W2K3 sharing fix, GPS tool, Microsoft

Ever since we got our Macintosh G5 (quite a long time ago) we couldn't get OS X to connect to shares hosted by our Windows 2003 server. Each time we tried the Mac would complain (not very helpfully) that "the original item cannot be found"; the programmer who thought that was a good error message should have his ears boxed.

A few weeks ago we finally found the solution to this odd behavior in a July 2004 blog posting by Drew Mclellan.

What is annoying about this fix is it is really obvious yet obscure at the same time: The problem is caused by the Windows 2003 Server default security policy, which is set to always encrypt network connections. Most clients (obviously that includes Windows machines) can handle this and encrypt their connections. Unfortunately OS X can't do this (which seems an odd oversight) so you need to change the security policy.

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Ever since we got our Macintosh G5 (quite a long time ago) we couldn't get OS X to connect to shares hosted by our Windows 2003 server. Each time we tried the Mac would complain (not very helpfully) that "the original item cannot be found"; the programmer who thought that was a good error message should have his ears boxed.

A few weeks ago we finally found the solution to this odd behavior in a July 2004 blog posting by Drew Mclellan.

What is annoying about this fix is it is really obvious yet obscure at the same time: The problem is caused by the Windows 2003 Server default security policy, which is set to always encrypt network connections. Most clients (obviously that includes Windows machines) can handle this and encrypt their connections. Unfortunately OS X can't do this (which seems an odd oversight) so you need to change the security policy.

Here's how you fix it: Start the Domain Controller Security Policy program (in the Administrative Tools section) and go to "Local Policies." Select "Security Options" for a list of policies and scroll down to the entry for "Microsoft network server: Digitally sign communications (always)" and set it to "Disabled."

Of course, this isn't the end of the fix; you need to reload the security policy, so open a command window and type "gpupdate". Is this ugly or what?

But it works. Unless the wind is in the wrong direction or you neglected to pray to Saint Jude (the patron saint of lost causes; honest), your Mac should see your Windows 2003 server and your data should run as free as the wind.

With that done, let's turn our attention to new features added to Franson GpsGate, a neat tool we first discussed last summer. GpsGate can split the output from a single GPS receiver so multiple devices can simultaneously receive the same data. This is a very clever idea and useful when you need multiple applications to figure out where you are.

Franson has outdone itself by producing the Franson GpsGate Toolbar, which works directly in Firefox or Internet Explorer to let you connect your GPS receiver to Google Maps or to Web pages that embed Google Maps.

The GpsGate Toolbar is free but requires at least Franson GpsGate Express (a version limited to routing GPS data to two devices), which is priced starting at $9.95.

Another recent extension to GpsGate is the ability to send local coordinates to Franson's GpsGate.com server. Once you sign up for a free account, the service, which also uses Google Maps, lets you and people you invite monitor each other's positions.

And finally, let's end with an interesting reader experience that raises questions about what Microsoft is up to.

Jonathan Klay experienced an odd event: When he logged into Windows a little window popped up saying Winlogon had an error.

Being an old hand at Windows, Klay figured, "OK, Windows gets errors, no big deal. So I clicked yes to report it to Microsoft, then clicked on the details link on the error reporting window. So then a Microsoft Web page pops up saying 'Virus alert: Windows detected the Winlogon Trojan/Worm virus on your computer'."