Point clients to a Software Update server

OS X Server publishes separate catalogs for specific versions of OS X. This allows each client to view only the updates that relate to the operating system installed on that client.

OS X Server supports catalogs for OS X v10.6 or later clients.

You use the defaults command in Terminal to point client computers to a Software Update server. You must be an administrator to use the defaults command.

  1. Make a backup copy of the /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist file, if it exists.

  2. On the client, open Terminal (located in /Applications/Utilities/).

  3. Enter the following command:

    $ sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate CatalogURL URL

    Replace URL with the URL of the Software Update server, including the port number and the name of the catalog file for the specific version of OS X.

    For example,

    http://su.example.com:8088/index.sucatalog

    Verify your change using the following command:

    $ defaults read /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate CatalogURL

    To point the client computer back to the Apple Software Update server, use the following command:

    $ sudo defaults delete /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate CatalogURL

You can revert these changes by replacing the /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist file with the backup copy you made in step 1.