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After a recent query on running MySabre on a Mac I decided to give it a try. There are two basic steps to get Sabre running on any machine. Step one is the VPN connection. Step 2 is to get MySabre running.
First I got a copy of the OSX version of Sabre’s VPN software. Not the easiest thing to find mind you. The install went smoothly and created a desktop shortcut to launch the VPN client.
After login, the VPN status appears in the task bar above. Yes its the same green S you find on MS Windows. I ran a quick test to make sure the VPN was working by selecting the Status option and clicking the Test button in there. Notice the successful response from localhost (127.0.0.1). I’m gonna put up another post on how this so-called VPN seems to work!
The VPN setup was way easier than I anticipated. Onto step 2. The web-interface for MySabre has never worked well on any browser other than IE. In Safari, beyond the login screen, nothing seemed to work at all. I’m going to keep at this and will post an update pretty soon. Now I’m determined to get a functional Sabre running on an Apple Mac under OSX.
The sad part about all this is that there is no documentation on this anywhere. If you do find a link, post it in the comments. Part 2 of this experiment would be a successful query for air availability in OSX.
This blog is run by Mario Alvares, a Goan Web Guru living in Kuwait, sharing some of his thoughts with the rest of the world. Click the About Me link for more info and a funny mug shot. Check out the posts on this blog and feel free to leave your comments. Use the RSS links above to subscribe.
EJGG
May 26th, 2009 at 2:36 am
Where did you find the vpn installer for Mac? Hope you get it functional.
EJGG
May 26th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Try using Firefox. I have gotten to the screen where the system tries to connect with Sabre and since I do not have the VPN connection for the Mac I cannot go any further.
mario
May 27th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
I did get it running on Firefox but it looks like crap!
I’m working on an update to my Sabre POS utility and that looks much better!
Will post about it tomorrow along with a link to download the VPN!
Cheers!
wael ali
June 5th, 2009 at 12:51 am
kindly i need to know how can i install sabre vpn for apple mac ver 10.5.7 ?
mario
June 7th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Sorry Wael, I’ve only tried it on 10.4. Try the 10.4 installer on your 10.5 from … http://alvares.in/mario/20090528/running-sabre-on-an-apple-mac-osx-part-2/
EJGG
June 9th, 2009 at 8:09 am
I USED THE VPN INSTALLER ON 10.5.7 AND IT IS WORKING FINE. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT USING FIREFOX WITH SOME CAVEATS BUT FOR ME IT WORKS JUST FINE. HOW DID YOU GET A HOLD OF THIS INSTALLER? LET ME TELL YOU, YOU ARE A GODSEND. THANKS FOR YOUR ADVISE.
Mariko
July 17th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Hi, I am a mac & sabre user. I was using paralles+Vista then Sabre. Too much time to open Sabre Blue screen. I have contacted Sabre tech support for every 6 months to see if they started to support Safari. Today I got an email and they gave me a command for Mac OS. However I could not go. I need your help.
Email from MySabre Technical Support
Thank you for your email. I’m glad to tell you that MySabre, as a Java application, will actually run on Macs, on Safari, namely. Only SVPN module needed to be adjusted for Mac and so has been done already. Please [click here] for your MAC version of SVPN. Please bear in mind, though, that you will need a Mac-aware tech on your side for its installation as our help desk is specialized in Windows OS. Our support for Macs is very limited to our own experience hence we can not always provide an answer to the Support Requests.
I got a folder and files for Mac. This is “Read me first” text. Could you tell me how to do this? In order to find “hosts”, I did Shift+Command+G key then move to “etc”. I gave permission to the file or move “hosts” file to desk top (usually Host file became writable) but I could not.
FORMAT entries on a MAC are made from the terminal application on the MAC.
Applications > Utilities > Terminal
1. Untar the sabrevpn.tar file from the user’s home directory:
FORMAT = tar xvf sabrevpn_prod.tar.
***** Do the remaining steps from the sabrevpn directory. *****
2. Take the contents from inside the file named add_to_hosts
and add to your /etc/hosts file.
FORMAT = cat add_to_hosts >> /etc/hosts
NOTE: IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO MAKE THE HOSTS FILE WRITEABLE:
FORMAT = sudo chmod a+w /etc/hosts
(A sudo command such as this prompts for the Mac user’s password.)
It is recommended you reboot or flush DNS at this point.
***** These settings should be performed anytime your system is booted. *****
3. Run the add_ips script:
FORMAT = ./add_ips
This adds the 127.0.0.2, 127.0.0.3, 127.0.0.4, etc interfaces
4. Start the port forwarder from command line:
FORMAT = ./start_vpn.sh
This entry performs the following command which may be entered manually
FORMAT = sudo java -cp sslvpnclient.jar:portforwarder.jar:jdic.jar -Djava.library.path
Andrew
August 5th, 2009 at 2:09 am
Be sure to use 10.5 if you are going to put work into this! 10.4 is old, obviously, and there were a lot of changes in 10.5 (not to mention 10.6 is right around the corner). My friend works at a travel agency, and they would love to switch the office to Macs.
Richard
September 8th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
I installed MAC X10.6,since then I cannot get open the SI and password window to start the sabre VPN, Does anyknows to solve this problem
thanks
Garry
October 30th, 2009 at 12:49 am
Downloaded 10.6 and having same problem as Richard. Would love a work around!
Adam Richardson
November 13th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Posting this here since it’s the top search result on Google.
Got MySABRE working on 10.6 with help from the SABRE folks, the pdf directions are here:
http://www.yousendit.com/download/TzY3Q1ZnUzhubHgzZUE9PQ
Cliffs notes for the tech savvy:
1. Need to enable Java run in 32 bit mode. Go to Applications–>Utilities–>Java Preferences.app and change both plugin and applications to 32 bit.
2. Download new 10.6 VPN client at: vrack.sabre.com/MAC_VPN_OSX-10.6.zip
EJGG
December 19th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Adam, I have tried to download the pdf file you posted but it has expired. Can you repost it, please.
Thanks
Adam Richardson
December 19th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Sure thing, I guess the yousendit.com link expired.
Here it is again, rehosted at RapidShare:
http://rapidshare.com/files/323132847/MySABRE_10.6_Installation.pdf.html
Adam Richardson
December 19th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
In case that expires, here’s another upload of the same file at MediaFire:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/tz3ac0ymmzy/MySABRE_10.6_Installation.pdf
EJGG
December 20th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Thanks, Adam. I got it working using Safari instead of Firefox. Looks better and all functions work.
Andrew
February 6th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Adam, could you post a link again? The file is gone. Why can’t Sabre just offer support directly? It’s crazy people have to go around the bush like this!
Adam Richardson
February 6th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Sure thing. Just re-hosted it. Here’s a couple fresh links:
http://rapidshare.com/files/346699258/MySABRE_10.6_Installation.pdf.html
http://www.mediafire.com/file/l0yyimyxmjm/MySABRE_10.6_Installation.pdf
Hopefully they’ll stay good for a couple months.
Luis
February 27th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Hello Adam,
I had this working perfectly on Safari for the past few months but all of a suden it no longer works. I can’t get the VPN to connect. Every time I try to log in I get the sign in failed screen and it asks me to try again or to reset my password. Any ideas? Im running snow leopard and I’ve followed your instructions perfectly and I still can’t get the VPN to connect. Help, I really don’t want to go back to parallels!
Adam Richardson
February 28th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
Luis,
I don’t think we ever got this to work on Safari, just Firefox as SABRE recommends.
The person I corresponded with at SABRE was Brad Johnson, I’d give him a try. Brad’s email: vrack at sabre dot com.
Euan
March 18th, 2010 at 5:55 am
Hi Adam + Luis,
Thanks for re-hosting this file came in very handy for me this morning.
I have been trying to conenct using firefox (OS 10.6) and followed all the instrauctions as per the PDF.
I have come accross the same error as Luis, the Sabre VPN won’t take my password and suggets i may need to change it, whuch i also tried donig with no luck.
I have e-mail Brad Johnson and will let you know what response i get from him.
Cheers Euan
EJGG
March 24th, 2010 at 8:29 am
The following is what Brad from Sabre suggested. After updating the client everything worked great:
First I would suggest that you make sure you are on the latest client software. Unlike the Windows environment the MAC client does not update automatically. The workarounds that I put together for Snow Leopard were built into the most current SVPN client which you can find here:
http://installs.cert.sabre.com/Support/sslvpn/MAC/mx_mac_svpn.zip
I’ve seen some of my older helpdesk docs floating around online that link to dead or outdated files so I would ensure you are on the latest and greatest.
I will qualify this by saying that we are fighting a problem with MAC SVPN users now where the launch of the SVPN gets an authentication fail as if you input the wrong password. There is nothing wrong with the password and you’ll find that any other login will work to authenticate the SVPN client and your normal user/pass will work for MySabre. I’m working with the development teams and hope to get this squashed soon. If you can’t get past this give the helpdesk a shout and the team should be able to get you in. They might ask for some data too that will help me in my case with development.
If you ever get any resistance from the technical helpdesks with MAC support or some blank stares ask them to get with the 2nd levels. They should know how to get around these issues or come to me and my guys for live help.
Mariko
April 1st, 2010 at 8:55 pm
I need to run mySabre on Mac OS 10.5.8 + Safari or firefox.
Anyone please let me know which installer.
If 10.6 is much better for mySabre, I will consider upgrading OS to 10.6 near future but I want know for 10.5 for today.
Thank you,
Mariko
Mariko
April 1st, 2010 at 11:18 pm
mySabre was working on my safari 4.0.4 on Oac 10.5.8 successfully after I download following files.
http://my.sabre.com/idc/groups/public/documents/migration/mx_mac_svpn.zip
Now … Anyone successfully print Itineraries from Mac?
Now, Sabre is supporting Mac OS. Good thing to me.
Douglas Citro
April 22nd, 2010 at 12:50 am
Hello guys. I was able to install and get the Sabre bluescreen asking for the login on my Mac 10.6.3, the issue now is that I can’t get my keyboard to work…..do you hv any ideas?
Thanks