Apple Releases Firmware, Java, Xsan Updates

Apple released a G5 firmware update, along with Java and Xsan updates on Tuesday. All of the updates are designed to improve stability and compatibility, and are available through Software Update.

The firmware update is for the single processor 1.8GHz G5 tower that shipped in late 2004. It addresses hardware stability problems, especially in cases where the Mac has been inactive for over two hours. The issues, which have been plaguing users for some time, include displays not waking up, optical drives not ejecting, and system lock-ups during video intensive tasks.

The Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition 5.0 (J2SE) Release 3 update adds improvements to the Java 2 Platform, including bug fixes and performance enhancements. After installing the update, Java 1.4.2 is still used by default, unless an application specifically requests J2SE 5.0.

The Xsan 1.2 update improves reliability for systems running Tiger, and includes the following enhancements:

    - improving AFP performance when resharing Xsan volumes
    - more accurate file permissions when sharing Xsan volumes via AFP
    - accessing Xsan volumes larger than 16 terabyte in size
    - greater server stability when resharing Xsan volumes via NFS
    - handling quotas with no associated user or group name
    - maintaining access to Xsan volumes when metadata controller fail-overs occur
    - providing metadata controller services to 10.3.9 and 10.4 systems running Xsan 1.2
    - operating Xsan in environments with a mix of 10.3.9 and 10.4 systems