Contents
- About AppleShare IP First Aid
- Feedback and the AppleShare IP Mailing List
- Requirements for Running AppleShare IP First Aid 6.2
- Using AppleShare IP First Aid 6.2
- Known Problems
About AppleShare IP First Aid
AppleShare IP First Aid is a repair and backup utility for AppleShare data files. It can check the integrity of these files as well as make attempts to repair files that may have become corrupted. It also simplifies the task of making backup copies of these files.
AppleShare uses two kinds of files, the Users & Groups Data File and the AppleShare PDS, during the course of its operation. The Users & Groups Data File, located in the Preferences folder in the current System Folder contains information about the users that can connect to the system and some configurable server settings, while the AppleShare PDS, an invisible file on the root of each volume, contains information about the access privileges and sharing status of each folder on the hard disk. Although normally these files don't require any special maintenance, unexpected events (such as a power outage) can sometimes cause damage to these files. The AppleShare PDS file and the Users & Groups Data File for a computer are connected -- the privileges in the AppleShare PDS file refer to users and groups contained in the Users & Groups Data File.
The user (typically the AppleShare Server Administrator) can Verify the files, which will indicate possible problems and if there is a need for repair. The files can then be Reconstructed, a process which extracts all remaining valid data and places it in a new file. The original, corrupted file is renamed Old Users & Groups or Old AppleShare PDS, and is made visible (if necessary), and the new file is put in the proper place to allow the server to continue functioning.
The user can also Backup and Restore these files simply by selecting the volume to backup, and a location to place the backup. Restoration of a backup is easy, simply select the backup folder and AppleShare IP First Aid determines from which volume the backup came. It is a good idea to make a backup before using Reconstruction.
Requirements for Running AppleShare IP First Aid 6.2
Macintosh computers running AppleShare IP Server 6 or 5
Important: AppleShare IP First Aid does not work with Macintosh File Sharing. Use AppleShare IP First Aid only on computers on which AppleShare IP is installed.
- System Software: System 7.6 is required. Mac OS 8.5 is recommended (with AppleShare IP 6.1)
Using AppleShare IP First Aid 6.2
1. Restart your Macintosh with Extensions off so AppleShare IP First Aid has exclusive access to files.
2. Double-click on the AppleShare IP First Aid application.
Known Problems
- You can't back up a volume more than once to a given folder.
- Not all damaged files can be repaired successfully.
- Sometimes PDS files are reported as damaged when they are perfectly fine - do not take reports of a problem as confirmation that there is a problem, but rather, take them as an indication that there may be a problem.