" Mike, please post this asap -
William Carrel has posted an Important Mac OS X Security Advisory at http://www.carrel.org/dhcp-vuln.html that affects all versions to date of 10.2 and 10.3 (including server) and may affect older OS X and server versions. The vulnerability involves a Malicious DHCP response that can grant root access:

"A series of seemingly innocuous default settings can cause an affected Mac OS X machine to trust a malicious machine on a network for user, group, and volume mounting settings.

What does this mean to the average user
Anyone who can gain access to your network can gain administrator (root) access to your computer and therefore steal your data or launch attacks upon others as soon as you reboot your machine. System administrators and users of affected software should read the section "Workarounds" for immediate actions to protect their machines. It is important to note that WEP security in 802.11b/g (AirPort/AirPort Extreme) wireless networks is generally not sufficient to protect your network from access by an attacker."

All OS X users should read the information at that page including workarounds until Apple releases a patch to address this.
TIA and have a great thanksgiving
Brad "

(Note: Apple has now posted a Kbase doc on this issue.)

" Hi. My name is Alan, and I am the lead developer for Revolution 7.1 for Mac OS X (and 9 actually).
I am concerned by the reports of kernel panics regarding our latest driver update (1.2.8) which is intended to support 10.3.1 and fixes several problems caused by changes from 10.3 to 10.3.1.

My problem is that I have not seen this problem (on my G4 or my G5) using iTunes or DVD Player. Also, our test department has not seen it on any machine, so we are having trouble reproducing the problem.
I would appreciate it if someone could forward me a crash log so I can try to pinpoint what the problem might be.
Alan G. "

I wrote two of the readers that reported KP's earlier to day to see if they would forward their crash logs.
While I had someone's attention at M-Audio (I never recd a reply to my mail about this a month ago), I asked Alan to clarify the previous confusion over the Revolution 7.1's full G5 compatibility. As reported here previously (on the G5 compat. page, PCI cards section), despite the fact the Revolution 7.1 card was listed as G5 compatible, a reader were told the card would need a $49 (plus shipping) rework/mod for full PCI-X compatibility. (The last report on this was from a reader in mid-October that had just bought a card from dealer stock in early September.) I asked Alan if recently made cards were fully compatible and if so how someone could verify this before buying from a dealer. (He later said the latest "rev 3" boards should be fully compatible with the G5. Rev 1 boards were not (not even booting he said. Rev 2 and 3 should be compatible he said but would try to find out what the rev 3 changes were.)

(BTW - The news item below on Revolution 7.1 driver update feedback has been updated again for more reader reports)

" New OWC Clearance page goodies
Lots of G4 upgrades, some 604E processor boards, video cards, FireWire, and more. Even found a slug of Apple IIE Replacement PowerSupplies from our Apple II days. :)
Have a good Thanksgiving!
Best Regards,
Lawrence R. O'Connor
Other World Computing "

" (Nov. 26th, 2003)
Hi Mike, We have two exclusive PowerLogix specials for your readers today -
PowerLogix PowerForce Series 100 G4/1.2GHz (1200MHz) Upgrade with 2MB Cache for Apple G4 Cube Models - Includes Cube Kit - $355.00

And, the PowerLogix PowerForce Series 100 G4/1.4GHz (1400MHz) Upgrade with 2MB Cache for PowerMac G4 AGP Models w/100MHz Bus. - $395.00

Both include FREE SHIPPING and are on the XLR8YourMac specials page.
Thanks!
Jamie Dresser
Product Manager and New Product Development
Other World Computing, Inc. "

" Up until now I have been unsure of whether I was alone in my suffering of incessant kernel panics using m-audio's drivers. I still am not sure that this is the case, but im getting a lot of kernel panics using iChat and iTunes, mainly when using the volume buttons. Also, I get some visual artifacts after running my system for a while. Really weird. Anyways, if they need more logs I'd be happy to provide them.
Kiel "

" Just installed on the 1.2.8 drivers on my Powermac dual 800 running 10.3.1. Seems to be running fine so far. i have not used the SRS features since I do not have either a digital speaker set or surround speakers. But other than that all seems fine after 19 Hrs. Will let you know if something turns up :)
Aditya
(he later wrote)

In addition to my previous report, all things were not fine after 19 Hrs :( I have since then experienced two complete system freezes while paying itunes. Also now I have a very annoying sound coming up while playing itunes, something like a electric motor. Restarting the computer kinda helped. M-Audio need to bring out a new driver. "

" Mike, i have used the revolution card with my Altec Lansing 2.1 setup with great satisfaction. However I purchased aset of Z680s (AWWWWWWSOME!!!!, especially for DVD play) the other day and immediately noticed that digital output crippled the playthrough with 1.2.7, though I can use Sound Studio for soft playthrough with a digital coax, iTunes will feed directly to the card.
I installed the update to 1.2.8 and lost all contact with the card digitally, it will work with the three cord analog cable that came with the speakers. No digital playthrough at all.
I didn't live with it long enough to find any kernel panics. I just ripped out all the pieces and reinstalled 1.2.7 and got back soft playthrough and full use of the speakerts for iTunes.
No upside to this driver as far as I can tell. I am sure they will need another try or two.
John O."

"Since upgrading to Mac OS 10.3 (PANTHER) on September 24th, I lost some of the functions of my M-audio Revolution 7.1 audio card. The card would only send sound on my 5.1 system to left front, right front, and the subwoofer. If I fiddled around with repairing permissions, or emptying the system cache the sound would output to all speakers but a short time later or after a reboot I would again lose it. While the card was working at times it was then that I would experience an occasional "kernel panic".

Yesterday I upgraded to the 1.2.8 revolution drivers and they did in fact fix the problem of my sound going to all the channels and the system also sounded great. The only problem was that I am suffering kernel panics all the time. About 10 in a six hour period. They came using iTunes, DVD player, surfing, or just while the screen-saver was on. No one thing made them happen. They just came after loading the 1.2.8 update.
I tried everything I could to stop them but nothing would work. I then cleansed my system of the 1.2.8 drivers and reinstalled the 1.2.7 drivers and all is well again as far as the kernel panics but again I lost all speaker output.

If someone else, and I see that a lot, are having these panics doing a system search for m-audio and trashing all that is associated with the update 1.2.8 and reinstalling 1.2.7 should cure the panic issue for the time being. Have a nice Holiday, -Jerry"

" I installed the Revolution update you listed today on a Digital Audio G4 (733Mhz/1GB/Radeon 8500/Revolution 7.1), and didn't observe an option for the analog jacks on the Revolution in DVD Player, just the Digital out that was already there (implying it's just enabling the A3C passthrough?)
(Yesterday's post included their release notes which said
"Please note, however, that we NO LONGER SUPPORT VLC as Apple has added direct AC3 support to dvdplayer in 10.3 (which is what we now support and is supported in this version)."-Mike)
Even though VLC supports 5.1 out the analog jacks, with a bit of fussing (the plugs are mislabelled in VLC), I tried to find the page I got the correct ones from but couldn't, but here's what I have in mine that work for playing DVDs in the latest VLC client (0.6.2):

Surround front speakers go into the surround front jack
Surround rear speakers go into the surround center jack
Front speaker and subwoofer go into the surround speaker jack

The M-Audio panel will look like stuff isn't playing properly, but DVDs will be fine. I'm not sure why VLC has them mismatched like this, it's very odd.

I don't have any digital speakers so I couldn't test that, but the update did cause kernel panics about every 5 minutes after installing it. This occurred when any audio was playing (iTunes, iChat noises), and went on for about 6 panics before I downloaded the 1.2.7 drivers and downgraded. Seems stable like before now, but it's a definite problem that was induced by the update and went away with the downgrade.
Cheers, Andy M "

" I got a kernel panic after restarting after installing the drivers. I'm going to give the drivers another shot, though. Maybe it was an isolated thing, since my computer didn't shut down properly after installing them (it hung); I actually had to force it to restart (probably because my iPod wasn't unmounted correctly or something).

So far, on the second reboot after installing the drivers, things seem to be okay (tentatively).
Damien S "

I don't own this card but if any other readers do (and installed the update), let me know your results.

"In what's becoming a yearly tradition, we're offering free exhibit passes to MacWorld San Francisco, January 6-9 2004. http://eshop.macsales.com/MacWorld/
Please pass it along to your readers! Hope lots of them come visit us at Booth # 2233!
Sincerely,
Jamie Dresser
Product Manager & New Product Development Other World Computing, Inc."

" 73 GB SCSI Atlas 10k II 68 or 50 pin for $129
http://www.transintl.com/store/category.cfm?Category=2186
1.4 GHz G4 Powerlogix PowerForce G4 100 Series w /2MB Cache Processor Upgrade...$399
http://www.transintl.com/store/category.cfm?Category=859 Ken
Transintl.com "

"Hi again Mike,
Its available now, downloading the 1.9-2.0 patch now from http://www.happypuppy.com/. Happy puppy's site dosen't seem to like Safari though, so i've had to use IE to download it. It will no doubt be mirrored at macgamefiles, fileplanet etc (and maybe 3dgamers.com) in no time as well. I'll report back if i run in to any glitches during installation.
Chris
(he later wrote)

Well the upgrade patch for 2.0 from Happypuppy didn't work for me, America's Army now dosen't get to the main menu screen, it starts loading but crashes before anything appears on screen. An error message appeared quite late on in the installation:
"error removing [system/pb/dll]: Directory not empty"

Tried running the installer again, it said that I now had version 2.0 and quit. Time to download the full client again!
Chris "

I don't use this game so I don't know if that problem is typical. (Hopefully not.)

"Freeverse Software Gives Free Turkey* For Thanksgiving. Active Lancer to ship with free copy of Payback through December 4
New York - November 26, 2003 - Freeverse Software announced today that it would be giving away a free turkey* with each copy of the vertical and horizontal scrolling shooter, Active Lancer for Macintosh, sold through the Freeverse Store through December 4. All orders for Active Lancer from North American addresses will automatically receive the turkey* in their shipment.
* "Turkey" in this case denotes the ultraviolent and lackluster-selling game of car thievery and underworld mayhem, Payback! This offer is only available in North America to gamers 18 years of age or older."

They also sent a long PR email with a list of games supported by their Mac Toysight software they say will be released in late 2003 or early 2004. (PR is too long to repeat here and no info found at their website on it as of this morning but they do have some related images at http://dev.freeverse.com/toysightpics/.)

• PowerLogix G3/900 in B&W G3 (rated 9)
• PowerLogix G4/1.4GHz in G4/AGP (rated 10)
  (My reviews of G4 and G3 upgrades w/apps/game tests, install info, etc. are linked here. OC/CPU module articles are on the Systems page.)

(Warning - Overclocking may not be reliable and could lead to hardware failure or corrupted data.) You can find the full reports by searching the database selecting the indicated Mac model and upgrade card brand/type. If you've upgraded the CPU on your Mac, please post an entry in the database. Search the database for entries from most every upgradable Mac model *before* you buy. (Searchable by mac model/upgrade brand). For detailed reviews with performance tests and install tips, see the CPU Upgrades page.)

DVD+R/RW + DVD-R/RW Drives:
• Firewire (IDE drive in FW case) Pioneer DVR-106 used w/Powerbook G3 2000 (OS X 10.3)
• IDE Pioneer DVR-106 in iMac G4 (OS X)
  (iMac G4 take-apart here)
• IDE Pioneer DVR-106 in Dual G4 (OS X)
  (noted past tip of disabling drive sleep fixed KP issue when disc left in the drive idle for long periods of time.)
• IDE Sony DRU-500A in G4/AGP (OS X)
  (Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers G4 towers up to the Digital Audio Model, Beige G3 MT and B&W G3 Macs)
  
  XD/SD Media Readers:
• USB SanDisk Cruzer w/ 256mb SD card used w/G4 AGP (OS X)

You can find full owner reports (latest shown first) by searching the database by drive/brand/interface/mac models (the latest reports are shown first in searches). For guides to installing CD/CDRW/DVD drives or Hard drives in many mac models, see the IDE Articles page. The Firewire articles page also has guides on case kits, installing drives, etc.
If you've added a IDE, SCSI, Firewire or USB hard drive, CDRW, tape drive, etc. make sure you add a report to the database. (If you post an updated entry - make sure you use the same name, etc. as you did before so I can find your past entry. Thanks.)
(Incomplete entries are deleted. Do not post questions in the database, it's for drive reports not questions on what drive to buy - for that try searching the database for reports from owners of your mac model on the drive type/brand/interface, etc. you're interested in.)

• 1 year ago today
• 2 years ago today
• 3 years ago today