Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 11th Oct 2006 20:07 UTC
Normally we don't report on every fart that gets patented by the big companies, but the following patent by Apple is actually pretty interesting: Apple has patented a method to store a user's ~/ directory (home directory) on external storage (the iPod?), making it portable. This will enable users to carry all their settings, programs, and files with them, so they can load up any Mac in the world with their own settings, programs, and files. Obviously, this is 'just' a patent, and by no means a definitive feature of Leopard or Leopard+1, but interesting nonetheless. Is this Apple's answer to Google's OS?
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Member since:
2006-05-04
What you mention is similar to NIS. But that system relies on a central server which manages accounts (with passwords), and information about user groups. When someone logs in, the NIS server is contacted to check the credentials and to ask where the user's home directory is located.
I think what Apple wants to do, is having all that information somehow distributed, with the relevant information for each user stored in his home directory on an external disk.
I suppose this mechanism would for example allow me to use my home dir on an external disk at my own home, and later in the day bring it to the computer lab at the university, connect it there, be able to do my stuff. Then go to the library, connect my disk and login with my account on the disk, do my stuff, and in the end go home again.
I do wonder whether this kind of account will in some way be restricted (like for example complete denial of write access on the local computer's harddisk).