About donsjgm

Hey Mark,   I got the plist to run but haven't gotten sucessfull results yet.   Changing "download" to "update" did the trick however I thus far am getting the following message in the console:   Service exited with abnormal code: 1   It's being sort of ornery. Kind of looking for a missing or incorrect symbol in assembly code. Lol   I'm not able to give it full time attention so the process is taking longer than I initially thought but my limited sucess has convinced me that it can be done. ... View more

Hey COGordo, MarkJFine and I have been working on a plist to make off peak scheduling a reality for OS X users. It's still under development and testing but you can follow along and contribute if you can. (see topic: Spot the rookie error) Hopefully we'll have something to share soon.   Don  🙂 ... View more

Hey Mark, I've been waiting for an update to be available to "smoke test" it. For a while it seemed they were coming pretty often. I just got notice of an available update (this evening) but I won't be able to check it out until the weekend. I have seen that there are (supposedly) some settings in the GUI that have to be changed from my regular settings. With that, I'm first going to try the version you sent without modifications and we'll see what happens. ... View more

@MarkJFine   I just recently discovered that updates done by cli are quite a bit faster.  🚂   ... View more

I was also able to load it under LaunchDaemons. I'm not sure but I'm under the impression that LaunchAgents require user interaction. In either case it loads and unloads without a problem. I'm unable to catch a PID using both the activity monitor and the console. I changed the StartCalenderInterval and watched as it passed the time however currently there are no updates pending.   In what little time I had been looking into it, before I saw you revision, I had come across the possibility that it might need some form of the following:   <key>com.apple.private.AuthorizationServices</key> <array> <string>system.download.apple-software</string> <string>com.apple.softwareupdate.manage_daemon</string> </array>   Regardless, thus far everything seems great. Might have to add the KeepAlive or wait until there's an update. (experimentation needed) I can see in the logs where it loads and unloads but the fact that it's not showing a PID makes me think although it's loading, it's not running. ... View more

Mark,   It loaded just fine!  🙂 I'm caught for time right now and haven't gotten to check it out completely Clearly a case of less is more ( might not be the same for older OSs) It will be interesting to see if /LaunchAgents is the right directory but after proofing it if it performs as expected we need to author the solution and give it to the community. I'll do some testing with it as soon as possible. NICE WORK  👍   Don  🙂 ... View more

FWIW I just opened a terminal and pounded out the code following sample structures of course. I've done some more searching (do my best thinking in the middle of the night... uninterrupted LOL) and I don't think it has to have a listener. (but maybe) It might need a keep alive but that can be added (if necessary) after It will load. I've played around with the StandardErrorPath and the StandardOutputPath thinking (at first) the problem might be there. Apparently it's not that easy a task or someone somewhere would have written it. It's clearly something that satellite users could benefit from......... Hopefully together we can do this for the community. I'll keep you posted with any progress here.   Good Luck Don  🙂 ... View more

It's not kicking off, it reports "Invalid property list". it's in /Library/LaunchDaemons and should start with sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/YourMac.name.here.SftwrUpdt.plist I finally got tired and set it aside for now. I've scrutinized it for syntax errors and searched for the reason that it's invalid. Different versions of OS X use different file locations and the finished (working) plist might be version dependant, idk. the "softwareupdate" command works from terminal so thus far I just haven't figured it out. I'll have to go back and study Creating Launch Daemons and Agents to see what I might be missing. I was going to use cron but since it's depreciated and I wanted to help as many ppl as possible I went with Launchd. Just a work in progress - I thought I would share with you.   Don  🙂 ... View more

Well I had the right line. I knew that the single '=' was the problem but wasn't sure how to implement the test. Like I said, "it was just for fun" and I came close. I've been fighting with a property list (plist) to make a Mac update during bonus hours. There's been several ppl who have asked how. I can't seem to find the 'bug' and it may be OS version specific. So far idk.   It's something like this:   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"> <plist version="1.0"> <dict>     <key>Label</key>     <string>YourMac.name.here.SftwrUpdt</string>     <key>ProgramArguments</key>     <array>         <string>softwareupdate</string> <string>--Download</string> <string>--All</string>             </array>     <key>StartCalendarInterval</key>     <dict>         <key>Hour</key>         <integer>02</integer> <key>Minute</key>         <integer>00</integer>     </dict>     <key>StandardErrorPath</key>     <string>/Users/donsjgm/Library/Application\ Support</string>     <key>ProductPaths</key>     <string>/Users/donsjgm/Library/Application\ Support</string> </dict> </plist> ... View more

Hi Mark,   I don't do PHP so I'm just shooting in the dark but to have some fun with it my guess is it should be    => Don  🙂 ... View more

@El Dorado Netwo   You're certainly right about being handy during a disaster situation. The thing I did like about Morse code was that with a good antenna you could really talk anywhere with just flea power. On the subject of testing, do you have to go to a test center? Is it online? How is it done today? When I got my license another Ham did it for me. I think (bad memory) that higher levels had to be done by the FC*. Except that my skilz are somewhat antiquated I could probably pass general with a minimum brush up.   Don  🙂 ... View more

@Ricky   After following this thread, I share your concerns. I would do a clean install just to be sure. If you download the ISO and have issues with activation PM me or email me (I suppose you still have it). I've gone to running my Win10 as a VM using OracleVM as the hypervisor on a Solaris11 base. Running a VM allows the use of "snapshot" to restore the OS to a previous time. Your hardware is also protected since the HDD is actually only a file rather than access to your physical drive.   Hoping the best 4 u   Don  🙂 ... View more

I used to have that exact Heathkit! KB4DVI I started with a "Star Roamer" receiver kit first. I had my Novice license and was ready for the General but couldn't quite get my code speed up to it. NOW I understand the license is for life 😠 I feel ripped off. Those were fun days though.   Don  🙂 ... View more

I used to have that exact Heathkit! I started with a "Star Roamer" receiver kit first. I had my Novice license and was ready for the General but couldn't quite get my code speed up to it. NOW I understand the license is for life 😠 I feel ripped off. Those were fun days though.   Don  🙂 ... View more

Hi Ricky,   All I could find on America Geeks: Been in business since 2010 Hosted by GoDaddy and likely paying for SEO (strangely) NO listing with better business - unless I did not look hard enough. Based out of CA but uses independent contractors. All in all idk. Like Gabe suggested, and if you find no malware then I would suppose they're legit.   Don  🙂 ... View more

P.S. The easy way is to use the scheduler under energy savings unless you want to learn to write a little script. ... View more

Hi COGordo,   One of the most overlooked (and under used) apps. in OS X is Automator. People don't use it because they find it intimidating however it is not that hard to use. If you play with the app. you will quickly get a feel for it. It also allows you to "step" thru it to make sure you have it right. I prefer manual updates and wait until there's a dot update for major OS releases. I have been burnt too many times on the "bleeding edge". Since I don't allow automatic updates (but do allow automatically check for updates) I don't have a script that I can share with you. You will want to check that an update is available and then run the /System/Library/CoreServices/Software Update.app. with time parameters you have scripted (based on your local time zone). Hope this helps!   Don  🙂 ... View more

Mark, I've been looking into APFS vs HFS+. Unless your HDD was already pretty full I don't understand why it would fill up much more. I would recommend that for future "major upgrades" you wait until there's a dot release and beware of the "bleeding edge". I've been there plenty and learned to stay back a comfortable distance. Anyway IMO APFS is another step to turn all of our computers into big smartphones. Best wishes,   Don  🙂 ... View more

I had not been paying attemtion to changes of the file system but had seen somewhere that Apple was considering going to zfs. My Solaris UNIX server uses zfs and the pool doubles the drive space for the same amount of data but this is in case a HDD crashes there is a mirror copy on another drive. (similar to raid) zfs on a single drive would divide it into 2 equal partitions and mirror one on the other. While this works it does not protect against drive failure since it's all on the same physical device. As I said, I haven't looked into what they're doing as far as a new file system and it could be something totally different. Almost no Apple computer has multiple hard drives so zfs doesn't make sense. COW (cache on write) might advantageous enough. idk It is something I need to check out. 177GB free still isn't too bad. I've got 386 free out of 500. ... View more

Hey Mark,      I'm running an iMac 9,1 so 10.11.6 is as far as I can go on this old of hardware. I went to an auction this spring at a local university looking for a newer Mac but there was nothing newer enough to warrant changing. I'm too tight (and poor) to shell out for a new iMac so I'm here for a while but elCapitan has treated me pretty good. I do have a "Hackintosh" I keep as a backup spare but have only upgraded it to Yose. I like the DU better and plan to leave it there. I have found that late night OS updates are the quick and easy route. (about 1.5 to 2 hrs) daytime 8 hrs= 😕 As for IOS updates (iPhone 6) I havent had any double downloads, I think your 2d assessment is correct.   Don  🙂 ... View more

BTW I forgot to mention, I did install Windows 10 as a VM on solaris and it works fine.   I'm using it as a "Honey pot" for the telephone scammers who try to convince you that your computer is sending out messages (by showing you the telemetry) and want you to give them access so they can "FIX" it. I can then throw the current away and revert to the snapshot prior to their access. hehe They use a non-logging proxy server so you can't trace back to them. I'm currently working on a "payload" I can deliver to their server so LE can identify them. Just doing my part to make the internet safer for all of us.   My best to you all,   Don  🙂 ... View more

Mark,      Solaris has Gnome desktop AND X-Window. it's all good!   Don  🙂 ... View more

@MarkJFine   Yes Solaris will run paralells. There is the option of Open Solaris (the creators and a large staff broke off when Oracle aquired Sun) but I chose to go with Oracle. I don't have any experience with the open version but understand great efforts have been made to keep compatiblity. COW (copy on write aka implicit shadowing) is what I like most but requires an additional HDD. Partitioning a single drive for this defeats the purpose in the event of drive failure. Oracle's license permits personal use for free but commercial use can be pricey. The Gnome Desktop Environment (GDE) is rich in features and there are many apps available. IMHO it's an impressive OS. I haven't yet tried to run Win10 as a VM but 7 runs well as do all the flavors of linux. As of yet I haven't gotten OS X to run as a VM but I think that's because I was trying too new of a version. OS X is (VERY) picky about hardware definitions so it could be that I just haven't found the right combination yet.   On the Windows Defender business; I was having issues with other antivirus products conflicting wiith code I was writing. Not so with WD. Additionally, except for possibly paid AV, WD (providing it's kept up to date) seens to do an excellent job.   Best regards everybody, Don  🙂   ... View more

Hi Guys,   I'm staying away from Windows as much as possible and only bring it up from time to time for updates. I have however done several installations for friends and family lately. I have found that if you update Windows Defender separately BEFORE the M$ update it will pretty much avoid the duplications you're experiencing. sfc /scannow (must be run as admin) will detect and correct errors that might have been downloaded incorrectly or corrupted.   I'm still a OS X enthusiast but my secondary OS now days is Oracle Solaris11.3 UNIX. I still love Linux but have had too many crashes and instabilities to run it "on the metal". Solaris is ROCK solid and makes a great hypervisor for a Linux VM. (I like to code using NASM and it's not really Solaris compatible) Crash a VM and you just replace the file or revert to an earlier snapshot. 😛   Hope everyone's doing well. c u around   Don  🙂     ... View more