Set Software Update to never check on client?

For now, rather than figure out Software Update service, which seems more complicated than some other services, I'm going to push updates out over ARD to my clients (>25 Macs). I'm setting up the managed prefs for these clients using Workgroup Manager, and I would like to have the clients never check for software updates. I can't seem to find a managed pref to set this. Does it exist? Or, can anyone tell me the key and other settings to just manually enter this by hand in Workgroup Manager? I can't seem to find the check frequency setting anywhere on my personal Mac (not in /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate nor in the ~/ version). Is there another way to prevent client machines from automatically checking Apple's SU servers short of making that change on every client individually? I guess I could set it before making my NetRestore image, but I'd rather do it through Workgroup Manager.

I don't know how to do it through Managed Client, though I expect that you probably can.
You can do it manually in Terminal.app using 'softwareupdate --schedule off'. To do multiple systems, use ARDs Send UNIX Command function.

Similar Messages

Software Update ignores Scheduled Check under Snow Leopard

I've tried asking our local Apple Genius Bar about this, but they weren't able to help me. Here's the problem:
I've upgraded to Snow Leopard on my late 2006 Mac Pro last year and changed my daily user account from Administrator to User. I run the Stanford Folding@Home on this Mac 24x7, so it is always on and awake. I noticed that I stopped getting notified that Software Updates were available. I regularly check the Internet Storm Center and they announce OS X updates as well as the Microsoft updates. When I run Software Update, I am challenged for my Administrator account and password (as I would expect) after which the program checks for updates and identifies the updates that are available.
My question to the Genius was why do I have to run this manually when I have set the Software Update preferences to Check for updates Weekly and Download updates automatically is checked? I have checked this setting from both my user account as well as my Administrator account and they both show the same settings.
Since then, I've added a Mac Mini running Snow Leopard and I set it up with an Administrative Supervisor account and User accounts for all of the family. The Mac Mini never notifies us of updates, either. Plus, I supply tech support for my in-laws' Macs and they all exhibit the same behavior. This has been around since OS X 10.6.3 (the first version I installed) and every update since. So, obviously, I know how to configure a Mac to break Software Update, but how do I "fix" them to let everyone know that it's time to update the Macs?
Thanks for any help you can lend me.

The software update can be run within a Standard users account it they have an administrators user name and password. I am thinking that if you set a schedule for an standard user and the account is logged on then software update will not attempt because that use don't have the privileges to change system information. The Software Update schedule is saved separately for each user of a Mac. Try leaving the administrators account log in and see if it works. Note: Thus another user's account may automatically download updates even when your account has them disabled.

I don't know much about computers can anyone walk me through this ? How Do I Change The Software Update Server Address On A Client ? what do I open and how do i put it in the right spot?

I don't know much about computers can anyone walk me through this ? How Do I Change The Software Update Server Address On A Client ? what do I open and how do i put it in the right spot?

The simplest method is to run a defaults command on the client Macs (easily pushed via Apple Remote Desktop):
defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate CatalogURL 'HTTP_URL_FOR_CATALOG'
for a user. If you run it via sudo it will set it for whenever you use softwareupdate as root.
The HTTP_URL_FOR_CATALOG has been changed with Mac OS X 10.6. If you use MCX it will automatically pick the new catalog – however if doing it manually the following URLs need to be used for whichever client version is in question:
Mac OS X 10.4: http://mysus.example.com:8088/index.sucatalog
Mac OS X 10.5: http://mysus.example.com:8088/index-leopard.merged-1.sucatalog.sucatalog
Mac OS X 10.6: http://mysus.example.com:8088/index-leopard-snowleopard.merged-1.sucatalog
Mac OS X 10.7: http://mysus.example.com:8088/index-lion-snowleopard-leopard.merged-1.sucatalog
Mac OS X 10.8: index-mountainlion-lion-snowleopard-leopard.merged-1.sucatalog
To double check this applied you can run the following command:
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c Print /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist
and /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c Print ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist
to see what settings are for the computer and user appropriately.
If this is working correctly when running Software Update (GUI) you should see the server address appear in parenthesis in the title of the window.
MCX
Another alternative is to use Workgroup Manager to manage the preferences via MCX from your server. This can be done for users, or for computers if they are bound to your Open Directory.
If you are using 10.5 Server or newer: you can simply use the Software Update section under Preferences.
Manually:
Choose the accounts, computers, or groups to have the preference applied to.
Click on Preferences, and then the Details tab
Press the Add… button and navigate to /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist
Press Edit…
Under Often, add a New Key and enter the name CatalogURL
Make sure the type is string and then enter your SUS URL (eg. http://mysus.example.com:8088/index.sucatalog or if using 10.6: http://mysus.examle.com:8088/ – see above from the defaults section)
Press Apply Now, then Done. Once users/computers have refreshed their MCX settings (usually the next login or restart) the new settings will take over.
If this is working correctly when running Software Update (GUI) you should see the server address appear in parenthesis in the title of the window.
In order to have a system-wide configuration one has to run the following:
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate CatalogURL "http://your.updates-server.lan:8088/index.sucatalog"
In order to correctly work both on Leopard and Snow Leopard the right command to issue is:
defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate CatalogURL "http://your.updates-server.lan:8088/index-leopard-snowleopard.merged-1.sucatalog"
Happily used and tested on my network
The DNS trick that Chealion points out is fantastic. I use it at our office, and every computer on our LAN will automatically pull the updates from the local repository at high speed without any configuration.
Create the swscan.apple.com DNS zone on your internal DNS server, and have it resolve via an A record to your Mac
Tags: automaticupdates mac clients macosx setting as default software update
Category: Serverfault
Share
0
0
Google +
0
0
0
5
You might also like:
Can I Update My Jb 4s To 6.1.2 Without Restore? Tue. Jan 21st, 2014
Iphone 4 Not Charging After Update To IOS6
IPad 2 Not Updating To IOS 5.1
How To Resolve The â€âunable To Install Updateâ€ Error For OTA IOS Updates?
What Is â€âSoftware Updateâ€ Doing When It Says â€âChecking For New Softwareâ€?
Advertisement
Comment
- See more at: http://www.eonlinegratis.com/2013/how-do-i-change-the-software-update-server-add ress-on-a-client-mac-to-use-my-own-server/#sthash.YhHp5zWk.dpuf

Is there any way to set Software Update to ignore a particular packages?

If Software Update identifies a new version of something which I don't want to install, is there any way of making it ignore that update when it checks next time.
It's not unusual for minor updates to include no security fixes, no fixes for defects which affect me and no additional functionality. In these cases I'd rather not update but I haven't been able to find anyway to stop Software Update from prompting me to install the same version every time it checks.

Thank you for the reply.
That menu item just sets Software Update to ignore that particular version does it? I did spot it but the dialog which it opens says "You will no longer be notified of new versions of this update." which is not a very clear message but "new versions" made me think that clicking "OK" would make it ignore all future updates for the component and not just the particular version I want to skip.
Sorry, maybe my original post wasn't very clear that it I just want to skip versions I don't see a need to install, not permanently ignore certain apps/components.

Software Update can't check for updates because of a network problem....after firmware update

I just bought a MBP w/Lion (10.7.4) and ran software update. The first two items I updated were firmware for SMC (ver 1.5) and EFI (ver 2.7) and now my MBP says: "Software Update can't check for updates because of a network problem." However, I can connect to the Internet to surf the web just fine. This is the only update I've made. Can firmware be uninstalled? If I reverted to the image on my external drive that I did with CCC prior to the update, would that fix it?

Hi! i hope i'm able to explain what i worked out and what worked for me. I had the same message coming up "no internet connection, run network/internet diagnosis" etc etc. Internet connection was fine. What i finally did:
Open airport, check internet, internet options ; with me, IPv6 was set as this (the letters are in german order and not in a english order, sorry...):
In system prefs, network/TCP/IP IPv6 was set to "automatic":
I did change the settings in Airport back to "Link Local" and Software Update worked immediately normal whithout restarting the computer.
No idea what changed the settings; however i did run permission repairs beforehand with no connection to any problems, just as a normal kind of 'maintenance routine'.
Hope this helps others, it worked for me.
Cheers
Csico

Software update can't check for updates because of a network problem mac

hi i am facing below probelm on my mac ... i have done all the ip setting on my mac Error is software update can't check for updates because of a network problem mac.Can any one please assit me...

Can Some solve my problem.....

Software Update won't check for updates automatically

Hello
Since my update to Lion, the automated Software Update (Preferences -> Software Update) won't check automatically for updates, even if it's configurated to check daily. I can see this behaviour on different MacBooks with Lion.
If I check manually, I'll get all necessary updates - but not automatically.
Do you've an idea or the same issue?
Thanks & Regards

If your logged in as Standard User it won't check.

Terminal command for setting software update to defaults

terminal command for setting software update to defaults?

didn't even think of that...seems to be the most obvious things, seem to be the first to be overlooked.
Will let you know.

Software Update can't check for updates because of a network problem.

The software update app fails with following error msgs. But all network functions fine.
+A networking error has occurred: timed out (-1001). Make sure you can connect to the Internet, then try again.+
+Software Update can't check for updates because of a network problem.+
Deleted the software update plist files in $HOME/Library/Preferences, $HOME/Library/Preferences/ByHost, and HD/Library/Preferences, as per some posts. no effect. Problem persists.
Any Ideas?
Thanks

Same here
The last update I managed to do without problems was +Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 5+ - since yesterday the update process has become much, much slower and when I try to install +Security Update 2009 005+ and +iTunes 9+, it fails, usually with the aforementioned error, but also sometimes with Error 400 or Error 600, IIRC.

"Software update can't check for updates because of a network problem" - help!

Recently, when I perform a software update check on the pulldown Apple menu, I get this error:
"Software update can't check for updates because of a network problem."
The only problem is that my network works just fine. I use the internet and get emails without any problem. But I can't figure how I can fix Software Update.
The only relevant updates have been for Glims and 1Password. Oh, and note the same problem trying to access the App Store; I just get a "Can't connect to the App Store" error.
Any hints?

I have to solve all my own problems.
The problem was due to Little Snitch. Once I upgraded from 2.4.0 to 2.4.2, my system works swimmingly again.
FIXED!

Software Update can't check for updates (Lion)

Just downloaded and installed OSX 10.7. Tried to run Software Update and get the following alert:
'Software Update can't check for updates because of a network problem. The file “index-lion-snowleopard-leopard.merged-1.sucatalog” couldn’t be found on the server “swscan.apple.com”.'
Repaired permissions, created new user account... Issue persists. I'm connected to the internet. Software Update System Preference has no entries in the "Software Installed' tab.

No I haven't tried to get the individually. I will just wait because I am not the only one in our household who's iTunes won't download app updates.
The Software Update error has also now changed to:
Software Update can't check for updates because of a network problem.
A network error has occurred. Check your Internet connection, and then try again.
as opposed to earlier when it read:
Software Update can't check for updates because of a network problem.
The file “index-lion-snowleopard-leopard.merged-1.sucatalog” couldn’t be found on the server “matsus2.matilda.net.au”.
So something has changed in the last few hours. Maybe it's not my computer and just something to do with the apple servers. The matsus2.matilda.net.au is the interesting thing as it has no relevance to our internet or home network.

After installing Lion, the Software Update "can't check for updates because of a network problem.But I've no network problem. My internet is working properly. could you help me?

After installing Lion the Software Update "can't check for updates because of a network problem". But I've no network problem. My internet is working properly. Could yoy help me?

Hi All
Same problem this morning but now resoloved.
Update require using the following url support.apple.com/kb/DL1437 update for lion 10.7.1
updates now work with this update
Hope this helps
Thanks

Software Update status stuck in Unknown Client check passed/Active

I've been rooting around in this for a week now so I'm looking for some other ideas.
A couple of weeks back I tried publishing some updates from SCUP into SCCM. Shortly thereafter I started seeing all my client getting stuck in Unknown "Client check passed/Active" status for Software Updates, starting with my most recent Software
Update Groups and progressively creeping its way back into older ones.
Clients' WUAHandler.log show errors with <![LOG[OnSearchComplete - Failed to end search job. Error = 0x8024000f.]LOG]!><time="18:16:20.329+240" date="08-14-2014" component="WUAHandler" context="" type="3"
thread="2496" file="cwuahandler.cpp:3064">
Client WindowsUpdate.log shows the same error code: 2014-08-15 11:37:16:278 520 1b7c Agent WARNING: WU client failed Searching for update with error 0x8024000f.
I also have one of my older deployments starting to pick up a status of Error, code 0X8024000F "Circular update relationships were detected in the metadata."
I found some folks with similar issues where they were advised to remove the offending updates from their packages. I never got the SCUP updates into any packages; they were showing up as Metadata Only and I started troubleshooting this issue instead. At this
point I have removed everything from SCUP showing in SCCM console just to make sure. (I think I expired them all in SCUP and then synced with it again.)
I have tried several client-side fixes that have not resolved the issue (KB971058, rebuild the SoftwareDistribution folder, KB947821).
I have even uninstalled the WSUS role off my server, restarted, then reinstalled. SCCMw ill sync happily with WSUS and received this week's updates successfully but it cannot pull a status for these new updates and all the existing ones still sit in Unknown
status in their deployments. I tried creating a new small deployment and it still gets stuck in the same place.
It looks like my Software Updates metadata in SCCM is a mess and I'm not sure how to resolve it. I think the next step I can think of is to strip the SUP role off the server and pop it back in after its had some time to clean itself up. Does anybody have
any other less severe suggestions?

Hi,
There is someone remove all the third-party metadata in WSUS Database, then run full sync and initiated scan cycle on the machine. The client successfully scanned updates.
But editing database directly is unsupported by Microsoft.
Best Regards,
Joyce
We
are trying to better understand customer views on social support experience, so your participation in this
interview project would be greatly appreciated if you have time.
Thanks for helping make community forums a great place.

Software Update Deployment - Compliance Status = Unknown - Client Check passed/active

Hi,
First I want to say, that I found many Forum-Posts which describes a similar issue, but it is not exactly my issue...
I have a ADR (Auto Deployment Rule) which creates every Month a Windows Update Package, and deploys it. The Deployment starts from a custom day, and ends 14 days later (Deadline). Now I have the issue, that the compliance chek in the deployment status is
"reseted" every day (at 0:00) - (at least after the Deadline!)... The Compliance Check starts every day at 0:00 and then tries to reach every Computer again! So if the Computer-object is powered on and responding, it turns over to compliant (because
it is already compliant - the Windows Update Installation works fine...). But if the Computer is not powered on / not responding the next day, it turns over to "Unknown - Client check passed/active" instead of staying in the Status "compliant"
until it is powered on / respinding again, then it changes over to compliant again... Why is that?
Is there a issue with the Client Settings?:
- Software Update Scan (every day)
- Software Update Re-Evaluation (every day)
- Compliance Settings (every day at 0:00) -> but is this not for the Configuration Baselines?
any other ideas?
Patrik

As soon as the computer get the Software Update configuration items, it will start compliance checking, then send the compliance check result to MP.
From your description, the powered on computers sent the state message to the MP when they got the deployment policy. And the frequency of Status Summarizers of updates deployment for a deployment that was modified in the last
30 days is 60 minutes. Because the site server had not recieved the state message from the powered off computers so that the compliance state was changed to Unknown.
Juke Chou
TechNet Community Support

Auto software update won't check automatically-have to manually check

I have a brand new macbook pro and the auto update for software updates doesn't work properly. With my old imac, all I had to ever do was to log in and it would check and find the updates. I constantly have to check for these updates myself, manually. I even changed my setting to check 'daily' and that doesn't work either. If anyone has a fix, please let me know too.

Hi Kappy... just wanted to give you an update. I was working with Apple (by phone) to correct this update problem. While going back and forth, I ran into a problem whereby my 3 month old macbook died. Wouldn't turn on at all. Went to the Apple Store Genius Bar and they ended up replacing the Logic Board. Anyways, it fixed this auto-update problem. Seems to be updating now without a problem. Thanx for all your help here.
One question for you, if you know... Apple had me move a '[email protected]' file onto my desktop as it didn't belong where it was. Can I just delete this file or do I need to put it somewhere else? Have no idea where it goes. fyi... I don't have mobile-me.

Set Software Update to never check on client?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for