14 DAY TRIAL // As expected, the Server version of Mac OS X 10.5.5 Leopard was also made available with the release of Mac OS X 10.5.5. In this version, Apple has included both general OS fixes, as well as fixes specifically aimed at over two dozen areas, including Active Directory, DNS records in Server Admin, web browsing, and even the Software Update mechanism.
“The 10.5.5 update is recommended for all servers currently running Leopard Server,” says the company behind the Mac operating system. “This update includes general operating system fixes, as well as specific fixes for:
- directory service reliability and authenticating new File Sharing connections
- binding and authentication in Active Directory environments
- editing Wiki content in Safari, Firefox and Internet Explorer
- viewing Wikis and Blogs from an iPhone or iPod touch
- searching with Spotlight in the Finder and on the web
- sending 'Welcome' email messages to users in Server Preferences
- importing users and working with nested groups in Server Preferences
- randomization of DNS source ports and transaction IDs
- updating DNS information when server IP address changes occur
- hosting DHCP services
- supporting private events in iCal
- synchronizing Portable Home Directories
- enabling Software Update Server
- using SNMPv3 services
- hosting with WebObjects; update to version 5.4.3.”
Other fixes were aimed at hosting mail services for users with long user names, preventing mail server database corruption, ensuring security of LDAP password hashes propagating password changes to Open Directory replicas and creating and editing DNS records in Server Admin.
Using System Image Utility to create NetBoot and NetInstall images, as well as creating augment directory records in Advanced server configuration have also been patched. Apple didn't forget to have a closer look at Managed Preferences when clients are bound to Active Directory, and provided RADIUS authentication to 802.11n-enabled AirPort Base Stations. The full list of fixes included in the OS X 10.5.5 Server update is available over at Apple's Support section here.
Users of Apple's Mac OS X Server can upgrade to the new version either by downloading the OS X Server 10.5.5 standalone installer package, or by using the Software Update mechanism from the Apple Menu. Using this method involves selecting the Mac OS X Server 10.5.5 from the list of available updates (it is likely you will have more updates to install this time around), after which you simply hit install to complete the process. Updating Leopard Server software may take longer for some systems, while the computer will require a reboot, once Leopard Server writes all the new files.