K2000 Mac Imaging

1Dell World User Forum

UFIL507: K2000 Mac Imaging

Mike Pace, Training LeadPatrick Warme, Senior Support Engineer

Dell WorldUser Forum


Agenda

• Mac Imaging Overview

• Netboot Basics

• Image Configuration

• How to Netboot

• Application Deployment

• Image Capture and Deployment

• Best Practices

3 Dell World User Forum

Mac Imaging Overview


How does Mac imaging work?

• Macintosh computers use bootstrap protocol (bootp) and netboot environments to capture/deploy system images independent of client hardware.

• A netboot environment is created from OS X installation media or installer app from the App Store. Only one netboot environment is needed to netboot different Mac models.


Netboot, Subnets, and You

Netboot across subnets requires bootpd relays. Various methods include:

• RSA on individual subnets

• Bless command

• IP-helpers at the routing level


Customizing Mac Deployments

Pre and Postinstall tasks operate in a similar fashion compared to Windows. HDD partition tasks, software deployment, and OS X customization shell scripts are some of the supported features.

Unlike Windows, there is no sysprep tool for Macs but there are a few best practices for preparing a Mac gold master system image.


Netboot Basics


Netboot Environment

• A netboot image is a hardware independent operating system that allows hard drive capture and deployment over the network. One netboot environment contains drivers for multiple Intel Mac hardware configurations.

• The netboot environment also supports network connectivity to the K2000’s Samba shares along with network mapping capabilities. Additionally, KACE has provided the OS X troubleshooting tools for use in the netboot environment.

• Build the netboot environment on a Mac running latest version of OS X that will be deployed. It is also advised to build the netboot environment on the newest Mac hardware available for certain feature support, such as Thunderbolt 2.

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Demo: Building the Netboot Environment


Demo: Configuring K2000 to Netboot


Image Configuration


Basic & Advanced Options

Advanced Setup

• Create a Default User Account

• Cleanup Profile

• Caches

• Keychains

• History

• Repair Disk Permissions

• Enable Automatic Login

Basic Image Setup

• Update Mac OS to latest available

• Apply Security and Application Updates

• Install and update applications

• Launch applications

• Configure System Preferences

• Cleanup downloaded files

• Logout from App Store


Demo 3: Advanced Image Configuration


Netbooting your Mac


Netbooting your Mac

Boot Manager (Hold Option during system startup)

Netboot

Startup Disk System PreferenceBless Commands

Direct network boot (Hold ‘N’ key during system startup)

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Insert icon here


Demo 4: Netbooting your Mac


Application Deployment


Deploying App Files via ditto

Attach the DMG to an Application PO task:


Deploying PKGs via installer

Attach the DMG to an Application PO task:


Deployment Command Lines

• APP: ditto -rsrc Software.app /Applications/Software

• PKG: installer -pkg Software.pkg -target /

• Other Helpful Tools:

• Pacifist - http://www.charlessoft.com/• Iceberg - http://s.sudre.free.fr/Software/Iceberg.html• Xcode PackageMaker -

https://developer.apple.com/downloads/index.action (Search “packagemaker” for the download link)

• Simple Package Creator - http://derflounder.wordpress.com/2014/04/29/simple-package-creator-app/


No DMG? No problem.

• Compress files into a ZIP archive and attach to the Postinstallation task. Then run the command line as if the attached file was a DMG.


Demo: Application Installers


Postinstall Configurations

• Disable Time Machine prompt

• Open Finder in Column view

• Move Screen Sharing app to Applications

• Show System Time on Login Screen

• Enable SSH

• Remove iCloud Login prompt


Demo: Postinstall Configuration


Image Capture and Deployment


K-Image vs. Native Image (DMG)

• K-Image: De-duplicates file structure resulting in smaller image footprints on the K2000 HDD.

• DMG: Fast solution with no data deduplication, resulting in speedy deployments which utilize more space on the K2000 HDD.


Demo: Capture, Configure, and Deploy


Best Practices


Best Practices

Tasks Best Practices• Use postinstall tasks for software that is

updated regularly (flash, reader, etc.) and utilize the K1000 for updates.

• Be descriptive in your naming of captured images.

• Be consistent with naming Postinstall tasks, like adding "App-" or "Script-" as a prefix to help keep tasks organized.

Netboot Best Practices• Build from newest hardware available• Build from most up to date host OS with

matching Source Media• Test Netboot on different Model Macs on

different network segments


Thank you.


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