Information Technology — Configuring Software @ Rhodes

Configure your Mac to talk to Rhodes' Apple Software Update Server

Please note that this service may be discontinued at short notice.

The server itself is not compatible with OS X beyond 10.6 and, in order to get it to provide updates for later versions, we've had to make configuration changes which Apple doesn't support. In the event that we're no longer able to keep the service up-to-date, we will announce that on the systems noticeboard, and you will then need to configure your Mac to fetch updates from the Internet (instructions for doing so are at the bottom of this page).

Rhodes' Apple Software Update Server allows you to download updates for your Mac from a local source. This is both faster than downloading them from the Internet, and doesn't count towards your Internet quota.

The Software Update Server is configured to mirror all updates for Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) to 10.8 (Mountain Lion). It contains the same software as Apple.com's update server and is synchronised daily.

Configure your Mac to use the Update Server

• Download and install the Software Update Enabler. A "Read Me" file is included inside the downloaded file.

• Open Software Update Enabler, and configure it to use the following settings:
  • Settings for: All Users on This Computer
  • Update Server: http://applesus.ru.ac.za:8088/

• Click on the Save button to save your settings

Configure Update Settings and Fetch the Latest Updates

• Open System Preferences by selecting the System Preferences icon from the Dock. It's the one with a switch (on older versions of OS X) or with gears (OS X Leopard).

• Now find the Software Update settings icon (it's under System) and click on it. This will open the Software Update dialogue box.

• On the Software Update dialog, set Check for updates: to Weekly

• Then click on the Check Now button. This will cause Software Update to immediately check for new updates
• Software update will download a list of new updates, and then present you with a list of new updates that are available:

• Select the appropriate updates and click the Install # items button to install them
• The Updates will now be downloaded and installed from Rhodes's Apple Software Update Server.

Reverting to Apple's update server when you leave Rhodes

• Open the Software Update Enabler application
• Set Settings for: to All Users on This Computer

• Now click on the Restore Default button to select Apple's default update server. The Update Server: field should go blank.
• Click on the Save button to save your settings