Sharing Prefs Messed Up

[Crusty]

Hello all,

My Sharing preference pane has been screwed up ever since I had to reinstall OS X several months ago. Even after I upgraded to 10.1 and higher, it still will crash system prefs every time I try to click on the Sharing icon. So there's no way for me to share my computer on our network here. I've tried a couple different repair utilities and fsck, but neither works. Has anyone else had this problem or do they know how to fix it?

Thanks,
Crusty

[Phil St. Romain]

Maybe the pref pane has some kind of corruption. I had this problem with a Network pref pane, so I dragged it onto the desktop and restarted the OS, which created a new one that worked fine. Why not give it a try with your sharing pref.pane?

[Crusty]

I tried what you suggested, but it wouldn't create a new Shared prefpane for me. It would load all the others, but leave out Shared. So I tried duplicating the Shared prefpane. Still didn't work. I have no clue what could be going wrong. Did I corrupt it somehow? Is there a preferences file or .plist file for the Shared prefpane that I can trash and then restart? Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Crusty

[mervTormel]

crusty,

read the post

http://forums.osxhints.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=272

any console app messages?

and try the same method to see the files accessed to see if it can illuminate the corrupted file

let us know your results

-mt

[Crusty]

Here are the results. I had to split it so that I could post all of it. The second half is in the next post:
-------
15:35:31 open /Library/Preferences/Network 0.000208 System Prefe
15:35:31 open ces/.GlobalPreferences.plist 0.000047 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000011 System Prefe
15:35:31 read 0.000063 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000024 System Prefe
15:35:31 open /Library/Preferences/Network 0.000067 System Prefe
15:35:31 open pple.systempreferences.plist 0.000063 System Prefe
15:35:31 open eferences.0030654327e0.plist 0.000139 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000005 System Prefe
15:35:31 read 0.000030 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000011 System Prefe
15:35:31 open pple.systempreferences.plist 0.000109 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000005 System Prefe
15:35:31 read 0.000039 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000009 System Prefe
15:35:31 open eferences.0030654327e0.plist 0.000123 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000005 System Prefe
15:35:31 read 0.000026 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000010 System Prefe
15:35:31 stat e/Contents/MacOS/SharingPref 0.000147 System Prefe
15:35:31 open e/Contents/MacOS/SharingPref 0.000070 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000005 System Prefe
15:35:31 map_fd 0.000080 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000028 System Prefe
15:35:31 open mework/Versions/A/AFPDefines 0.000081 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000005 System Prefe
15:35:31 map_fd 0.000021 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000016 System Prefe
15:35:31 open ork/Versions/A/ServerControl 0.000070 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000006 System Prefe
15:35:31 map_fd 0.000020 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000014 System Prefe
15:35:31 open ework/Versions/A/ServerPrefs 0.000072 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000006 System Prefe
15:35:31 map_fd 0.000020 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000015 System Prefe
15:35:31 open /Versions/A/DirectoryService 0.000072 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000006 System Prefe
15:35:31 map_fd 0.000022 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000014 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat em/Library/PrivateFrameworks 0.000099 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat eworks/ServerPrefs.framework 0.000030 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat rverPrefs.framework/Versions 0.000032 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat erPrefs.framework/Versions/A 0.000035 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat ework/Versions/A/ServerPrefs 0.000045 System Prefe
15:35:31 stat eworks/ServerPrefs.framework 0.000039 System Prefe
15:35:31 access eworks/ServerPrefs.framework 0.000026 System Prefe
15:35:31 stat eworks/ServerPrefs.framework 0.000043 System Prefe
15:35:31 access eworks/ServerPrefs.framework 0.000025 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat Pref.prefPane/Contents/MacOS 0.000061 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat e/Contents/MacOS/SharingPref 0.000044 System Prefe
15:35:31 stat cePanes/SharingPref.prefPane 0.000038 System Prefe
15:35:31 access cePanes/SharingPref.prefPane 0.000024 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat ks/PreferencePanes.framework 0.000071 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat encePanes.framework/Versions 0.000034 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat cePanes.framework/Versions/A 0.000036 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat k/Versions/A/PreferencePanes 0.000045 System Prefe
15:35:31 stat ks/PreferencePanes.framework 0.000037 System Prefe
15:35:31 access ks/PreferencePanes.framework 0.000024 System Prefe
15:35:31 stat ks/PreferencePanes.framework 0.000053 System Prefe
15:35:31 access ks/PreferencePanes.framework 0.000045 System Prefe
15:35:31 stat A/Resources 0.000079 System Prefe
15:35:31 open A/Resources/Info-macos.plist 0.000179 System Prefe
15:35:31 open A/Resources/Info.plist 0.000079 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000006 System Prefe
15:35:31 read 0.000050 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000020 System Prefe
15:35:31 open A/Resources 0.000066 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000094 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000010 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000068 System Prefe
15:35:31 open A/Resources/global.defaults 0.000079 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000005 System Prefe
15:35:31 read 0.000039 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000011 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat Services/ServerVersion.plist 0.000103 System Prefe
15:35:31 open .prefPane/Contents/Resources 0.000063 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000069 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000008 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000047 System Prefe
15:35:31 open ents/Resources/English.lproj 0.000058 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000049 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000008 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000040 System Prefe
15:35:31 stat cePanes/SharingPref.prefPane 0.000049 System Prefe
15:35:31 access cePanes/SharingPref.prefPane 0.000025 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat nglish.lproj/SharingPref.nib 0.000065 System Prefe
15:35:31 statfs nglish.lproj/SharingPref.nib 0.000051 System Prefe
15:35:31 open nglish.lproj/SharingPref.nib 0.000046 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000055 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000009 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000050 System Prefe
15:35:31 open /SharingPref.nib/objects.nib 0.000071 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000005 System Prefe
15:35:31 read 0.000174 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000013 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat eworks/NIInterface.framework 0.000113 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat Interface.framework/Versions 0.000034 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat terface.framework/Versions/B 0.000107 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat ework/Versions/B/NIInterface 0.000048 System Prefe
15:35:31 stat eworks/NIInterface.framework 0.000038 System Prefe
15:35:31 access eworks/NIInterface.framework 0.000025 System Prefe
-------

[Crusty]

Second half:

By the way, there are no console messages.

-----
15:35:31 stat eworks/NIInterface.framework 0.000036 System Prefe
15:35:31 access eworks/NIInterface.framework 0.000024 System Prefe
15:35:31 stat B/Resources 0.000076 System Prefe
15:35:31 open B/Resources/Info-macos.plist 0.000164 System Prefe
15:35:31 open B/Resources/Info.plist 0.000071 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000006 System Prefe
15:35:31 read 0.000072 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000021 System Prefe
15:35:31 open B/Resources 0.000065 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000091 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000010 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000067 System Prefe
15:35:31 getattrlist B/Resources/lock.tiff 0.000128 System Prefe
15:35:31 getattrlist /.vol/234881033/102030 0.000090 System Prefe
15:35:31 open B/Resources/lock.tiff 0.000068 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000005 System Prefe
15:35:31 map_fd 0.000054 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000012 System Prefe
15:35:31 getattrlist B/Resources/unlock.tiff 0.000134 System Prefe
15:35:31 getattrlist /.vol/234881033/102044 0.000075 System Prefe
15:35:31 open B/Resources/unlock.tiff 0.000069 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000005 System Prefe
15:35:31 map_fd 0.000029 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000013 System Prefe
15:35:31 open B/Resources/English.lproj 0.000092 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000075 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000009 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000056 System Prefe
15:35:31 open sh.lproj/Localizable.strings 0.000076 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000006 System Prefe
15:35:31 read 0.000043 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000010 System Prefe
15:35:31 open private/etc/httpd/httpd.conf 0.000119 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000009 System Prefe
15:35:31 read 0.000374 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000020 System Prefe
15:35:31 open private/etc/httpd/httpd.conf 0.000100 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000006 System Prefe
15:35:31 read 0.000572 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000138 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat private/var/run/httpd.pid 0.000159 System Prefe
15:35:31 stat ks/PreferencePanes.framework 0.000122 System Prefe
15:35:31 access ks/PreferencePanes.framework 0.000026 System Prefe
15:35:31 open A/Resources/English.lproj 0.000100 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000123 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000010 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000087 System Prefe
15:35:31 open ks/PreferencePanes.framework 0.000039 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000050 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000008 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000048 System Prefe
15:35:31 open anes.framework/English.lproj 0.000081 System Prefe
15:35:31 open uô Ä¥pÓ,ø
‡

Ö‰–pÔ0ø
·X 0.000025 System Prefe
15:35:31 getattrlist A/Resources/lock.tiff 0.000160 System Prefe
15:35:31 getattrlist /.vol/234881033/252582 0.000089 System Prefe
15:35:31 open A/Resources/lock.tiff 0.000071 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000006 System Prefe
15:35:31 map_fd 0.000047 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000019 System Prefe
15:35:31 getattrlist A/Resources/unlock.tiff 0.000141 System Prefe
15:35:31 getattrlist /.vol/234881033/252581 0.000071 System Prefe
15:35:31 open A/Resources/unlock.tiff 0.000071 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000005 System Prefe
15:35:31 map_fd 0.000030 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000013 System Prefe
15:35:31 stat eworks/NIInterface.framework 0.000068 System Prefe
15:35:31 access eworks/NIInterface.framework 0.000025 System Prefe
15:35:31 open sh.lproj/Localizable.strings 0.000087 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000006 System Prefe
15:35:31 read 0.000098 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000013 System Prefe
15:35:31 open onfiguration/preferences.xml 0.000105 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000006 System Prefe
15:35:31 read 0.000174 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000041 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat teFrameworks/Admin.framework 0.000091 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat rks/Admin.framework/Versions 0.000034 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat s/Admin.framework/Versions/A 0.000036 System Prefe
15:35:31 lstat n.framework/Versions/A/Admin 0.000043 System Prefe
15:35:31 stat teFrameworks/Admin.framework 0.000039 System Prefe
15:35:31 access teFrameworks/Admin.framework 0.000025 System Prefe
15:35:31 stat teFrameworks/Admin.framework 0.000034 System Prefe
15:35:31 access teFrameworks/Admin.framework 0.000049 System Prefe
15:35:31 stat A/Resources 0.000074 System Prefe
15:35:31 open A/Resources/Info-macos.plist 0.000153 System Prefe
15:35:31 open A/Resources/Info.plist 0.000069 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000005 System Prefe
15:35:31 read 0.000051 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000012 System Prefe
15:35:31 open A/Resources 0.000068 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000096 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000010 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000063 System Prefe
15:35:31 open A/Resources/English.lproj 0.000069 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000048 System Prefe
15:35:31 getdirentries 0.000008 System Prefe
15:35:31 close 0.000039 System Prefe
15:35:31 open sh.lproj/Localizable.strings 0.000078 System Prefe
15:35:31 fstat 0.000005 System Prefe
15:35:31 read 0.000027 System Prefe
15:35:31 close
-----

[mervTormel]

crusty,


could you launch the /applications/utilities/console app and enable crash logs under preferences.

then make your sharing preferences crash

then examine the crash log in ~/library/preferences/logs

let us know, briefly, your results.

oops, i didn't see your comment about "no console messages."

[mervTormel]

could this file be the culprit?

15:35:31 open uô Ä¥pÓ,ø‡Ö‰–pÔ0ø·X 0.000025 System Prefe


i don't know where it is, but look around for this kind of file name and prolly delete it.

have you been having kernel panics?

your file system may be intact, but these squirrelly files are problematic, me thinks.

[Crusty]

I didn't have crash logs enabled in my console, so of course I didn't get any console messages.

Once I enabled it, here's what I got:

-----
Date/Time: 2002-01-24 16:11:13 -0600
OS Version: 10.1.2 (Build 5P48)

Command: System Preferences
PID: 1413

Exception: EXC_BAD_ACCESS (0x0001)
Codes: KERN_PROTECTION_FAILURE (0x0002) at 0x00000004

Thread 0:
#0 0x700281d0 in __svfscanf
#1 0x70033100 in fscanf
#2 0x71a447dc in -[InternetServices load]
#3 0x013b4ec8 in -[SharingPref mainViewDidLoad]
#4 0x751a1204 in -[NSPreferencePane loadMainView]
#5 0x751a2218 in -[NSPrefPaneBundle instantiatePrefPaneObject]
#6 0x000056f4 in 0x56f4
#7 0x00004e20 in 0x4e20
#8 0x70839998 in __NSFireDelayedPerform
#9 0x70196cd0 in __CFRunLoopDoTimer
#10 0x7017c258 in __CFRunLoopRun
#11 0x701b7100 in CFRunLoopRunSpecific
#12 0x7017b8e0 in CFRunLoopRunInMode
#13 0x7312cccc in RunEventLoopInModeUntilEventArrives
#14 0x7313fdec in ReceiveNextEventCommon
#15 0x73171120 in BlockUntilNextEventMatchingListInMode
#16 0x70bd70b8 in _DPSNextEvent
#17 0x70bfe5d8 in -[NSApplication nextEventMatchingMask:untilDate:inMode:dequeue:]
#18 0x70c23468 in -[NSApplication run]
#19 0x70c91ed0 in NSApplicationMain
#20 0x00003e70 in 0x3e70
#21 0x00003ca0 in 0x3ca0


PPC Thread State:
srr0: 0x700281d0 srr1: 0x0000f030 vrsave: 0x00000000
xer: 0x20000020 lr: 0x700280d0 ctr: 0x700280c4 mq: 0x00000000
r0: 0x00000000 r1: 0xbfffdfb0 r2: 0x0181b9b0 r3: 0x71a5b925
r4: 0x71a5b922 r5: 0xbfffe380 r6: 0xbfffe6fc r7: 0x000001c1
r8: 0x000001e5 r9: 0x0000000a r10: 0xbfffdfe8 r11: 0x0000005d
r12: 0x70027ce0 r13: 0x00000000 r14: 0x00000036 r15: 0x000595d0
r16: 0x00000001 r17: 0x80160fa8 r18: 0x00059c78 r19: 0x00002403
r20: 0x00000000 r21: 0x0000001c r22: 0x70004234 r23: 0x700042c8
r24: 0x7016b0dc r25: 0x006bac3c r26: 0x8081ab5c r27: 0xc0d51800
r28: 0x00000000 r29: 0xbfffef00 r30: 0x00000000 r31: 0x00000001

**********


-----

[Thundarr]

Hey Crusty, this exact same thing happened to me. Iwas waiting for someone else to have the problem to share this little tidbit.

Turns out I was missing the inetd.conf file in the etc directory. Apple sent me a new file and I placed it into etc and made sure the permissions were "root" "wheel" rw-r--r--. If you want, I can e-mail you the file. Once you have it, you can assign the right ownership and permissions and move it with the terminal, or through the GUI by using GetInfo, SNAX, and logging in as root.

[mervTormel]

hey thundar, crusty,

beware

i think the inetd.conf solution is bogus.

my inetd.conf has all services commented out, so, it's pretty much a noop.

% less /etc/inetd.conf
#
# Internet server configuration database
#
# @(#)inetd.conf 5.4 (Berkeley) 6/30/90
#
# Items with double hashes in front (##) are not yet implemented in the OS.
#
#finger stream tcp nowait nobody /usr/libexec/tcpd fingerd -s
#ftp stream tcp nowait root /usr/libexec/tcpd ftpd -l
#login stream tcp nowait root /usr/libexec/tcpd rlogind
#nntp stream tcp nowait usenet /usr/libexec/tcpd nntpd
#ntalk dgram udp wait root /usr/libexec/tcpd ntalkd
#shell stream tcp nowait root /usr/libexec/tcpd rshd
#telnet stream tcp nowait root /usr/libexec/tcpd telnetd
...

let me know if i'm wrong

[Thundarr]

mervTormel, that actually did fix my problem. When I opened my etc directory, the inetd.conf file was missing and Sharing would crash the system preferences. When I place the inetd.conf file back in, all was well again. I don't know the why's, I only know the result.

Also, if you are missing the file, you can get it by using Pacifist and extracting it from your OSX install disk.

[level9]

I had a problem with a machine at work, we don't use OSX here yet, but I replaced it with my inetd.conf from home, instead of doing this (which I found somewhere):

su, enter passwd
type "echo "" > /etc/inetd.conf"

Once I replaced it with the one from home, it was fine.

[mervTormel]

thundarr,

good point, i'll concede. it's absence is problematic.

let's hear from crusty as to whether his is missing.

as an aside, how does this stuff get missing?!

[Thundarr]

I'm not sure on that. I had some problems with a NAV beta at the time. I don't know if that was coincidence or suspicious. My take on it was that somehow it was eliminated from my system in my attempts to eliminate NAV beta. Either I accidently removed it it, or somehow it was trashed despite my attempts. Interestingly, the whole etc folder was still present with everything else in it. How that specific file was selectively removed remains a mystery to this day. I think Leonard Nimoy is doing a special on it though.:)

[mervTormel]

In Search of...

The Missing inetd.conf File

--
"Worst episode ever!" -The Comic Book Guy

[Thundarr]

:D

[Crusty]

I looked in my etc directory and I don't have the inetd.conf file. Can I create this file or does it have to be created by the system? If I can't make it, email it to me at chris@mantis-design.com.

Thanks,
Chris

[mervTormel]

crusty,

% sudo touch /etc/inetd.conf

that should do it

what the touch command does is change file timestamps, creating the file first, if it doesn't exist.

let us know

[Crusty]

That did the trick!!! Thanks for all the tips. I was starting to accept the fact that I would never have sharing again. You guys should ask your bosses for raises or something.

[griffman]

And congrats on the first thread to make the transition to the macosxhints (http://www.macosxhints.com) page! ;-)

Problem -> Solution -> Hint for future easy reference!

-rob.

[saint.duo]

I saw this on my own beige G3 (which a nuke and reinstall did not fix, once I got to 10.1.2 again), many machines at work, and two family member's machines.

I found that installing 10.1.2 build 5P54c, which is the version that comes with the new iBooks, fixed the problem on all of the machines I was seeing the issue on.

So, hopefully, Apple will release a 10.1.3 soon that addresses this, as well.

[Vanish]

Well, since this discussion has covered much about sharing and inetd.conf, I'll put up my question here.

I am unable, whether as an Admin or root, to turn on the FTP server in the Sharing Preference Pane. I click the checkbox, and it sets, quit System Preferences, open it back up, and it's uncecked. The FTP server is not running. I even tried installing proftpd using the hint here on this site, and it didn't help cure the problem.

One thing I have nioticed, however, is in my inetd.conf file, the hash (#) for ftpd gets removed whenever I try to check it in the preference pane. Commenting the line again has no effect. Any ideas? I use ssh and scp for security anyhow, but I would still like to have all my system functions working properly. Thanks in advance!

[vonleigh]

Hi Vanish,

I couldn't get ftp to work either, it'd stay on though, but I just couldn't log in with any user. In the end I installed Proftpd and since then have been working without trouble (with a bit of help from sao).

You actually want the hash removed from the inetd.conf file. A hashed line means it's ignored, an unhashed line means it's read (and therefore turned on).

Edit: if you want instructions on setting up proftpd, check a thread here, i think it's called ftp doesn't work.


Vonleigh