Apple update server caching - Additional Domain

[uklans]

Apple update server caching - Additional Domain

[marshalleq]

Ok, now I see there is this: #118. but it is closed without resolution. It's not confirmed it can or can not be done, but closed anyway. Doesn't seem right.

[unspec]

As you can see from #118 somebody has added the list of http host names from the official apple site to lancache and tested just a few days ago. The test was not successful - they were unable to cache any update traffic via lancache and thus the pull request was closed. I'm not sure why that "Doesn't seem right".

If anyone has any ideas or new information on how apple update downloads work etc, I'm sure we can run another test, but as things stand we don't believe its possible.

It's also worth noting that apple update traffic is unlikely to be a huge benefit in a LAN party / gaming event scenario as macs are not widely used in a gaming setting from my experience.

[marshalleq]

I did not take it as not possible from 118, though I can get behind, 'I believe' it's not possible. One person tried 'something', they didn't get hits and that's it. That does not mean it doesn't work, just that one person didn't get it to work, then 'it looks like' you require a Mac to get it to work, which is also not definitive. then without further adeu it's magically closed. So I guess I'm saying, it could be good to keep it open in one thread and try something else. For example I'd be interested in knowing if any redirects were applied and if it was successful in 'requesting' on port 80.

For me, lancache also caches windows, and I use it for more than just games, though I do have games on Mac and that does work well.

[unspec]

118 was a pull request, we don't generally keep a pull request open if the contents of that pull request would not work as described/intended, when/if merged. Closing a pull request doesn't prevent futher work on the subject.

I'm sorry you don't feel the efforts in that PR were thorough or definitive enough. Feel free to submit your own research / testing results on the matter.

[marshalleq]

Oh I see! Thanks.

[MathewBurnett]

All information we have states that apple caching requires a mac and apples own solution. We are not aware of any circumstance in which the lancache solution would work for apple updates. For the avoidance of doubt and until something changes .

This is not possible.

[marshalleq]

Sorry, but you seem to just want to close tickets. You may be right, but the information you have is not definitive and you are guessing, 'that it is not possible', albeit that you have done a little test, which you provide no details of. Is everyone else supposed to just accept that what you did is final? Are we supposed to just have others come here now and see two closed tickets and assume the same as you?

Perhaps you can share details of your test and how to replicate it and WHY you think it doesn't work - that would be helpful. What information do you have that specifically says this requires a Mac? Because the link you provided doesn't say that, it just outlines how you 'could' do it on a Mac - Often there are ways around this as others tried to suggest in the other post before you decreed it would not work.

Also, this is two tickets you've closed now without checking with the requestor if they can be closed. Good practice would be to confirm back with the requestor first, given it's only been logged one day ago.

I love your efficiency, but a little more eagerness to communicate would be better than rudely closing tickets on people. I've spent years in IT and I see this sort of thing from time to time and it's quite unhelpful and only drives people away.

I'm sorry to come across so confrontational and I hope it doesn't upset you too much, though I assume you will receive this in the same stead as I received your closing of my ticket.

Have a great day.

[MathewBurnett]

@marshalleq i'm not sure what to tell you other than what the other ticket says. There is an article from apple (https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mchl9388ba1b/mac) discussing caching that links through to a guide on how to do it on a mac (https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mchl3b6c3720/10.15/mac/10.15). We have no other information suggesting any other method works.

We found a list of potential CDNs and ports (https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT210060). Redirecting these CDNs and attempting all the update methods we could think of showed no activity in the cache. At this point it seemed quite reasonable to stop.

The primary purpose of this project is to capture bulk content addresses for games downloads and hence we haven't felt the need to leave an option investigation for ourselves. I realise it can be frustrating when you don't get exactly what you want. If you do discover that you can cache this content and can provide the evidence with your pull request in the future we will be very happy to consider it.