Mac OS X Unix 101 Byte-Sized Projects

This chapter is about hardware, software, processes (currently executing system and user programs), and log files. It shows you how to profile and monitor many aspects of your Macfrom processes to power management, SMARTies to statistics. The seven projects cover the following topics:

Hardware. Check the system hardware configuration, and change power management settings.

Software. Check and update the system software, and change Open Firmware settings.

Processes. Learn how to list running processes, stop those you'd rather weren't running, and restart daemons.

Log files. View system log files, and configure the system logging daemon to change what's logged and where it's logged to.

These projects help you monitor your Mac, using command-line alternatives to some of Apple's graphical, OS X-based monitoring tools. Command-line tools are essential for writing shell scripts that perform administrative functions and for administering a remote server.

The projects in Chapter 8 cover system administration tasks such as maintaining user accounts, mounting and repairing disk drives, scheduling commands, and managing local network settings.