Datasheet

names cannot be customized after creation. Apple states that “a UFS format may be desired for
developing Unix-based applications
within OS X,” and you should not choose this format unless
you specifically need it.
Gathering setup information
Regardless of whether you’re upgrading from Mac OS 9 or older versions of Mac OS X, if you want
your computer to use the same Internet and network settings, before you install Mac OS X on it you
need to make a note of your system’s current preferences. Depending upon how you connect to the
Internet, one or more of the following settings may need to be recorded. In Mac OS 9, the settings
are located in the AppleTalk, File Sharing, TCP/IP, Remote Access, Modem, and Internet control
panels. In Mac OS X, the settings are located in the Network and Sharing preference panes as well
as in the Internet Connect application. In addition, you may need to get the settings for your
e-mail account from your e-mail reader application.
Hard drive backup
To back up today’s large hard drives, you need some type of storage device that can accommodate
the capacity of your backup. These devices can include, but are not limited to, another internal
IDE or SATA hard drive, a FireWire or USB hard drive, or a recordable optical or magnetic media
drive. You
can back up to a Finder-accessible volume by simply dragging and dropping the desired
contents to another hard drive; however, before doing so, you need to be the owner of those con-
tents and be sure to select ignore permissions from within the Get Info window of the intended
destination volume. Another option to consider is Leopard’s Time Machine backup utility, which is
covered in greater detail in Chapter 21. Lastly, using a more advanced third-party backup utility,
such as Retrospect from Dantz Development or BRU from Tolis Group, has the added benefit of
superior logging and verification capabilities to ensure the successful outcome of a backup, in
addition to the fact that both products support streaming tape media.
Preparing the destination volume
After you’ve backed up, you’re ready to prepare your intended destination volume for Mac OS X
installation. To do so, you need to use the Disk Utility application located on the Mac OS X Install
DVD. Disk Utility is covered in Chapter 21.
If you’re not installing on an Apple-branded hard disk, and third-party formatting software was
used to prepare it, you need to investigate if the formatting software is Mac OS X-compatible. If
not, you need to use formatting software that is compatible. Typically, an initialization is required,
but some third-party formatting software can update and overwrite an existing driver without the
need of an initialization.
A
driver is a piece of software that enables an operating system to interface or control a hardware
device. In general, the operation of driver software requires no action from the end user. All hard
drives use driver software. It is imperative that the hard disk driver is compatible with the Mac OS
version in use or problems will result.
10
Getting to Know Mac OS X
Part I
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