This utility will automatically mount selected AFP servers when you invoke it. You can also use it to mount servers on startup, if you have it setup as a startup item. It will also unlock your keychain, if necessary.
You will need Mac OS 9 (with the Keychain installed and active) or Mac OS X (10.1 recommended) to make use of this application.
What's New?
1.0.1 Fixed documentation to refer to the correct 'servers' folder name -- "AFPAutomount Servers".
1.0 First Public Release. Everything is new!
How Do I Install It?
On Mac OS 10.x
Place the application anywhere on your hard disk. Run it, and the first time you run it will ask you to enter the password for your default keychain. The keychain is automatically unlocked on Mac OS X when you log in, but we'll ask for it just in case we need it if you lock your keychain later and you invoke the application to mount your servers. To make this application run at startup, launch the System Preferences application. Open the "Login" preference pane, and drag the application into Login items section of the window. It will appear in the list, and from then on, every time you log in, the app will run and mount your servers.
On Mac OS 9.x
Place the application anywhere on your hard disk. Run it, and the first time you run it will ask you to enter the password for your default keychain. This is necessary in case the keychain is locked on statrup. Once you've clicked OK, it will attempt to unlock the keychain. If it is successful, it will store an alias to itself in the Startup Items folder. From then on, every time the system is rebooted, the app will run and unlock the keychain without intervention from you.
How Do I Remove It?
On Mac OS 10.x
Launch the System Preferences application, open the "Login" preference pane, and remove the application from the list of login items.
On Mac OS 9.x
To disable the application, simply remove the alias in the Startup Items folder of your System Folder. If you want to disable the auto-login before startup, use the Extensions Manager Control Panel (hold down the Space Bar while the system boots) to inactivate the alias.
How do I change the default keychain password it stores?
To change the password the application uses, hold down the Command Key and double click the application until a password dialog should reappear. Change the password and click OK.
How do I tell it what servers to automatically mount on startup or when the application is run?
On Mac OS 10.x
In your home directory (click the "Home" icon in a Finder window), there is a folder named "Library". In it, you need to create a folder named "AFPAutomount Servers" (it must match that name EXACTLY, it is case sensitive, and without quotes). Mount your favorite AFP servers, add them to your keychain, and then create an alias to that server and place it in your newly created folder. When the AFP Automount application is run, it will look in this folder and try to open all servers you have stored there. That's it! if you want to stop mounting a server, just remove it from the folder.
On Mac OS 9.x
Create a folder named "AFPAutomount Servers" (it must match that EXACTLY, it is case sensitive, and without quotes) in your System Folder folder, and put any aliases to any servers you wish to auto-mount in this folder. On startup, the application will scan this folder, mounting any server aliases it finds.
In case you are lost or can't seem to get it to work with your keychain, here are more detailed instructions:
(0) IF you have a password to a server that does not have any characters in it (you just type your name and hit "Connect" in the login dialog), then THIS WILL NOT WORK FOR YOU -- you need to have a non-empty server password to use the keychain (this appears to be a Keychain Access bug in Mac OS 9). It is OK to have an empty password for your keychain.
(1) Open the Keychain Access Control Panel.
(2) Create a new keychain.
(3) Unlock the keychain, if it is not.
(4) Via the chooser, mount the servers you wish to auto-mount. DO NOT use the "Add to Keychain" checkbox -- there is some funniness with this checkbox and the keychain, and since you don't want to mount them more than once, don't check this box (we'll add them later).
(5) Drag each one into your keychain window, entering the passwords as they are requested.
(6) In the Edit menu, choose the "<your keychain name> Settings..." menu item. Enter your password to get into the preferences when prompted.
(7) In the Preferences dialog, click the "Allow Access Without Warning" checkbox. A dialog will appear "Are you sure you want to turn off warnings when your keychain is accessed?". Click YES. Then click "Save" to close the preferences dialog.
(8) Close the Keychain Access dialog.
(9) Unmount all servers. DO NOT restart yet.
(10) Perform a test: Go to the "Recent Servers" menu under the Apple menu, and select a server you just had mounted.
(a) Did it mount without asking you? If so, proceed to step (10).
(b) if the server prompted you for a password, either you did not perform the steps above in the right order, your keychain is locked, or you have an empty server password. Please try the steps again, unlock the keychain and try this step again, or get a non-empty password if necessary.
(11) Lock the Keychain (either via the control strip, or open the Control Panel and lock it).
(12) Launch the AFP Automount application. Enter your password... did you get an error message? If so, your password is not correct, or it could not be unlocked for some reason. Repeat earlier steps if you did not get a "The keychain information was saved..." dialog.
(13) If you do not want to mount servers on startup, you are done. Continue to use your mac, and from now on on restart the keychain should be unlocked for you.
(14) If you do want to mount servers automatically on startup, open the System Folder, and create a folder named "Startup Servers" inside. Put aliases to any servers you wish to mount on startup in this folder. DO NOT PUT SERVER ALIASES IN THE STARTUP ITEMS FOLDER. This will NOT work... the Finder will attempt to open those server aliases BEFORE AFP Automount has a chance to run, therefore defeating the purpose of using it (Also a bug in my opinion).
(15) Restart, and you should be ready to go -- all servers properly aliased in the "Startup Servers" folder should be automatically mounted.
Is It Secure?
The preferences (and your password) are scrambled, so prying eyes cannot decipher your password via the prefs file. This gives this method of unlocking your password has a distinct advantage over other automatic utilities or methods.
How Much Is It?
Free! All that we ask is that you check out our other software, available at:
http://www.digitalspecter.com
How Can I Contact You?
This application is free, and is therefore not really supported. However, we'll try and offer any assistance we can. You can e-mail us at: support@digitalspecter.com.
What Else Does Digital Specter Offer?
Currently we have a security-related product for Mac OS 9 and X:
Startup Security • Enables greater security for your Macintosh system. $20
