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Technical Q&As are short question and answer formatted pages that provide answers to questions frequently received at Apple Developer Technical Support.

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Is the Open Firmware device tree object oriented? (HTML)
HW80: Discusses the object-oriented attributes of the Open Firmware device tree.
Darwin 1999-11-15
Issues with boot time KEXT loading (HTML) ()
QA1087: Explains how to solve problems with loading KEXTs at boot time.
Darwin 2004-01-15
Mac OS X and root access (HTML)
QA1013: Describes how to enable root access in Mac OS X.
Darwin 2001-03-13
Mach Absolute Time Units (HTML)
QA1398: Describes how to convert Mach absolute time units to real time, and vice versa.
Darwin 2005-01-06
Making sense of IOKit error codes (HTML) ()
QA1075: Explains how to interpret I/O Kit error codes.
Darwin 2002-02-07
Mapping kernel memory to user space on Mac OS X 10.2 (HTML) ()
QA1197: Describes a change to mapping kernel memory to user space affecting Mac OS X 10.2 and later.
Darwin 2002-09-13
Open Firmware Memory bus speed (HTML)
HW97: Describes a method to display memory bus speed for G3 or G4 Macintosh in Open Firmware.
Darwin 2000-09-22
PCI/PCI-X slots on the Power Mac G5 (HTML)
QA1307: Discusses installing PCI/PCI-X cards of different speeds in the Power Mac G5.
Darwin 2003-09-30
Power Management; Policy Maker vs. Power Controller (HTML) ()
QA1121: Describes the differences between a Power Management Policy Maker and a Power Management Power Controller.
Darwin 2002-02-13
Preventing sleep (HTML)
QA1160: Explains how your application can prevent the system from sleeping.
Darwin 2004-10-22
Programmatically causing restart, shutdown and/or logout (HTML) ()
QA1134: Describes how to programmatically cause restart, shutdown, sleep or logout.
Darwin 2003-02-10
Registering for sleep notifications (HTML)
QA1340: Explains how register for sleep notifcations on Mac OS X.
Darwin 2004-10-25
Rendezvous enforces the TXT record format in Panther (HTML)
QA1306: Explains how mDNSResponder enforces the proper TXT record format in Panther.
Darwin 2004-07-14
Retain Counts of io_object_t Objects in IOKit.framework (HTML) ()
QA1195: Distinguishes between the retain counts of an I/O Kit kernel object and its io_object_t user space proxy.
Darwin 2002-09-04
SCSIAction and IOSCSIUserClient on Mac OS X 10.2 (HTML) ()
QA1201: Describes migrating to a new API for SCSI Parallel devices starting with Mac OS X 10.2.
Darwin 2002-09-13
Setting environment variables for user processes (HTML)
QA1067: Tells how to set environment variables for user processes.
Darwin 2001-10-25
Signals and Threads (HTML) ()
QA1184: Describes how threads and signals interact.
Darwin 2002-08-27
Sleep vs. Doze on Mac OS X (HTML)
QA1309: Discusses and demonstrates sleep versus doze detection on Machintosh Mac OS X
Darwin 2003-10-09
The state of mDNSResponder (HTML)
QA1339: Explains how to obtain information regarding the internal state of mDNSResponder.
Darwin 2004-02-06
Static linking of user binaries on Mac OS X (HTML) ()
QA1118: Explains why static linking of user binaries is not supported on Mac OS X, and possible workarounds.
Darwin 2002-02-07
Suppressing the "unexpectedly quit" alert (HTML)
QA1288: Describes how to suppress the "unexpectedly quit" alert.
Darwin 2003-10-10
Text Encodings in VFS (HTML) ()
QA1173: How to handle text encodings correctly when writing a file system (VFS) plug-in for Mac OS X.
Darwin 2003-02-10
Timely Issues - 1904 (HTML) ()
OPS23: Explains why the beginning of the year 1904 was chosen for epoch of the Time global variable.
Darwin 1999-05-17
Updating the TXT record of a Rendezvous service (HTML)
QA1302: Explains how to update a Rendezvous TXT record while running on either Jaguar or Panther.
Darwin 2004-07-14
Where is dlopen? (HTML) ()
QA1180: Describes how to dynamically link to libraries and plug-ins, typically done with dlopen.
Darwin 2002-08-19
Working with Configuration Variables (HTML) ()
QA1119: Explains how to delete a specific Open Firmware configuration variable without using Command-Option-P-R.
Darwin 2002-02-13
X11 FAQ (HTML) ()
QA1232: Frequently Asked Questions about using Apple's X Window System (X11) implementation.
Darwin 2003-11-17
The AAPL, slot-name property and PCI (HTML) ()
HW61: Discusses the use of the AAPL,slot name property for PCI
Device Drivers 1999-04-19
Adding dependencies with kmodload (HTML)
QA1097: Illustrates how to specify dependencies when using kmodload.
Device Drivers 2001-12-05
ANSI SCSI Standards (HTML)
Deprecated - DV03: Describes past Macintosh systems that did not fully support the ANSI SCSI-1 standard.
Device Drivers 1995-07-01
Are interrupts enabled while Open Firmware is running? (HTML) ()
HW44: Explains that interrupts are disabled when Open Firmware is running.
Device Drivers 1999-02-15
Are the Name Registry device tree nodes unique? (HTML)
Deprecated - HW64: Discusses whether Name Registry nodes copied from the Open Firmware device tree are unique.
Device Drivers 1999-10-11
Available FireWire Isochronous Bandwidth (HTML)
QA1356: Discusses attempting to "pre-flight" an isochronous bandwidth allocation request by reading the currently available bandwidth.
Device Drivers 2004-07-07
Bluetooth Radio Power Class for Apple Systems (HTML) ()
QA1278: Notes Preferred Bluetooth Transmitter Characteristics for products designed for Apple Systems.
Device Drivers 2003-08-06
Booting after invoking the Open Firmware user interface (HTML) ()
HW48: Tells how to boot a system after entering the Open Firmware user interface.
Device Drivers 1999-02-15
Can you explain the words "begin" and "again"? (HTML)
HW70: Explains the Forth looping words "begin" and "again" and how to escape such a loop.
Device Drivers 1999-10-11
Changing the configuration variable in Open Firmware (HTML) ()
HW40: Tells how to change the configuration variable in Open Firmware.
Device Drivers 1999-02-15
Changing the TCP Window Size (HTML)
NW47: Describes how to change the TCP window size in Open Transport.
Device Drivers 1997-03-14
Checking for the Printer Driver (HTML)
DV42: Describes a legacy Mac OS technique avoiding system hangs when using serial drivers on USB systems.
Device Drivers 2000-06-19
The "chosen" node in the device tree (HTML)
HW88: Describes how to find the "chosen" node in the Open firmware device tree.
Device Drivers 2000-09-05
Common QA and Roadmap for USB Software Development on Mac OS X (HTML)
QA1370: Roadmap for development of USB Software on Mac OS X and some Common Questions and Answers
Device Drivers 2004-09-22
Converting a numeric string to a number under Forth (HTML) ()
HW52: Demonstrates numeric string conversion in Forth.
Device Drivers 1999-03-29
Detecting a CD-ROM (HTML) ()
DV18: Demonstrates CD-ROM drive detection.
Device Drivers 1997-01-31
Determining Open Firmware configuration variables (HTML) ()
HW56: Discusses how to determine the Open Firmware variables on a system.
Device Drivers 1999-03-29
Determining Open Firmware version (HTML)
HW100: Demonstrates how to find out the version of Open Firmware on your Macintosh.
Device Drivers 2000-10-06
Difference between an Open Firmware word and method (HTML) ()
HW46: Describes the differences between an Open Firmware word and an Open Firmware method.
Device Drivers 1999-02-15
Difference between using Restart or Shut Down in the Finder's Special menu in Open Firmware (HTML) ()
HW47: Explains the differences between using Restart or Shut Down on Open Firmware
Device Drivers 1999-02-15
Disabling a Processor on a Multiprocessor System (HTML) ()
QA1141: Describes how to disable a processor on a multiprocessor system for testing purposes.
Device Drivers 2002-05-22
Displaying PCI Configuration Registers contents in Open Firmware (HTML)
QA1036: Demonstrates how to display PCI Configuration Resister contents in Open Firmware.
Device Drivers 2001-05-18
Do PowerBooks have a PCI bus? (HTML) ()
HW43: Explains that a Powerbook has a PCI bus.
Device Drivers 1999-02-15
The dreaded "incompatible flag -framework" error (HTML)
QA1096: Explains how to eliminate the incompatible flag -framework error in Project Builder.
Device Drivers 2001-12-05
Driver Gestalt & Icon Services (HTML) ()
DV37: Describes the interaction of Driver Gestalt & Icon Services
Device Drivers 1999-10-05
Energy Star PCI Device (HTML) ()
QA1108: Provides useful information for developers of Energy Star-compliant PCI devices.
Device Drivers 2002-01-15
Expansion ROM device properties (HTML) ()
HW50: Describes the Open Firmware properties that should be included in a boot device's expansion ROM.
Device Drivers 1999-03-29
Generating an NMI Without a Programmer's Switch (HTML) ()
QA1264: Explains how to generate a non-maskable interrupt (NMI) on CPUs without programmer's switches.
Device Drivers 2004-04-26
Getting a List of Drivers & LUNs (logical unit numbers) (HTML)
Deprecated - DV04: Describes a legacy Mac OS technique for obtaining a list of SCSI Parallel drivers, devices, and LUNs.
Device Drivers 1995-07-01
Getting a Packet Trace (HTML) ()
QA1176: Lists tools available for looking at the network packets on the wire.
Device Drivers 2004-07-13
Getting started with Forth (HTML) ()
HW53: Describes where FCode driver developers can get information about the Forth programming language.
Device Drivers 1999-03-29
HID Manager Event Data Underruns (HTML)
QA1038: Explains how to correctly handle HID Manager event queue data underruns.
Device Drivers 2001-06-13
How can I tell if a PCI device has on board I/O space? (HTML)
QA1287: Demonstrates "how to" tell if a PCI device has on board I/O space.
Device Drivers 2003-09-24
How many PCI header types exist today? (HTML)
HW92: Briefly describes the three PCI header types defined in the PCI 2.2 specification.
Device Drivers 2000-09-05
How to use the OT modem script engine (HTML) ()
Deprecated - NW50: Shows how to use the Open Transport modem script engine.
Device Drivers 1997-07-11
if and then in Forth (HTML) ()
HW54: Using the Forth word "if" requires a "then".
Device Drivers 1999-03-29
Installing an I/O Kit KEXT Without Rebooting (HTML)
QA1319: Describes the state of the art of installing I/O Kit kernel extensions (KEXTs) without requiring a restart.
Device Drivers 2003-10-28
Installing smart card reader drivers (HTML)
QA1359: Updates obsolete information contained in the pcscd(8) man page on Mac OS X Jaguar and Panther.
Device Drivers 2004-08-30
IODeviceTree & the IORegistry (HTML) ()
QA1120: Describes the IODeviceTree plane in the Mac OS X IORegistry.
Device Drivers 2002-02-13
IOKit Framework Headers (HTML) ()
QA1107: Describes the differences between the headers in IOKit.framework and the I/O Kit headers in Kernel.framework.
Device Drivers 2002-01-15
IOLog and Interrupt Context (HTML) ()
QA1100: Describes when IOKit runs at primary (hardware) interrupt context.
Device Drivers 2002-02-13
Is the Open Firmware device tree object oriented? (HTML)
HW80: Discusses the object-oriented attributes of the Open Firmware device tree.
Device Drivers 1999-11-15
Issues with boot time KEXT loading (HTML) ()
QA1087: Explains how to solve problems with loading KEXTs at boot time.
Device Drivers 2004-01-15
Legacy Devices (HTML)
HW84: Discusses why legacy devices with hard-wired I/O addresses may not work properly with Open Firmware.
Device Drivers 2000-03-20
Making sense of IOKit error codes (HTML) ()
QA1075: Explains how to interpret I/O Kit error codes.
Device Drivers 2002-02-07
Mapping kernel memory to user space on Mac OS X 10.2 (HTML) ()
QA1197: Describes a change to mapping kernel memory to user space affecting Mac OS X 10.2 and later.
Device Drivers 2002-09-13
New PPD keywords available in Mac OS X version 10.3 (HTML)
QA1352: Describes the new PPD keywords available for CUPS filters in Mac OS X 10.3.
Device Drivers 2004-05-26
Open Firmware and the devalias node (HTML)
HW95: Describes why the contents of the Open Firmware devalias node varies between Macintosh models.
Device Drivers 2000-09-05
Open Firmware device tree nodes (HTML)
HW86: Explains the usage of the "@n" notation in Open Firmware device tree nodes.
Device Drivers 2000-09-05
Open Firmware Memory bus speed (HTML)
HW97: Describes a method to display memory bus speed for G3 or G4 Macintosh in Open Firmware.
Device Drivers 2000-09-22
OTScheduleDeferredTask When Task Running (HTML) ()
NW52: Describes what happens when you use OTScheduleDefferedTask to schedule a task that is running.
Device Drivers 1997-10-13
The "packages" node in the device tree (HTML)
HW90: Describes the "packages" node in the Open Firmware device tree.
Device Drivers 2000-09-05
PCI address/data stepping (HTML)
HW94: Explains that Apple does not support PCI address/data stepping.
Device Drivers 2000-09-05
PCI bus on the iMac (HTML) ()
HW42: Explains that the iMac has a PCI bus even though it has no expansion slots.
Device Drivers 1999-02-15
PCI Bus? (HTML)
QA1104: Answers the question, "Do all Macintosh computers have a PCI bus?"
Device Drivers 2001-12-21
PCI Header types (HTML)
HW78: Describes the three required types of PCI headers to be provided in its configuration header space.
Device Drivers 1999-11-15
PCI SIG (HTML) ()
HW55: Describes the meaning of the acronym PCI SIG.
Device Drivers 1999-03-29
PCI/PCI-X slots on the Power Mac G5 (HTML)
QA1307: Discusses installing PCI/PCI-X cards of different speeds in the Power Mac G5.
Device Drivers 2003-09-30
Power Management; Policy Maker vs. Power Controller (HTML) ()
QA1121: Describes the differences between a Power Management Policy Maker and a Power Management Power Controller.
Device Drivers 2002-02-13
Retain Counts of io_object_t Objects in IOKit.framework (HTML) ()
QA1195: Distinguishes between the retain counts of an I/O Kit kernel object and its io_object_t user space proxy.
Device Drivers 2002-09-04
Sample code for allocating an amount of dictionary space (HTML)
HW71: Discusses the allocation and the setting of memory for Dictionary space in Open Firmware.
Device Drivers 1999-10-11
SCSI ID from vRefNum (HTML) ()
DV29: Legacy Mac OS technique for identifying the ID of a SCSI Parallel device containing a specified disk volume.
Device Drivers 1997-05-23
A SCSI little secret (HTML)
HW81: Details what to expect when accessing the motherboard SCSI bus on the Blue & White G3.
Device Drivers 1999-12-20
SCSIAction and IOSCSIUserClient on Mac OS X 10.2 (HTML) ()
QA1201: Describes migrating to a new API for SCSI Parallel devices starting with Mac OS X 10.2.
Device Drivers 2002-09-13
SDRAM Problems With Self-Powered USB Devices (HTML) ()
HW82: Alerts that non-compliant, self-powered USB devices plugged into a G4, can cause problems with low-voltage-sensitive SDRAM .
Device Drivers 2003-08-21
Sending SCSI commands to storage devices (HTML) ()
QA1179: Explains that Mac OS X does not implement SCSI pass-through for many mass storage devices.
Device Drivers 2002-08-06
Serial API Choice (HTML)
DV39: Discusses the choice of serial APIs supported by traditional Mac OS and Mac OS X.
Device Drivers 2001-07-02
Sleep vs. Doze on Mac OS X (HTML)
QA1309: Discusses and demonstrates sleep versus doze detection on Machintosh Mac OS X
Device Drivers 2003-10-09
Switching between one and two machine mode for the Open Firmware user interface (HTML) ()
HW37: Explains how to change from one machine mode to two in the Open Firmware user interface.
Device Drivers 1999-02-15
T_DATA_REQ vs M_DATA TPI Message Blocks (HTML) ()
NW42: Explains why OT passes data to a TPI module using M_DATA message blocks instead of M_PROTO+T_DATA_REQ.
Device Drivers 1996-10-25
TCP/IP Option Sizes (HTML) ()
NW62: Enumerates the TCP/IP options and their sizes for Open Transport.
Device Drivers 1999-04-26
Tips on USB driver matching for Mac OS X (HTML)
QA1076: Gives some tips on getting USB driver matching to work.
Device Drivers 2001-10-02
Using "words" in Open Firmware (HTML)
HW73: Explains how to search for specific entries within all the global and local Open Firmware words.
Device Drivers 1999-10-11