macOS Sierra Tidbits: Apple File System, RAID Support, and More

[leman]

I have been calling for this for a while. I am more than sure that Apple has macOS running on arm already.

In the context of security, future macs could run a small ARM chip with a secure enclave (just as the iPhone does). This has nothing to do with running macOS on ARM. At some point, it might become viable, but ARM is still light years away from Intel's performance.
[doublepost=1465902325][/doublepost]

It would be better if they just used ZFS rather than making appleZFS

They couldn't do it due to licensing issues.

 

[windywalks]

I have been calling for this for a while. I am more than sure that Apple has macOS running on arm already. But as always deals and politics play into this. People still want to run Windows on a Mac (why?). Apple still has contracts with Intel. But the constant delays from Intel which has been a determining factor for releasing new Apple hardware has got to be a thorn in apple's skin. I am sure there is some internal roadmap on this and as you state, the changes they are making will allow them to execute on it, if and when it becomes advantageous to do so.

If they do, the the debate of iOS vs macOS will get interesting.

This isn't nearly as bad as the PowerPC drama of old, however Apple has definitely bulked up along the years to be more self reliant in terms of chip architecture in iOS devices.

 

[tyr2]

On the whole gatekeeper thing. I fully expect Apple are just removing the option to disable it entirely so that users don't turn it off to install one app and then never enable it again. Instead the user needs to learn how to run an app on per app basis (i.e. option click it). This end result of this is way better security for the end user.

Actually this has reminded me I turned SIP off a few weeks ago and never remembered to turn it back on! Best go and do that right now.

 

[Fousthvk]

Umm did anyone see the part about no more support for Portable Home Directories? They really are pushing out all the features for enterprise users.

 

[nt5672]

Is it just me or does this Optimized Storage functionality seem not well thought out. So I don't really know where my files are stored and Apple makes no availability guarantees with respect to iCould storage, so my seldom used but really important file could be just gone and I would never know until I needed it?

 

[wizard]

Is it strange that the most exciting thing for me up there is Apple File System? This is seriously going to help fix a ton of the more... questionable parts of OS X erm... excuse me: macOS. Time Machine should benefit tremendously from filesystem-provided snapshots. Exciting times.

I just wish that they would maintain case sensitivity and update all of Mac OS to properly handle it.

 

[jlc1978]

Hmmm, I assume there will be an easy way to disable these "optimized storage" functions. I don't want stuff being uploaded to the cloud and removed from local copy on the OS's whims really.

Also, regarding that new synchronized Documents, etc folders, not sure if that's gonna work without Apple beefing up the free iCloud storage -- and I mean at least four fold.

I concur. I want to turn it off completely because I don't qant Apple to decide a file is old and up load it only to find I need it and have no internet access. I often pull up old files that are applicable to my current projects and thus keep years of file on my machine. That's why I always buy the largest SSD available on my Macs.

 

[wizard]

Can someone tell an average person like me the advantages of the new file system?? Thanks

In simple terms modernization. To go a bit deeper HFS has its share of warts and defects, granted users don't see these most of the time but they do exist.

 

[leman]

Umm did anyone see the part about no more support for Portable Home Directories? They really are pushing out all the features for enterprise users.

It already didn't work on 10.11. I had quite some problems because of that. Hopefully they will introduce a better solution in the future (e.g. that leverages on-demand-copies and new AFPS capabilities).

 

[erinsarah]

**** that.

No option to install apps from "anywhere"? Mandatory binary code signing? No thanks.

Christ, I hate Windows 10 as much as the next guy, but not even Microsoft requires signed binaries on x86_64. What's next, people are going to find out that csrutil is missing and SIP is now mandatory to boot?

-SC

Sorry, us non-coders can't help but read the above and picture this guy:

But seriously...I have a feeling that there will be a developer's way around the removal of the "anywhere" feature. they just don't want us mere mortal ***** with our systems too much.

 

[leman]

Can someone tell an average person like me the advantages of the new file system?? Thanks

Better security, more reliable backups, less change to lose the data, better performance. HFS+ is a very hacky thing and some of its features are quite scary.

 

[nt5672]

You're right but what if they also gave ALL their attention to Apple Music, iCloud and iTunes? Those are barely usable. Besides, with the amount of money Apple has, there is zero excuse for their software to not be top notch - across the board.

Top notch requires a a management focus on quality and quality features, not toy features driven by marketing.

 

[tyr2]

Umm did anyone see the part about no more support for Portable Home Directories? They really are pushing out all the features for enterprise users.

Yeah I'm a little confused about the new iCloud drive stuff. Presumably that is intended to replace portable home directories somewhat, but does it replicate your entire home directory, or just your documents and desktop?

Personally I would like an iCloud solution that synced all my files AND applications across machines so I could work on a lightweight MacBook on the go, but switch back to a monster iMac at work and for everything to be 100% in sync, that'd be pretty nice.

 

[cammykool]

Im on sierra. I have the anywhere option... Odd?

 

[wizard]

Hmmm, I assume there will be an easy way to disable these "optimized storage" functions. I don't want stuff being uploaded to the cloud and removed from local copy on the OS's whims really.

I'd shut off all iCloud storage if that was the case. It really seems like Apple focuses to much on trying to minimize physical storage for its customers in favor of gimmicks like this.

Also, regarding that new synchronized Documents, etc folders, not sure if that's gonna work without Apple beefing up the free iCloud storage -- and I mean at least four fold.

Nothing much was mentioned about that. I have 512 GB of SSD assuming half of it are documents that can go to the could who pays for that storage? I'm sure as hell won't pay a monthly fee for something I can buy once and be done with it.

 

[Omega Mac]

Hmmm, I assume there will be an easy way to disable these "optimized storage" functions. I don't want stuff being uploaded to the cloud and removed from local copy on the OS's whims really.

Also, regarding that new synchronized Documents, etc folders, not sure if that's gonna work without Apple beefing up the free iCloud storage -- and I mean at least four fold.

Features announced like this and Apples expansion of Data centres under it's control tell you they will sooner rather than later up the quotas for people and of course expand out their billable iCloud storage products, by creating more demand. I might be a little sneaky it might be amazing. We'll see.

I would not like the feature as a default and would assume the iCloud will be user definable, but optimisation will still occur by simple dumping files. That removes dubious and insecure 3rd party apps that claim to clean you mac out of the picture which is a good thing from a security point of view.

 

[robertcoogan]

Concatenated...? Good! Makes me remember the frustration of trying to get VSAN to work in vSphere. At least (I am sure) Apple will make this easier. Which for VMware, well, seemed to be...hard.

 

[JosephAW]

"Anywhere" Dropped From Gatekeeper:
This is Apple preparing us for the future where they switch from the x86 platform to A10x hardware and only apps from the store will be allowed in desktop hardware just as it is now with iOS devices.
[doublepost=1465904238][/doublepost]I thought for sure they announce larger iCloud storage with the push to move all your data to the cloud. From 5 GB to 500 GB.

 

[tyr2]

"Anywhere" Dropped From Gatekeeper:
This is Apple preparing us for the future where they switch from the x86 platform to A10x hardware and only apps from the store will be allowed in desktop hardware just as it is now with iOS devices.

Given Apple just opened iCloud features, such as notifications, to apps distributed from outside the Mac App Store this seems unlikely. They seem to have come to the realisation that the Mac App Store isn't ever going to work for all developers but they do really want to push iCloud integration as far as they can. They may move to a world where all apps have to be signed though.

 

[FieldingMellish]

Apple wants so badly for users to rent space on its servers.

I prefer to keep rarely used files on my hard drive, which has worked well since my first Mac under system 7.

 

[JohnnyCanadian]

APFS: now THAT is a big deal! RAID support should have never been removed from the new "improved" Disk Utility but a new underlying file system? Why this wasn't highlighted at a developer presentation when instead 20 minutes+ was spent showing off iMessage "enhancements" that look a lot like MySpace circa 2005 is beyond me.

 

[Glassed Silver]

Sweet Jesus, now if they add extensive data integrity checks I'll be darn happy!

As for the application security options... BOOO!
It'll likely still be the case that I can do the context menu shenanigans, but I shouldn't be forced to do so.

Glassed Silver:mac

 

[kemal]

Great to see improvements and the return of some functionality. I do not however like the security lockdowns. Rootless mode is bad enough. Looks like Apple will keep chipping away on what one can do with their own computer.

 

[Val-kyrie]

Two issues I will be watching:

(1) iCloud storage of old files. Like others, I use older files for new projects and I have created a very organized structure of folders for my files so I can always access them. The last thing I need is to try to access a file and realize I need Internet access in a location without internet service. (Yes, there are still places with no real serviceable Internet.)

(2) Optimized for SSD. Performance on El Cap is already unbearably slow on a spinning HDD. What about all those Macs which lack SSDs? Is Apple only going to sell SSD-based Macs in the future?

Apple yesterday announced macOS Sierra, the latest version of its Mac software platform and renamed successor to OS X El Capitan. The first beta was released to developers following yesterday's keynote, providing early adopters with a closer look at what's new.

Apple File System

Apple File System, or APFS, is a next-generation file system for Apple products based upon the iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS software platforms, ranging from the Apple Watch to a Mac Pro.

APFS, which supports nearly all of the features of HFS+, is optimized for Flash/SSD storage and features strong encryption, copy-on-write metadata, space sharing, cloning for files and directories, snapshots, fast directory sizing, atomic safe-save primitives, and improved file system fundamentals.

Apple has posted an Apple File System Guide on its Developer Portal with technical details and other documentation.

The file system is available in pre-release beta for Apple developers on macOS Sierra and is scheduled to ship in 2017.

RAID Support

Apple has reintroduced the ability to create and manage RAID volumes in Disk Utility on macOS Sierra, pleasing a number of Mac users who were left disappointed when the functionality disappeared in OS X El Capitan.

"Anywhere" Dropped From Gatekeeper

Apple has removed the Gatekeeper option to allow apps to be downloaded from "anywhere" by default in System Preferences > Security & Privacy, resulting in a warning dialog when you attempt to open an app from an unidentified developer. "Mac App Store" and "Mac App Store and identified developers" remain selectable.

​

Apps from unidentified developers can normally be opened by clicking the "Open Anyway" button in System Preferences > Security & Privacy, but the macOS Sierra release notes indicate that this button does not work in the first beta. A workaround solution is to hold down the Control key, click on an application, and choose "open."

Default Text Size in Notes

Optimized Storage

macOS Sierra has a new optimized storage function that frees disk space on your Mac by automatically storing rarely used files in the cloud and keeping them available on demand. It can also help you find and remove old files you no longer use.

During its WWDC 2016 keynote, Apple briefly showed slides that indicate which types of files are stored or deleted.

Old files that are backed up to iCloud include ePub books you've read, books in iBooks you've read, old screenshots, iTunes U courses you're not using, full-resolution photos, Mac App Store apps you're not using, old presentations, old PNGs and JPEGs, old RAW files, old text files, old word processing documents, old documents, languages you're not using, played iTunes podcasts, old home videos, fonts you're not using, old Mail attachments, old illustrations, movies in iTunes you've watched, dictionaries you're not using, viewed iTunes TV shows, iTunes songs you don't listen to, old clippings, old spreadsheets, and instructional system videos.

Old files that can be found and removed include redundant Mail data, previous OS X installers, Apple Music playback caches, Safari web caches, cached iBooks animations, event logs, cached Map tiles, fault and error logs, iTunes inactive downloads, cached iBooks covers, trash after 30 days, Safari Web Cache, Configurator iOS files, Quick Look thumbnails, iTunes IPSW files, state dump logs, iBooks inactive downloads, archived Safari Reading List, persistent logs, Mac App Store inactive downloads, Xcode caches, old iPhone backups, Configurator inactive downloads, iTunes orphaned database temporary files, and TTL log files.

Siri Preferences

Read and contribute your own tidbits to the macOS Sierra: All The Little Things discussion thread.

Article Link: macOS Sierra Tidbits: Apple File System, RAID Support, and More

 

[KPOM]

Just read the Apple File System Guide and I think it's the most exciting feature of the new macOS. Wonder why they didn't mention it in detail at WWDC, probably don't want the FBI to freak out again.

The new security features are very welcome.... I'll do anything to keep my pretty pictures private.

Apple tends to hold back on announcements. aPFS isn't ready and won't be until 2017, so they will probably reveal more later.