This article contains the About AppleShare IP First Aid 6.3 document and a link to the AppleShare IP First Aid 6.3 software.

Language/OS Required	Release Date	Version	Read Me	Software
Any language (multi-country) Mac OS 8.5	1999-11-18	6.3	English	352 K

English

About AppleShare IP First Aid 6.3

Contents

• About AppleShare IP First Aid
• Feedback and the AppleShare IP Mailing List
• Requirements for Running AppleShare IP First Aid 6.3
• Using AppleShare IP First Aid 6.3
• 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. 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 that 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.

Feedback and the AppleShare IP Mailing List

A mailing list for providing feedback on and for discussion of the AppleShare IP First Aid 6.3 is available. We encourage you to join the AppleShare IP mailing list and to provide feedback on the release.

To join the AppleShare IP mailing list, go to http://www.apple.com/appleshareip , and look under the heading "Feedback" for more information on how to sign up for the list.

In order to make this tool as useful as possible, we need your input. If you find AppleShare PDS or Users & Groups Data Files that cannot be fixed by the current version of the tool, please send both , along with a description of the problem you are experiencing and how to reproduce it to:

asipfirstaid@apple.com

You may find it necessary to make an AppleShare PDS file visible in order to send it. To do this, use the Make PDS File Visible item in the Utilities menu (it may take a while for the file to show up in the Finder).

Please send in your feedback as early as possible in order to have it considered for the next release. As of this writing, all bad files that had been submitted to the above address could be fixed by this version of the tool: your feedback is working!

Please don't send questions on tool operation or requests for support to the asipfirstaid address--direct such questions to the mailing list.

Requirements for Running AppleShare IP First Aid 6.3

• Macintosh computer running AppleShare IP Server 6 or 5.
• System Software: Mac OS 8.5 or later is required.

• 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.