1 min read 285 words Updated Mar 09, 2026 Created May 09, 2026

MacOS

MacOS / Mac OS X Tips

Version details are at Mac OS X Versions (Wikipedia)

To find out the version running from the command line, use system_profiler and look for the *System Version:*

Install software packages from command-line

Installer?

installer
Usage: installer [-volinfo] [-pkginfo] [-allow] [-dumplog] [-help] [-verbose | -verboseR] [-vers]
[-config] [-plist] [-file ] [-lang ] [-listiso]
-pkg -target

List and install software using softwareupdate(8)

# softwareupdate --list
Software Update Tool
Copyright 2002-2005 Apple

Software Update found the following new or updated software:
* Safari311UpdUniv-3.1.1
Safari (3.1.1), 26310K [recommended] [restart]

System specs using system_profiler(1)

# /usr/sbin/system_profiler SPHardwareDataType
Hardware:

Hardware Overview:

  Model Name: iMac
  Model Identifier: iMac4,1
  Processor Name: Intel Core Duo
  Processor Speed: 1.83 GHz
  Number Of Processors: 1
  Total Number Of Cores: 2
  L2 Cache (per processor): 2 MB
  Memory: 1 GB
  Bus Speed: 667 MHz
  Boot ROM Version: IM41.0055.B08
  SMC Version: 1.1f5
  Serial Number: QP6130XXXXX

system_profiler -listDataTypes

Available Datatypes:
SPHardwareDataType
SPNetworkDataType
SPSoftwareDataType
SPParallelATADataType
SPAudioDataType
SPBluetoothDataType
SPDiagnosticsDataType
SPDiscBurningDataType
SPFibreChannelDataType
SPFireWireDataType
SPDisplaysDataType
SPMemoryDataType
SPPCCardDataType
SPPCIDataType
SPParallelSCSIDataType
SPPowerDataType
SPPrintersDataType
SPSASDataType
SPSerialATADataType
SPUSBDataType
SPAirPortDataType
SPFirewallDataType
SPNetworkLocationDataType
SPModemDataType
SPNetworkVolumeDataType
SPApplicationsDataType
SPExtensionsDataType
SPFontsDataType
SPFrameworksDataType
SPLogsDataType
SPPrefPaneDataType
SPStartupItemDataType

Get the picture? ....

DNS resolvers

From: http://serverfault.com/questions/478534/how-is-dns-lookup-configured-for-osx-mountain-lion

"Looks like the XML plist file storing the DNS servers is /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist"

OS X doesn't use /etc/resolv.conf which is just annoying.

Boot options

  • boot in single user mode: hold down Command+s while booting
  • boot into install mode: hold down Option while booting
  • boot into recovery mode: Command+r while booting

More can be found at http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_use_os_x_boot_options_troubleshoot_your_mac