Publishers of technology books, eBooks, and videos for creative people

Home > Articles > Apple > Operating Systems

This chapter is from the book

Evaluating the Upgrade History

When assessing a system, particularly a server, it is critical to know not only where it is now (the current operating system, load, hardware configuration, and so on), but also how the system got to where it is. Was the current operating system a clean installation? Or was it an upgrade? It is possible to figure this out, even if there is no prior system administrator around to ask. Without this knowledge, it is often difficult to correlate behavior that you see with baseline, known behavior.

Among other tasks, the Apple installer performs two actions when installing a package that can help you figure out the history of installed packages and system upgrades. First, the installer writes entries to the installer.log file, located in /var/log, along with several other log files. Second, the installer writes receipts to /Library/Receipts.

In the installer.log file, the installer program writes a running list of packages that it installs on the system. Other entries in installer.log are written by Software Update as it finds new software to install, and software update service, if the machine in question is running Mac OS X Server along with the software update daemon, swupd. An example of an initial system install from installer.log is as follows:

OSInstaller[197]: ==========================================
OSInstaller[197]: Choices selected for installation:
OSInstaller[197]:   Install: "Mac OS X Server"
OSInstaller[197]:   Install: "Essential System Software"
OSInstaller[197]:       BaseSystem.pkg : com.apple.pkg.BaseSystem : 10.5.0.1.1.1192168948

For your purposes, the installer.log may have limited information. The system’s periodic maintenance (in the daily folder at /etc/periodic/daily/600.daily.server) rolls logs—that is, compresses the current log file and starts a new one. Rolling entirely removes the oldest log files from a disk so that the log disk does not fill up. This means that if the server was installed or upgraded months ago, it is unlikely that a record of it will still exist in the installer.log files.

Receipts, on the other hand, do not expire and remain as a record of packages that have been installed.

The Apple installer, after installing the files that it contains (the payload of a component package), places a receipt in the /Library/Receipts directory of the installation volume. An installation receipt is a token that the installer uses to determine whether a package has already been installed on a system. If the installer, on subsequent installations of packages using the same package filename on the same volume, encounters a receipt, it processes the installation as an upgrade.

When the installer encounters a package in Mac OS X v10.5 format, Leopard handles receipts differently than earlier Macintosh operating systems. With earlier package formats, receipts were dropped by package name into /Library/Receipts. Each receipt resembled the original package minus the actual payload. The only way to remove receipts was manually.

Leopard, in contrast, drops receipts for v10.5-format packages into /Library/Receipts/boms (or Bill of Materials). Leopard also adds a new package database to the system, /Library/Receipts/db, which stores the receipts database. (You should not manipulate this database manually, or you risk corruption of its format.) Leopard also adds a command-line utility, pkgutil, to manipulate and query the database.

You can use pkgutil to collect information about a given package:

$ pkgutil --pkg-info com.apple.pkg.BaseSystem
package-id: com.apple.pkg.BaseSystem
version: 10.5.0.1.1.1192168948
volume: /
location: ./
install-time: 1208628236
groups: com.apple.repair-permissions.pkg-group com.apple.FindSystemFiles.pkg-group

You can also display a list of files that were installed by a package:

$ pkgutil --files com.apple.pkg.BaseSystem | less
.
.vol
Applications
Applications/Utilities
Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.app
(output trimmed for space considerations)

When assessing a system, you can take advantage of the different methods used by Mac OS X v10.5 to format packages and receipts, as well as earlier methods. A system that has been upgraded to v10.5 will have both style receipts for the operating system components. Specifically, if there is a receipt for BaseSystem.pkg in /Library/Receipts on a v10.5 system, the system is an upgrade (that is, not a clean install).

One final note on software installation: While the Apple package formats are useful, not all developers ship their products with package-based installers. Simple drag-and-drop installations are popular due to their ease of use. Third-party and custom installers also exist. You can also download application source code and compile and install it manually. None of these methods uses the Apple installer application and therefore they do not necessarily save a log of their actions, nor do they need to write package receipts.

Peachpit Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from Peachpit and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about Peachpit products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites; develop new products and services; conduct educational research; and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email ask@peachpit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by Adobe Press. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.peachpit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020