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1. Mac Yourself Cheese Powder
2. Do It Yourself Machine Shop
3. Do It Yourself Will For Connecticut
4. Do It Yourself Will Forms Free
5. Do It Yourself Will For Macular Degeneration

• 1How I created my own .mac replacement
• 4Getting it Done
  • 4.1Set up webdav
• 5Emulate www.mac.com
  • 5.3Create emulation scripts
• 6NOTES

How I created my own .mac replacement

by Matt Simerson
2006.02.08 - misc updates.
2005.07.11 - v2 updated for use with Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger).
version 1 available

Is .mac worth it to me?

Many of the reasons I do not find .mac useful are the same reasons I encourage others to use it. My needs are different than the average computer user. This is not an 'I hate .mac' article but rather an explanation of the motivation and methods I used to provide myself with comparable services that are more useful to me. I publish it so that others may benefit from what I have learned.

Please don't expect free support from the author. Support requests that arrive without monetary compensation are typically ignored. Instead, try using the support forums.

You can also read about my use of .mac

Project Goals

Retain the useful features: Regardless of whether or not I renew my subscription, I want the features I have found most useful (iDisk, iSync (between computers), iCal sharing, and Backup).

Enhance the useful features: The most value can be found in enhancing each feature. For iDisk, speed and disk space are impediments to its usefulness. iSync works quite well. iCal sharing works well but publish and subscribe updates are terribly slow. Backup is hamstrung by the disk space issue.

Plan of Attack

Since most of the the .mac services revolve around the use of of webdav, the first step seems rather obvious: set up a webdav server. There are numerous documents published on this subject so I only give a brief summary of the steps I took. Then things get more complicated as I convince my desktop to use my webdav server instead of Apple's. That creates a number of problems which I successively tackle and attempt to beat into submission.

Getting it Done

Set up webdav

The first order of business is to get webdav installed and configured. I run Apache 2 on FreeBSD, so I already had mod_dav installed. It was just a matter of configuring it. I did so by creating two directories for use by WebDav. The /home/idisk directory is used by webdav clients, /var/run is used internally by Apache.

Note that my Apache server runs as the user www. If you run Apache as some other user (nobody is common), then make sure to alter the chown command to suit.

I then added these config lines to the Apache config files:

The next task is creating the password digest file that Apache will use for authentication.

Finally, I created a DNS record for idisk.cadillac.net and restarted Apache. Seagate external hard drive for mac and pc. I was able to use Finder.app's 'Connect To Server' menu item and connected directly to http://idisk.cadillac.net.

Now I have something resembling my own iDisk. Since my web server is also on my home LAN, I am connected to it via gigabit Ethernet, which is unbelievably faster than .mac. Apple's iDisk is painfully slow, even when I had an extremely fast T3 internet connection.

Add Quota Support

One thing you may notice is that KB available is empty. The Apache 2 dav module does not include working quota support.

Video converters for mac. Andreas Amann wrote to point me at a mod_dav patch by William Carrel with quota support. The patch is available here and I've mirrored it as well. I've tested the patch and it reports back your free disk space on the server. When I enabled quotas on my FreeBSD server, it does not honor them but does report them. This is not quite ideal but better than nothing. To apply this patch you will have to rebuild Apache and apply the patch to the dav module.

Once you have installed Apache with the patch, reconnect and you should have quota results shown.

Configuring WebDav accounts

Now that webdav is enabled, we want to allow others to connect as well. In the following example, I set up two user accounts for myself and my wife.

Repeat the previous steps for each additional user you want to create.

Restrict access to 'personal' directories by addding the following to your Apache config:

Do the same for each user that you add.

Publish iCal calendars on webdav

My wife and I enjoy being able to share each others calendars. The next step was to get iCal to publish to my new server. For consistency, I recommend publishing your calendars to the same location that Apple uses for .mac: Sites/.calendars. You can test now by setting up a test iCal calendar:

After clicking publish, you should get a success notice that looks like this:

After updating our calendars, I also modified them so that they auto-publish after each change. When using .mac, I had them update every hour, as updating would take quite a number of seconds to complete. Now the publishing of changes is transparent. Once our calendars were all published, it was a trivial exercise to get PHP iCalendar to publish our calendars.

Emulate www.mac.com

Now things get more complicated. If you do not have experience with using Server Apache and configuring DNS servers, you may want to find someone with these skills to help you out.

The first step was to convince my mac that my new webdav server was Apple's iDisk server. I began by using tcpdump on my firewall and see where the connections where going. As of Mac OS 10.4 (Tiger), when I access the .mac control panel, it retrieves the configuration and settings from four different servers:

Backup.app connects to both idisk.mac.com and www.mac.com. The next step is to determine exactly what the clients are looking for from the server and provide it (to the extent possible). The simplest way to redirect the traffic to my web server is to map the DNS for those four hostnames to my own server.

Configure DNS

I manage my own DNS servers so it is quite easy for me to tell them that they are authoritative for mac.com, and resolve the addresses to my servers IP. If you only need this to work on one system, simply add an entry to /etc/hosts to do the same thing. After adding the entries to /etc/hosts, run 'lookupd -flushcache'. You can test by running a network command like 'ping www.mac.com' and you should see the traffic going to your host.

Configure Apache

To get Apache to act like idisk.apple.com, I considerably expanded the Apache directives as shown in ['http://www.tnpi.net/computing/mac/tips/idisk/idisk.cadillac.net.txtthis apache include file]. I also created another include file to simulate www.mac.com. Finally, I generated a SSL certificate for www.mac.com. I did it the same way I always do, RTFM on the Apache web site. I also signed the new SSL cert with my CA key which is already trusted by all the macs on my LAN. You can also use the Mac OS Cerficate Assistant which you will find in the menu of Keychain Access on OS X 10.4.

Create emulation scripts

Next up was creating the scripts that respond as Apple's do. This was quite easy and you can read all about it on Otto's site if you're interested. The nuts and bolts are pretty simple. Since you cannot packet sniff the https connection, get the info from your Apache logs to see what URLs are being asked for. Once you have that, install a script there that dumps the POST info to a temp file. You end up with something like this in that temp file:

I copied and pasted the {} info into the file foo and then used lynx to see what Apple's server returns. When I sent this request:

I got back this response:

Knowing what the script needs to return, create the script:

The contents of that file should be something like what follows:

Now when you access the iDisk tab in the .mac control panel, it gets its values from the script you just created.

Dominic Rivera contributed a script that returns the disk free output instead of using a static value for disk space.

Notice that I now have 1GB of space available. It is, in effect, infinite because no matter how much data I upload, I will always have 663 MB free. If I were a service provider, I would rewrite the script in Perl or C, have it parse the POST data, verify the authentication parameters, and return actual disk quota values. Since I am only doing this for myself and my wife, that is not important.

I can connect to my iDisk using Finder.app 'Go->iDisk->My iDisk' menu, or the Cmd-Shift-I keyboard shortcut. When I connect, it is wicked fast and I have ample disk space available.

Get Backup.app working

Upon running Backup.app, a check of my Apache log files revealed that it was checking the URL https://www.mac.com/WebObjects/Info.woa/wa/Query/accountInfo. As before, we install a script there to capture the POST data and see what it is looking for. We end up with this in the temp file:

Once again, save the contents within the {} brackets into a temp file and post that to https://www.mac.com/WebObjects/Info.woa/wa/Query/accountInfo Apple's URL. I did so with the following Lynx command:

and got back the following results:

Now set up the accountInfo script to return that value when Backup.app queries it. I did so by editing the following file:

The contents of that file should be something like this:

After making this change, the first time you run Backup.app, it will check your server, see that you have Backup activated and let you back up your Mac(s) to your local iDisk server. I don't know how often it performs this check but after having done so, I have not seen it check again (unless I delete the Backup prefs file).

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I now have and Backup access on all three of my computers (dual G5], PowerBook, and wifes iMac) without purchasing multiple .mac accounts. I also have a backup disk large enough to be useful. This is much better than .mac!

Configure a Proxy

Redirecting www.mac.com to my server creates a new problem in that now I cannot visit www.mac.com from my LAN. Since I still do have a .mac account, I wish to retain that ability. To do so, I adjusted my Apache config file a little more by adding some proxy directives.

I edited my httpd.conf and uncommented the proxy_module, proxy_connect_module (for ssl), and proxy_http_module modules. I also added the following block:

The Proxy statement prevents the rest of the world from being able to access my proxy server. Publicly available proxy servers are a hazard to their owners and the rest of the internet. Be sure to secure yours!

I also added the following commands to the www.mac.com virtualhost containers:

Here is my completed www.mac.com vhost config file for your reading enjoyment.

The last loose end is adding iSync support so that I can use my own server to sync Address Book, iCal, and Safari bookmarks between my systems. Jeremy Baker has headed down that road so I expect to spend some time tinkering with that in the future.

NOTES

Platform Independent

This solution is not even remotely dependent on FreeBSD. I could have just as easily implemented this solution on my Linux or Mac OS X systems. I chose my FreeBSD server because it is the gateway between my LAN and the internet. Because it is dual homed, I can access it locally on the LAN as well as remotely with my PowerBook without playing silly network tricks (like VPN or SSL tunnels).

I do have a few .mac FreeBSD specific build notes

iPhoto Homepage publishing

It is broken. I do not know why. I intend to figure out why at some point but don't hold your breath because it is not important to me. I use Gallery with the iPhotoToGallery plugin and BetterHTMLExport with a template I customized.

iSync

iSync still works with .mac synchronization disabled but I lose the ability to sync between computers if I drop my .mac account. That would be a major loss.

iDisk disk images

Dominic suggested using disk images for users DAV space. Combine this with his script for fetching disk usage and you have working per-user disk space reporting.

.mac, iCal, iDisk, iSync, and a few other things listed here are probably all registered trademarks of Apple Computer.

Losing data is not only frustrating, it can become really expensive in the worst case scenario. In order to secure data effectively, users of technical devices can create regular backups. Apple devices like iPhones and MacBooks also allow backups – protecting important data such as documents, photos, and videos from loss. In an emergency, this data can be seamlessly recovered thanks to practical backup copies. If a Mac has to be sent in for repairs, creating a backup is an essential preparation step since some repairs make it necessary to erase the hard drive.

Find out in the following sections what options are available for creating a backup of your Mac and how data backups work in individual cases.

1. Time Machine backups: a step-by-step guide
2. Creating a cloud-based Mac backup – how it works

Data backups on Mac devices: available options

If you’ve lost your Mac device, the hard drive is broken or data is accidentally lost, the initial frustration can be overwhelming. But if you’ve created a backup solution that saves your data at regular intervals, the lost data can be recovered in just a few clicks. To create a Mac backup, Apple provides a range of options as standard that you can choose from:

• macOS backup software Time Machine (available since macOS 10.5)
• Manual backups for your Mac data
• Cloud-based Mac backups in the iCloud

Alternatively, you can also use a third-party solution (desktop or cloud variant) for backing up MacBooks and other devices.

Mac backups: preparations

If you decide to back up to the cloud, you’ll only require your login information to get set up and run backups. As a prerequisite, you’ll need to have an account with the respective service. In the case of the iCloud, you enter your Apple ID that you also use for signing into iTunes and similar services.

For manual backups with a desktop program like Time Machine or a third-party provider, you will have to have an external storage medium. An external hard drive with a USB or Thunderbolt interface is ideally suited to this. SSD drives are recommended that are not only robust and resistant to shocks and falls, but also offer higher performance than conventional HDD drives.

To be best prepared, you should ascertain the approximate storage size of the files to be saved: If you only wish to back up individual folders manually, you can view the size in the properties. For complete backups – as is the case with a Time Machine backup – the external storage medium should have at least twice as much memory capacity as your Mac device.

Time Machine backups: a step-by-step guide

The standard program Time Machine probably offers the easiest way to save and recover data and settings for your Mac. Time Machine has been part of the macOS operating system since version 10.5 and comes pre-installed on Mac devices. To get your Mac ready for a Time Machine backup, you’ll only need an external storage medium. Read on to find out how data backups with this software work.

Time Machine – setup and use for backing up MacBooks

In order to start the backup process with Time Machine, you should first connect an external storage medium with enough free memory to your Mac device. A dialog window will then automatically open, where you can confirm the connected storage medium as the “backup disk”.

If the dialog doesn’t automatically open for you, you can select the hard drive manually as the storage medium for the Time Machine backup:

1. Start Time Machine via the Apple menu by selecting “System Settings” and then “Time Machine”.
   
2. Press the button “Select Backup Disk”.

3. Now select your external hard drive and activate the checkbox “Encrypt Backup Disk” if you also want to protect your Mac backup with encryption. Then click “Use as Backup Disk”.

Once setup is completed, your Mac device should immediately get started creating a backup. The first backup typically takes a little longer, but your computer can still be used without any restrictions.

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To activate regular automatic backups for your Mac with Time Machine, you’ll need to activate the checkbox “Automatic Backup” in the settings menu of the backup program.

Time Machine alternatives: third-party programs

Besides Time Machine, there’s a whole range of other programs from third-party providers that allow you to run Mac backups. One good but paid alternative is the program Carbon Copy Cloner, for example. The software developed in the USA always creates a one-to-one copy of your Mac, which is why the storage requirements are never greater than the actual memory occupied by your internal hard drive. In comparison, Time Machine saves more and more versions of your data, which typically takes up more storage space.

Creating a cloud-based Mac backup – how it works

Cloud-based storage services also offer a way to create Mac backups. Here, the data isn’t stored on an external storage medium, but on a server in a data center operated by the respective provider. For Apple devices, the native service iCloud is available for this purpose; it has the advantage that it’s very well integrated in macOS and iOS.

But you can also use other cloud solutions like Google Drive, OneDrive, or the HiDrive cloud storage offered by IONOS in order to save your Mac data backups in the cloud.

The general advantage of cloud-based storage services is that the data can be accessed from anywhere. What’s more, data can easily be synchronized across different devices:

HiDrive Cloud Storage with IONOS!

Based in Europe, HiDrive secures your data in the cloud so you can easily access it from any device!

How to back up Macs to iCloud: a step-by-step guide

To set up iCloud or iCloud Drive on a Mac device and use it for regular backups, simply follow the steps below:

1. Open the “System Settings” via the Apple menu.
2. Select “iCloud” in the left column and sign into the cloud service with your Apple ID.
3. Select “iCloud Drive” and click on the “Options” button.
4. Place a checkmark for “Desk” and “Documents”.
5. Next, confirm your selection with “Finish”.

Since only the folders “Desk” and “Documents” can be selected, a cloud-based backup will be created for them, but not for the “Download” folder for example.

The installer will reveal in the Finder. Microsoft desktop client for mac. Right-click the installer with pressing and holding the Ctrl key to see the menu, and then select Open.

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Do it yourself: how to create a manual Mac backup

Do It Yourself Will Forms Free

Another way to save a copy of photos, videos, documents, and other files is to copy the data directly onto an external storage medium. Simply connect the desired storage medium to your Mac and select all the data or folders in Finder that you’d like to back up. You can then duplicate them to your external storage medium using copy and paste. This method is especially suitable when you only want to backup individual folders or files.

Do It Yourself Will For Macular Degeneration

Keep in mind that you are responsible for regularly updating the backed-up files yourself when you choose the manual backup approach. So if you make changes to the original files, you’ll also need to carry them over to your manual backup if you want them to remain up to date.