Mac OS X 10.4.1 (#10): Permissions problems for files created through AFP; More on problems mounting disk images; more

CNET staff

Sept. 2, 2009 11:33 a.m. PT

4 min read

Permissions problems for files created through AFP Several readers have reported an issue where permissions for files and folders created through AFP (Apple filesharing protocol) under Mac OS X 10.4.x. are not correct.

Under Mac OS X 10.3.x (Panther), access is given to both the Owner of the file and the Group when a file is created by a client machine on a server. However, under Mac OS X 10.4.x, permissions for AFP-copied/created are set as read/write for the owner but not for the group, meaning that files cannot be shared between client users.

Essentially, this issue boils down to permissions not automatically being inherited from the original file or enclosing folder to the server-copied file or folder.

MacFixIt reader Robert Gruber is one user suffering from this issue:

"I switched a small workgroup (10 people) over the weekend from Mac OS X 10.3.x to Mac OS X 10.4.x Server.

"Today my phone didn't stop ringing, customers where complaining that no files can be edited, saved, moved or deleted if they are not the owners or creators of the original files...

"Went back and installed a fresh Mac OS X 10.3.9 Server on the second startup partition. 3 hours later up and running smoothly, with correct permissions (and handling by Mac OS X 10.3.9 server (and all available security updates)."

If you are experiencing a similar issue, please let us know.

More on problems mounting disk images Yesterday we noted an inability to mount certain disk images (.dmg) under Mac OS X 10.4.x.

Users continue to corroborate this problem.

MacFixIt reader Gary writes:

"I just read the note on today's page regarding mounting disk images under Mac OS X 10.4.1 and I came across the same issue when I went to install Apple's Logic Pro 7. The disk images would not mount - ended up getting them to mount and install using Pacifist however."

Meanwhile, another MacFixIt reader reports that deleting the following files from the /System/Library folder resolves the problem in his case:

Extensions.kextcache
Extensions.mkext

Finally, Wayne Buchanan offers a separate workaround, where apparently duplicating the errant disk image resolves mounting problems.

Wayne writes:

"I have been having problems mounting some disk images under Mac OS X 10.4.1. I have found that if I make a duplicate of the .dmg file, the duplicate will mount fine. If I delete the original file, then rename the duplicate to the original name, removing 'copy' from the name, it won't mount.

Kernel panics when copying large files MacFixIt reader Shirley Sanderson reports an issue with repeated kernel panics when attempting to copy large files from volume to volume under Mac OS X 10.4.x. The same kernel panics do not occur for the same files when running Mac OS X 10.3.x.

Shirley writes:

"I installed Tiger on one of two internal hard drives on my G5 dual 2.5 GHz (The other drive has OX10.3.9). There were some minor problems, but nothing major until I tried copying a large amount of information from one external firewire 800 disk (LaCie Big Disk 500) to another identical disk. The folders included a couple that were 50 GB and 90 GB, respectively. The copy started, and then part way through, I got a kernel panic, the first that I have ever experienced.

"After restarting, I tried copying only the one 50 GB folder to the second external hard drive. Again, I got a kernel panic part way through the copy.

"I rebooted from my OS 10.3.9 internal drive and tried copying the large folders again. As had always been the case with copying large folders full of Photoshop files, there was absolutely no problem. Therefore, I have to conclude that this is a Tiger issue, since I experienced 3 kernel panics when trying to copy large amounts of information (even in a single folder) under Tiger, and had no kernel panics or any other problem under Panther."

If you are experiencing a similar problem, drop us a line at late-breakers@macfixit.com.

Previous Mac OS X 10.4.1 coverage: