Backup 3.0 - Getting it into trial (semi-working) mode

[cadre]

Okay, I've gotten Apple Backup 3.0 to work in trial mode (limited to 100 MB) and it only works on one of my two Macs (they're both setup the same to the best of my knowledge so I'm at a loss at why it only works on one, instead of the other).

Apple Backup 3.0 accesses the following URL upon startup:

http://www.mac.com/WebObjects/Info.woa/wa/XMLRPC/accountInfo" target="_blank">  http://www.mac.com/WebObjects/Info.woa/wa/XMLRPC/accountInfo

This is the XMLRPC request the .Mac SDK sends to that URL is:

<?xml version="1.0"?><methodCall><methodName>accountInfo</methodName><params><param><value><string>username</string></value></param><param><value><string>password</string></value></param><param><value><string>daysLeftUntilExpiration</string></value></param></params></methodCall>

Currently, the response I send reply back with that (sort of) works is:

<?xml version="1.0"?><methodResponse><params><param><value><struct><member><name>servicesAvailable</name><value><array><data><value><string>iDisk</string></value><value><string>Backup</string></value></data></array></value></member><member><name>daysLeftUntilExpiration</name><value><int>365</int></value></member></struct></value></param></params></methodResponse>

Now I qualify that as 'sort of'. It lets me run Backup on one computer, but it also causes the DMKSample utility to report the days until expiration as 'null'. If I remove the servicesAvailable member in the structure, DMKSample will correctly report the expiration, but then Backup will not work (it just crashes upon startup).

I have tried many variations of the methodResponse. I'll attempt to document them and what the results were. The best I've been able to do is either get DMKSamples really happy or get Backup 3 (but only on one of my Macs) into trial mode.


So that's what I know about the XMLRPC transactions right now. There were a couple other things I had to change from the normal DIY .Mac setup.

I have to run two SSL virtual hosts. One for www.mac.com and one for idisk.mac.com since both sites are accessed by the control panel and the iDisk itself works over SSL now. I created a *.mac.com self-signed certificate so I only have one certificate. Also, you know longer have to use certtool, just visit the website with Safari and Safari will prompt you, you can click a checkbox to have Safari add the certificate to the system X509Anchors.

Also, the patch for mod_dav didn't work for me (i believe it was for an older version). I ported the second mod_dav patch (the one that reports real values) to mod_dav 1.0.3-1.3.6. I haven't actually tested it thoroughly to see if it indeed reports real values, but it compiles, loads and my iDisk works fine.

http://www.linville.org/resources/mod_dav-1.0.3-1.3.6.patch" target="_blank">http://www.linville.org/resources/mod_dav-1.0.3-1.3.6.patch

I'm running Apache 1.3.29, ModDav 1.0.3-1.3.6 and OpenBSD 2.7.

One last thing, I used the retrieveDiskConfiguration that reports real system disk size and I'm rather disappointed to find out that the .Mac control panel appears to have a 2 GB limit.

[jelwell2]

Thanks, this works beautifully to let me backup (100 megs or less) of stuff to my fake .mac idisk. I wasn't backing up over 100 megs anyways to my idisk.

I can't wait for a fix to let me backup more than 100megs to DVD though. I'm a bit surprised Apple doesn't offer that for free.
Joseph Elwell.

[lsuperguy]

Ummmm,

This is my first time on these forums but I just downloaded Backup 2, then ran Software Update to get Backup 3.  After that, with no other work or fake server setups I have Backup 3 running in "Trial Mode"

"Trial Mode" is just how Backup 3 runs if you don't have a .Mac account.  You don't have to do any work to trick it to be in "Trial Mode", it will run that way regardless.