I updated my XServe (duo G4 1.33 Ghz) from OS X Server 10.4.2 to 10.4.3 via Software update, on November 3. In checking the log files, I notice that the daily.out log reported that the daily periodic maintenance script ran once the morning after the update, but has not run since then. I checked to see if any of my client Macs (11 total which include G4 and G5 iMacs, eMacs, G4 PowerBooks and G4 and G5 PowerMacs) were doing this (updated to standard 10.4.3), and found that all were doing the daily maintenance without issue. However, I asked some colleagues who have OS X Server about their logs, and two responded that they also observe that the daily periodic maintenance script ran once the morning after the 10.4.3 update and not after that. Both also have G4 XServes updated to Server 10.4.3. Another colleague running OS X Server on a G5 PowerMac is not observing this issue after updating from 10.4.2 to 10.4.3.

I can get the daily maintenance script to run manually by issuing a 'sudo periodic daily' line command in terminal. However, it is no longer occurring automatically on my XServe.

The weekly maintenance was run on schedule early last Saturday morning (Nov 5). However, looking at my weekly.out log today, I can see that it did not run as scheduled this morning (Nov 12). The weekly maintenance continues to run without issue on all my client Macs.

I recall that there was a general problem like this in the initial release of Tiger (that affected client as well as server Macs). However, that was fixed in the 10.4.2 update. The periodic scripts ran fine on both Server and Client Macs under 10.4.2.

So, it appears that the launchd problem (or something very similar) that existed in the early versions of Tiger, but was fixed in 10.4.2, is back again. However, it is only affecting certain setups (e.g., 10.4.3 Server on an XServe duo G4 1.33 MHz, at least three cases that I know of including mine). It doesn't appear to be affecting any client Macs (running standard 10.4.3) or at least one G5 PowerMac running 10.4.3 Server.