When you set up AppleShare IP, you need to provide the serial number on the sticker included with your AppleShare IP materials. You'll also need the serial number if you have to reinstall your computer's software, or if you're having problems with your serial number. A serial number looks similar to this:
Important: For convenience, your serial number comes printed on a small adhesive label. Don't put the adhesive label on a removable media disk. The label could come loose and damage the drive.
You've lost your serial number
If you lose your AppleShare IP serial number before you set up AppleShare IP, contact the appropriate Apple support representative in your area or contact AppleCare Technical Support to request a new serial number. You'll need to provide your identification and purchase information.
Displaying your serial number
If you lose your serial number after you start your AppleShare IP server, follow these steps to display your serial number:
You see "duplicate serial number" or conflict alerts
When the AppleShare IP server starts up, it checks your computer's network for other computers using the same serial number. If no matching number is found, your serial number is encrypted and registered on the network. If the AppleShare IP server detects a matching serial number, it displays a message. When you click OK, the server program quits.
If you have AppleShare IP 6.3.3, the Mac OS Server Admin modules do not load if a duplicate serial number is detected. An error message appears for each module (see Figure 1).
Figure 1 Error text generated by Mac OS Server Admin
Your computer may detect a duplicate serial number on the network if:
If you see the duplicate serial number message, try these suggestions:
- A-111-BBB-222-CCC-333-DDD-444-EEE-555
Important: For convenience, your serial number comes printed on a small adhesive label. Don't put the adhesive label on a removable media disk. The label could come loose and damage the drive.
You've lost your serial number
If you lose your AppleShare IP serial number before you set up AppleShare IP, contact the appropriate Apple support representative in your area or contact AppleCare Technical Support to request a new serial number. You'll need to provide your identification and purchase information.
Displaying your serial number
If you lose your serial number after you start your AppleShare IP server, follow these steps to display your serial number:
- 1. Open Mac OS Server Admin and log on to the server you want to configure.
2. Click File Services.
3. Choose Configure File Server. Your serial number appears in the General panel.
4. Write down the serial number and store it in a safe place. Put a photocopy in another location, too.
You see "duplicate serial number" or conflict alerts
When the AppleShare IP server starts up, it checks your computer's network for other computers using the same serial number. If no matching number is found, your serial number is encrypted and registered on the network. If the AppleShare IP server detects a matching serial number, it displays a message. When you click OK, the server program quits.
If you have AppleShare IP 6.3.3, the Mac OS Server Admin modules do not load if a duplicate serial number is detected. An error message appears for each module (see Figure 1).
Figure 1 Error text generated by Mac OS Server Admin
Your computer may detect a duplicate serial number on the network if:
- An administrator typed the wrong number during setup.
- An administrator made a copy of an existing computer's Users & Groups Data File on another computer but did not type the new serial number for it.
- Someone else used your serial number in violation of the license agreement.
If you see the duplicate serial number message, try these suggestions:
- Be sure your serial number is correct. Follow the steps above to display your serial number, then check it against the number provided with your software.
- Find the computer with the incorrect serial number. Contact the administrator of the other computer as soon as possible. Ask that person to check the serial number for his or her software and make any needed corrections. If necessary, contact the administrator of your entire network for help in locating, checking, and correcting the serial number.
- Use network tracking and analysis software to locate the duplicate of your software.
- Your software can help locate the duplicate software. You need to convert the other computer's name and zone into an AppleTalk network address and use that address to find the computer's physical location on the network.
- Follow the network cables and check each computer. When you know the AppleTalk network address for the computer that is running the duplicate software, identify the physical location of the network cable that matches the network address. This location will probably give you a good idea where the computer is located. If you still can't find the computer, follow the cable along its path, checking each attached computer to see if it's the duplicate. A network topology map may help you in your search.
- If you can't contact the other computer's administrator and you do not have network tracking and analysis software, see the Apple Software Service Directory that came with your AppleShare IP software for information about contacting the appropriate support representative for your area. Apple's support representatives will help you determine if a new serial number is needed. Be prepared to provide your identification and purchase information.
- After you've found the computer with the duplicate serial number, change the serial number to the correct one for that server, or purchase an additional license with a new serial number. Only a user who has administrative privileges can change the serial number.