slashdot is still here. You just have to browse at -1 to read the comments.
  3. Re:This is your 5am wake up call by torpor · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Actually, I willingly paid for my mac.com address, given that its quite convenient and worth the money ... and unlike some, I see no reason not to pay for something if I find it useful and productive ...

    --
    ; -- the corruption of government starts with its secrets. a truly free people keep no secrets. --
  4. Using Rendezvous etc to do this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Now that Rendezvous is out, Apple needs to do something like is described in the "Six Great Tips for Homemade Dot Mac Servers", except better and easier. I know this can be done with OS X Server today, but it is NOT easy.

    The step I am referring to is the "Central File Server" option. Letting you log in from any machine to use your own home directory is (obviously) good as Sun and Apollo etc showed years ago. What is needed is to make it TRIVIAL to set up so that those houses that have 2 or more machines (this will be more and more common) can access it. The items in the tutorial are good, but should be easier. For example:
    1. You would plug in your machine to the power and either via wire or airport it would discover the machines and users (and find one if it was already designated a "master" aka server) machine.
    2. Then you would authenticate yourself to the server and access your home directory files - e.g. iTunes, iPhoto etc.
    3. You could use the "auto-login" feature once it was authenticated etc.

    Using NetInfo and OS X Server you can do it, but neither my mom nor my cousin could do it and that is the audience you want!