[Info-vax] macOS (was: Re: reasons I like long uptime)

[Stephen Hoffman]

On 2017-07-01 20:07:26 +0000, already5chosen at yahoo.com said:


> Are OS updates forced?

No.

XProtect updates are automatic and are transparent, unless those are 
explicitly disabled.   XProtect deals with malware and problem 
software, certificate revocations, etc.

By default, macOS updates allow the user to select when to install and 
reboot.       Same for app updates.

macOS upgrades — what OpenVMS calls major releases — are a seperate 
request for installation by the user.   You'll get told that the 
upgrade is available, but won't be forced to install it.

Apple generally provides security updates and XProtect definitions for 
one to two releases back.

Updates and apps are cached locally when macOS Server is around, and 
will be cached locally by macOS (without Server installed) in the next 
release.   This caching means that once the update or app has been 
downloaded once, the caching server will keep it around and age it, 
rather than downloading copies from the Apple update servers each time. 
  In OpenVMS terms, it'd be akin to caching PCSI kits for apps and 
updates on other local OpenVMS servers, rather than forcing sftp 
downloads from VSI for each.

iOS also allows folks to delay updates and upgrades, too.  iOS updates 
and upgrades and apps will also use the macOS caching server 
capabilities.

> If they are, for how long can you postpone them?

Years.   Or until you discover that running down-revision software is a 
problem.

Xcode can build apps for older versions, and developers can and 
variously do keep older macOS and iOS releases around on various 
systems.

With iOS, Apple does stop signing old releases, so if the device needs 
to be reset or needs to be wiped and re-installed, you'll get upgraded 
to the most current iOS release supported by the device.

> How often OS updates require reboot

Most OS updates require reboot.  App updates, no.

> or log-off?

An update reboot saves your state, logs you off, reboots, logs you back 
in, and recovers your state.   An upgrade also restores state, but — 
given that takes longer and folks can wander off — leaves you to 
specify your password on the login once the upgrade is completed, and 
then restores your state from prior to the shutdown.

> Does reboot due to macOS update feel more like "controlled reboot" or 
> more like power cut?

It's more like your monitor goes to sleep than any sort of reboot 
familiar to OpenVMS folks.

> Luckily, at work I have no problem of power cuts. UPSes tends to work fine.

Like the cake, "uninteruptable" is a lie.


Many folks point to Microsoft Windows as being based on many of the 
designs and ideas of VMS, but — in many ways, and not the least of 
which is "it just works" — I find that macOS is more of a descendant of 
VMS than Windows is.

Apple certainly have their issues with macOS and iOS, but there are 
more than a few ideas in macOS that OpenVMS could benefit from adopting 
or extending.  There are also designs and approaches and parts of iOS 
and macOS that would be inappropriate for OpenVMS, too.  Some — like 
actually getting rid of problematic or buggy or insecure code, and not 
dragging along ancient hardware support — can be unpopular with some 
folks, though.



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