Full macOS installers come in different presentations according to how they’re obtained. Explained here are what’s in an installer app, and how a bootable installer disk works.
Software Update
In macOS 11.5.1, Apple has squeezed a thimbleful of a patch into a ten-gallon can of update, more than 99% of which is overhead.
Details of how the Content Caching server handles a cache macOS security data update, and both client and server handle an App Store update.
Using Activity Monitor and command tools to assess performance of a content caching server, and diagnosing problems from the log.
Big Sur updates have far exceeded those of Mojave or Catalina, and are set to total well over 40 GB. Prospects for security updates are no better, with a high carbon footprint.
In Big Sur, Apple is trying to change our update habits, getting us all to update early, and run only the latest release of macOS. Its campaign uses installer behaviour, mass psychology, and boot security.
Although updating each M1 Mac requires 1 GB of direct download from Apple, there are great economies in running your own Content Caching Server. And why Apple doesn’t want to offer standalone Big Sur updates.
Not only has Apple not provided standalone updaters for macOS 11.2, or for Mojave and Catalina Security Updates 2021-001, but it has removed the Big Sur 11.1 installer. It’s just like iOS now.
Can you use Big Sur’s Content Caching Server to save and retain updates which can substitute for ‘delta’ and Combo standalone update packages?
This morning, Apple has reinstated Big Sur upgrades on its software update service. However, users may still encounter […]
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