Apple Releases Migration and DVD/CD Sharing Update

[MacRumors]

Apple today released Migration and DVD/CD Sharing Update, which is "recommended for all users and provides enhanced customization capabilities and improved performance for migration over FireWire, ethernet, and wireless networks." According to the accompanying support article, the update installs several utilities:

This update includes the previously released DVD or CD Sharing Setup Update 1.0 software to allow the computer it is installed on to act as an optical drive "host" for MacBook Air computers.

For Mac OS X 10.4.11, this update installs:
- Migration Assistant 1.0.6
- Mac OS X Remote Install 1.1 (located in /Applications/Utilities)
- DVD or CD Sharing (located in the Sharing System preferences panel)

For Mac OS X 10.5.5, this update installs:
- Migration Assistant 1.2.3
- Mac OS X Remote Install 1.1 (located in /Applications/Utilities)
- DVD or CD Sharing (located in the Sharing System preferences panel)

In a separate support article addressing errors in migrating to the new "Late 2008" aluminum MacBooks and MacBook Pros, Apple recommends installing this update on both computers involved in the migration.

The update weighs in at 40.3 MB and requires OS X 10.4.11 or 10.5.5.


Article Link

 

[Eidorian]

R.I.P. Target Disk Mode

 

[Wes1731]

R.I.P. Target Disk Mode

wait a second. are you saying they've taken target disk mode away?

 

[Eidorian]

wait a second. are you saying they've taken target disk mode away?

Ethernet transfer capabilities are improved on this version. I gave it a trial run.

Given what's happening on the MacBook, I fear for Target Disk Mode. I can't tell you how many times Target Disk Mode has saved me as a Mac administrator.

 

[willjax]

Migration via ethernet works fine

I picked myself up the 2.4 Ghz MacBook, got it yesterday (17th in AUS, couldn't believe I ordered it 16th @ 10am, the day they were released here, and got it in less than 24hrs).

I used the migration assistant via ethernet to transfer all my data, settings etc from my old Blackbook to the new one, worked first go perfectly. Not sure how long it would have taken if it had firewire, but it took about 2 hrs to transfer approx 100Gbs.

 

[OS X Dude]

given that we'll now have to migrate our shizzle over ethernet if we next upgrade to a MacBook, do you still activate that with the Command-T combo on startup?

 

[richard.mac]

I picked myself up the 2.4 Ghz MacBook, got it yesterday (17th in AUS, couldn't believe I ordered it 16th @ 10am, the day they were released here, and got it in less than 24hrs).

I used the migration assistant via ethernet to transfer all my data, settings etc from my old Blackbook to the new one, worked first go perfectly. Not sure how long it would have taken if it had firewire, but it took about 2 hrs to transfer approx 100Gbs.

Gigabit ethernet is theoretically one and a quarter times faster than Firewire 800 so it wouldve only taken approx half an hour longer.

 

[Eidorian]

I picked myself up the 2.4 Ghz MacBook, got it yesterday (17th in AUS, couldn't believe I ordered it 16th @ 10am, the day they were released here, and got it in less than 24hrs).

I used the migration assistant via ethernet to transfer all my data, settings etc from my old Blackbook to the new one, worked first go perfectly. Not sure how long it would have taken if it had firewire, but it took about 2 hrs to transfer approx 100Gbs.

I've read the manual for the MacBook but they don't really cover how you migrate over Ethernet. Can you elaborate a little more on it?

It looks like you establish a secure link between the two Macs by using Migration Assistant on the other machine as well.

 

[soLoredd]

Is it as easy as using Target Disk mode, where we just plug in the ethernet cable, go into Migration Assistant, and it does the rest? Or do we have to make sure the IPs and all that crap are correct?

 

[Eidorian]

Is it as easy as using Target Disk mode, where we just plug in the ethernet cable, go into Migration Assistant, and it does the rest? Or do we have to make sure the IPs and all that crap are correct?

There's some uPnP magic (Bonjour) and pairing that goes on. The Macs are actively trying to seek each other over Ethernet or wireless.

 

[FLAVAH]

i love target disk mode, im not planning on getting a new mb or mbp anytime soon, but when i do, i hope they have something better in place if theyre replacing it.

 

[corinhorn]

Ethernet transfer capabilities are improved on this version. I gave it a trial run.

Given what's happening on the MacBook, I fear for Target Disk Mode. I can't tell you how many times Target Disk Mode has saved me as a Mac administrator.

Ditto. Target disk mode is going to be slowly euthanized.

 

[twoodcc]

well i'm glad to see that they are updating migration assistant for the new macs

 

[willjax]

its pretty simple

I've read the manual for the MacBook but they don't really cover how you migrate over Ethernet. Can you elaborate a little more on it?

It looks like you establish a secure link between the two Macs by using Migration Assistant on the other machine as well.

Do you have a previous Mac? When i turned on my new one it asked me if i wanted to copy data from a previous mac. I think plugged my ethernet cable from my new one in to my old one and ran migration assistant on the old one before saying yes on my new one.

Apparently if you start the process on the new mac first it wont recognize your other mac for some strange reason.

Once your old mac has found your new mac it will prompt you to enter a 6 digit code which will then enable the data transfer.

I thought it was going to be a nightmare after reading everyones posts about how important firewire was to do this process but its really quite quick and easy.

 

[willjax]

There's some uPnP magic (Bonjour) and pairing that goes on. The Macs are actively trying to seek each other over Ethernet or wireless.

yeah thats true but there is no need to set up any IPs or anything, just plug the ethernet cable in to both machines

 

[adville]

Timing of installing SW Update vis a vis starting new MBP

Hi -
I'm planning on getting a new MBP soon (moving from a first gen Al PB 15" - amazing to see that the form factor has changed relatively little over the 5 years since I got that, btw, although I understand that the unibody does mean a fundamental form factor change even if the cosmetic change is relatively minor), and it's been a while since I helped anyone through Migration Assistant, but...

As I recall, you are asked to migrate old data first thing upon booting the new machine. If so, when do you install the software update on the new machine? Do you have a chance to do so before being asked to migrate data? Or, in order to install the update, do you need to say 'no' to migrating data and then activate the Migration Assistant manually thereafter? (And if so, do you need to make sure the user name is the exact same as the user on the old machine, or anything like that?)

thx

 

[willjax]

Hi -
I'm planning on getting a new MBP soon (moving from a first gen Al PB 15" - amazing to see that the form factor has changed relatively little over the 5 years since I got that, btw, although I understand that the unibody does mean a fundamental form factor change even if the cosmetic change is relatively minor), and it's been a while since I helped anyone through Migration Assistant, but...

As I recall, you are asked to migrate old data first thing upon booting the new machine. If so, when do you install the software update on the new machine? Do you have a chance to do so before being asked to migrate data? Or, in order to install the update, do you need to say 'no' to migrating data and then activate the Migration Assistant manually thereafter? (And if so, do you need to make sure the user name is the exact same as the user on the old machine, or anything like that?)

thx

ok, let me see if i get this right!

Once you boot your new machine, it runs through a little introduction etc but you dont enter any info in, then it comes up with a screen saying 'would you like to copy data from an old Mac', once you click yes, it will then prompt you to install the software onto the Mac you are copying from and then run the migration assistant, thats all there is to it. There is no need to install the software on the new Mac as it is already built in, you will only need to install the software onto the Mac you are copying from!

(I'm not 100% sure but i dont think it matters about the user names if you have to turn on the computer and install the update and then run migration assistant on your new machine, I had no problems doing mine straight out of the box)

Trust me, once you boot your new Mac and follow the on-screen instructions, it will all mac, i mean make, sense!

 

[adville]

RE: Timing of installing SW Update vis a vis starting new MBP

Thanks, willjax. I know that's the way it usually happens. But the point of this thread is that Apple just today released a "Migration and DVD/CD Sharing Update" that "provides enhanced customization capabilities and improved performance" and is meant in part specifically to address problems migrating to the new unibody machines. Since the update is just out today, all the first round of new machines that are in the pipeline right now do not have the update, and Apple recommends installing the update on both machines before the migration.

That's why the update is necessary, and what leads to my question: is there an opportunity to install the update before the migration starts, or do you need to say 'no' when prompted to migrate, go install the update, and then manually re-initiate the migration.

 

[Eric S.]

That's why the update is necessary, and what leads to my question: is there an opportunity to install the update before the migration starts, or do you need to say 'no' when prompted to migrate, go install the update, and then manually re-initiate the migration.

That was exactly my question as well. I doubt there is any way to install updates before or during your initial system bringup.

wait a second. are you saying they've taken target disk mode away?

For Macbooks, yes, since it depends on FireWire. I had my first look at the new laptops at the Apple store last night. When I asked the salesdude how migration is done during initialization without FireWire, he said "You should be able to use USB." Obviously they don't prep these people too well.

 

[autrefois]

When I asked the salesdude how migration is done during initialization without FireWire, he said "You should be able to use USB." Obviously they don't prep these people too well.

Maybe he meant you should be able to, but it's not supported.

 

[Morod]

I just downloaded the update. Haven't migrated any data yet, but the update doesn't seem to have affected anything adversely.
Morod

 

[willjax]

Thanks, willjax. I know that's the way it usually happens. But the point of this thread is that Apple just today released a "Migration and DVD/CD Sharing Update" that "provides enhanced customization capabilities and improved performance" and is meant in part specifically to address problems migrating to the new unibody machines. Since the update is just out today, all the first round of new machines that are in the pipeline right now do not have the update, and Apple recommends installing the update on both machines before the migration.

That's why the update is necessary, and what leads to my question: is there an opportunity to install the update before the migration starts, or do you need to say 'no' when prompted to migrate, go install the update, and then manually re-initiate the migration.

ah sorry dude, i was posting at like 3am and my eyes weren't working to well!

No there is no opportunity to install the update before the migration begins so yes, you would need to say no and then boot the machine, install the update and manually run migration assistant from utilities.

 

[synth3tik]

Migration assistant does nothing if the start up disc is corrupted. Considering I want my data and hard drive (especially laptop drives) do not last for ever. Most of the time those buggers don't give us any warning of failure or data corruption.

Also 2 hours to transfer 100G is a long long time over gigabit ethernet.

 

[willjax]

Migration assistant does nothing if the start up disc is corrupted. Considering I want my data and hard drive (especially laptop drives) do not last for ever. Most of the time those buggers don't give us any warning of failure or data corruption.

Also 2 hours to transfer 100G is a long long time over gigabit ethernet.

I have no idea about transfer times etc but doesn't it take longer if you have heaps and heaps of files that make up that 100gb? Instead of say 100 movies, you have 50,000 songs, then it would take longer?

 

[phillymjs]

Marty! You're not thinking fourth-dimensionally!

Thanks, willjax. I know that's the way it usually happens. But the point of this thread is that Apple just today released a "Migration and DVD/CD Sharing Update" that "provides enhanced customization capabilities and improved performance" and is meant in part specifically to address problems migrating to the new unibody machines. Since the update is just out today, all the first round of new machines that are in the pipeline right now do not have the update.

The unibody machines ship with the new version already. The software update is for your older machine so it will have the same version and can then talk to the identical version on the new machine.