[Technical] Mac auto-updating

Tue Jul 7 23:00:31 EST 2009

Thats OK, what I learned is to not be so scared about the idea of avoiding
trying to manage the macs with a cycle of reimaging like we once did with
Windows computers or to deploy images with carbon copy tools. Whilst it can
be made to work, in the long term there is an easier way.

Carefully built and correctly configured, the operating system OSX is robust
enough with volatile guest users (roaming type profiles) to be remotely
managed with the odd bulk package installation, upgrade etc. The tools are
used with Apple enterprise deployments in the tertiary sector, free to
download, easy to learn and can be readily adapted for use in a high school.
If you are not familar with the Apple Mac as I was, get around to seeing
what can be done by visiting some of the big Apple schools or get in touch
with somebody who can demo and set you up to mange this yourself over a
weekend (beats trying to teach it yourself)

I learned heaps and ended up giving a talk about this at the ICTEV
conference, happy to do it again. :-)

Regards Roland

2009/7/7 S Sukohondono <sukohond at siena.vic.edu.au>

>  Hi Roland,
>
>
>
> Thank you so much for the valuable info.
>
>
>
> You have given us much to chew on.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Suko
>
>
>  ------------------------------
>
> *From:* tech-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:tech-bounces at edulists.com.au]
> *On Behalf Of *Roland Gesthuizen
> *Sent:* Sunday, 5 July 2009 4:15 PM
> *To:* Technical Discussion in Schools Mailing List
> *Subject:* Re: [Technical] Mac auto-updating
>
>
>
> G'day all,
>
> we don't need to regularly reimage the OSX side of the Macs by using a
> custom bash script that installs, configures any new Mac on the network.
> Updates and patches are dead easy to deploy using Apple Remote Desktop (ARD)
> that has a lot in common with Novell Zenworks that we use on the Windows
> side of the network. There is another cool freeware tool called DeployStudio
> that lets us remotely configure and manage multi-boot setups for both sides
> and a tool called rEFIt that manages the bootup and more ..
>
> Am running a workshop at Westall SC this term if anybody is interested in
> learning how this is done or watching to get their head around the tools.
> Contact me offlist. I can also put you in touch with somebody who can
> advise, config and help set this up for your school. Even if you only have a
> room of iMacs, this is better than wasting time walking about reimaging,
> reimaging, reimaging .. until the cows come back home for milking.
>
> Regards Roland
>
> 2009/7/3 S Sukohondono <sukohond at siena.vic.edu.au>
>
> Hi Jason & everyone else,
>
>
>
> We just purchased 25 iMacs for our VisComm class using Mr Rudd’s money.
>
>
>
> With no experience in administering Macs, I was wondering what software do
> you use in re-imaging the Macs.
>
>
>
> Any info would be greatly appreciated.
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Suko
>
> Siena College
>
>
>  ------------------------------
>
> *From:* tech-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:tech-bounces at edulists.com.au]
> *On Behalf Of *Jason Clarke
> *Sent:* Friday, 3 July 2009 9:55 AM
> *To:* Technical Discussion in Schools Mailing List
> *Subject:* RE: [Technical] Mac auto-updating
>
>
>
> Hi Paul,
>
>
>
> We re-image the machines each holiday period and its at that point we roll
> out the patches then. We do this because of the issue you’ve outlined
> before, we’ve bricked a few installs and had to re-image again anyway.
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
>
>
> Jason
>
>
>
> *From:* tech-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:tech-bounces at edulists.com.au]
> *On Behalf Of *Paul Williamson
> *Sent:* Thursday, 2 July 2009 6:19 PM
> *To:* tech at edulists.com.au
> *Subject:* [Technical] Mac auto-updating
>
>
>
> Hi,
>
>
>
> Just wondering if anyone knows how to get Mac’s to automatically run their
> software updates, or if it is even possible?
>
>
>
> Currently we need to login as an administrator user and then we can open
> software update and install updates.
>
>
>
> We have an xserve which runs an Update Server, and using Workgroup Manager
> I have configured our machines to get updates from our xserve, which does
> work.
>
>
>
> Are there any settings on the xserve perhaps that will help push out the
> updates?
>
>
>
> We have Remote Desktop so can remotely push install packages etc. or run sh
> scripts… There was a command I tried to remotely run to get softwareupdate
> to run and force install everything, but this caused an imac to completely
> die and had to be reloaded, so I think I’ll avoid that one in future :-).
>
>
>
> Best regards,
>
>
>
> Paul Williamson
>
> ICT Manager
>
> Huntingtower School
>
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> --
> Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College
> http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au
>
> "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
> change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret
> Mead
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> http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe
> Technical Mailing List kindly supported by
> http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
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> http://www.vitta.org.au - VITTA Victorian Information Technology Teachers
> Association Inc
>
> *DISCLAIMER:* This email and any files transmitted with it are
> confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to
> whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error, please
> notify the sender immediately by reply email and delete the email from your
> system. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are
> solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Siena
> College. Siena College does not guarantee that this Email is virus or error
> free and accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted
> by this email.
>
> *QS Disclaimer Demo. Copyright © Pa-software.*
> *Visit www.pa-software.com<http://www.pa-software.com/products/#qsdisclaimer>for more information.
> *
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-- 
Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College
http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead
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