Change Apple Mac OS X Software Update Service (SUS) address

Apple IU Software Update service allows uses to keep their Mac OS X machines updated with the latest software updates and security patched. In some controlled environments, the update servers are specified in the user profile. Sometimes there may be delays in the server updates, or problems with the local update server and users may desire to connect to Apple's services directly. Here's are some instructions that users may find useful. Please note that to make configuration changes you will need Administrative privileges on your Mac.

Users should also note that where a URL for the update catalog is not specified, network administrators may have implemented transparent update redirection by manipulating DNS entries on a local server for URLs such as; http://swscan.apple.com, http://swquery.apple.com, http://swdownload.apple.com, http://swcdn.apple.com

Check the SUS server settings
To check you current SUS settings, issue the following command from a terminal;

1. /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c Print /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist
2. /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c Print ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist

The above commands would produce an output similar to the following;

Dict {

    LastAttemptSystemVersion = 10.7.2 (11C74)

    LastRecommendedUpdatesAvailable = 0

    RecommendedUpdates = Array {

    }

    CatalogURL = http://XXX.XXX.XXX.XX:8088/index.sucatalog

    LastResultCode = 2

    ScheduleFrequency = 1

    LastUpdatesAvailable = 0

    LastAttemptDate = Thu Jul 26 10:37:51 EST 2012

    LastSuccessfulDate = Thu Jul 26 10:37:51 EST 2012

}

Change the SUS server settings back to Apple's default
Delete the CatalogURL entry by issuing the following command to force the IU software update to connect to Apple's URL

1. defaults delete /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate CatalogURL

To change the SUS server
To change the SUS server to any other value issue the following command from a terminal;

1. defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate CatalogURL 'http://SERVER:PORT/index.sucatalog'

References

1. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3923