Category: Common

Mac OS X: Switch between windows of same application

I’ve been working for quite a while with Apple Mac OS X. As a former Windows user I missed the possibility to switch between windows of the same application with an keyboard shortcut.

Cmd + TAB only changes between the open applications and does not replace the alt + TAB, which is known from Windows.

At least in the most recent version of OS X you can use cmd + > (german keyboard layout, cmd + ` with US layout) to change between windows of the same application. You can change this shortcut in the System preferences: System Preferences -> Keyboard -> Keyboard Shortcuts -> Keyboard & Text Input

Basic troubleshooting with ldapsearch

Ldapsearch is a simple comannd-line tool, helpful for checking LDAP connection parameters and building LDAP search filters.

On many Linux and Mac OS setups it’s installed by default. Fortunately a ldapsearch.exe running on Windows is included in the program directory of IBM Notes Client and Domino Server.

Syntax: ldapsearch -h HOST -p PORT -D BINDUSER -w PASSWORD -b BASEDN (LDAP_SEARCH_FILTER)
# For example: Use a LDAP account for bind to ldap service and search for a single user account with it's CN

ldapsearch -h "ldap.domain.com" -p "389" -D "CN=LDAP Bind,OU=User,DC=DOMAIN" -w "secret" -b "OU=User,DC=DOMAIN" "(cn=Connections ServiceUser)"

You might see some more output from this command. Pay attention to the following messages and probable failure reasons:

‘invalid credentials’

  • Wrong credentials for the LDAP bind user
  • TCP connection to LDAP service is working

’32 No such object’

  • The LDAP Base DN is most propably not available
  • LDAP bind works

‘numResponses: 1’

  • No result for your LDAP search Filter. You can try a search sring like (cn=*) to get an overview of all LDAP entries available.
  • LDAP bind works and Base DN is available

‘numResponses: 2’

  • Search for an single user was successful

Mac OS X and TRIM with 3rd party SSD

In short: If you have installed a SSD device from a 3rd party vendor to a Macbook ALWAYS disable tools for trim support in Mac OS X BEFORE resetting the NVRAM/PRAM for troubleshooting. Your Mac will stop during next startup with a stop-sign on grey background:

Mac OS X stop sign

After the last reboot on my Macbook Pro (late 2011) I have seen this error for the first time.

I tried the common troubleshooting steps (safe boot, reset SMC and repair disk/filesystem with Disk Utility) with no success. The safe boot stopped with the message “waiting for root device”.

At next I removed the SSD from the Macbook and could successfully boot from another SSD with OS X installed. So I tried to connect the estimated defective SSD with a SATA/USB Adapter to check if I can backup some files.

Surprise – the system booted automatically from my SSD when connected via USB.

I had no luck finding some tips for further troubleshooting. I finally decided to install the SSD back to the Macbook and re-install the OS with a bootable USB install device. All data and configurations were still available after the re-install and the system was working again.

To enable TRIM for a non Apple SSD device that was installed to my Macbook I am using Trim Enabler. The application disables a Kernel extension named kext-signing. This security setting prevents from installing 3rd party vendor firmware.

One week ago I had issues with high CPU usage and performed the NVRAM/PRAM reset. As described in the FAQ kext-signing needs to be enabled again before NV/PRAM reset.