[itdiscuss] Mac Automations

[Dan Barber]

Paul,
It can be done, but in my experience (which is very limited on this subject) what most of us need for such things is a Mac running OS X Server. Running this way, Mac clients will login to the OS X server, which is tied to Active Directory, and then apply all settings and such based on AD groups and so forth.

You don't need an XServe, but just a Mac with OS X Server software. I have been wanting to try it out for a while, but my budget has prevented me. As our percentage of Mac users increases, I have an increasing case to purchase one, but it still probably needs to wait.

Is anyone out there doing this? I have read about it, had conversations with Apple about it, but never seen anyone implement it.

Dan

From: discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org] On Behalf Of Phillips, Paul
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 9:15 AM
To: IT Discussion Forum
Subject: Re: [itdiscuss] Mac Automations

The last time I used ARD was about four years ago.  At that time, you basically performed remote tasks through the VNC protocol.  While it worked well to remotely control a networked machine, I found it lacking is a few areas.  First, you had to rely on the client's UI to perform any management tasks.  This was problematic given that you still had to have real-time access to the machine, and you had to take the user off-task to perform the update.  I was also disappointed with its responsiveness as I worked on remote systems.  The release I was using was far more suited to remotely diagnosing and correcting a problem rather than performing configuration changes and updates to the machine.  I understand that this has been improved in more recent editions, but would love to hear your take on that.

Additionally, I am looking for tools that can integrate with Active Directory for segmented configuration changes.  Like many of you are likely doing, I have different resources that are available to different groups of users.  For instance, each user has access to a private shared folder, a shared folder that is specific to that user's team, as well as a more public shared folder.  Should a resource change (i.e. perhaps I upgrade my file server and the name of the server changes) or a user changes team affiliation, implementing these type of changes on a Windows workstation is as simple as changing a single line of VBS script or dragging and dropping a user into a different OU (which will apply a different set of group policy).

Going back to copiers and printers for a moment, I use VBS, group policy, and AD OU's to automatically map workgroup printers to a user's computer.  I don't even have to think about what printers a given user may need access to because I set it up to all happen automatically.  When something changes, I make a change in one location, and the workstations all update with the changes either during a GP update or at the next logon.

Does ARD work as an effective tool for handling all of these scenarios and more?  I have seen countless posts, both here and on other forums, that tout the ease of administration as well as cheaper administration costs related to Macs.  I definitely want access to that, but can't find evidence of the tools necessary to granularly administer dozens of Mac workstations with minimal effort.

[cid:image001.jpg at 01C93427.2417D3C0]
Paul Phillips
IT Manager
[cid:image002.jpg at 01C93427.2417D3C0]
(770) 458-9300 x305
pphillips at walkthru.org<mailto:pphillips at walkthru.org>

From: discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org] On Behalf Of Dan Barber
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 9:00 AM
To: 'IT Discussion Forum'
Subject: Re: [itdiscuss] Mac Automations

Paul,
What you are describing can be accomplished via Apple's Remote Desktop, especially batch operations like that. I have found it very easy to use, compared to something like distributing software via Group Policy.

Dan

From: discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org] On Behalf Of Phillips, Paul
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 7:15 AM
To: IT Discussion Forum
Subject: [itdiscuss] Mac Automations


We all operate on ever-changing networks.  Printers may change or drivers updated; new file shares may become available; new resources and services are added or updated.  Microsoft makes the management of these changes across a network fairly easy.  Through tools like Active Directory, VBS, WMI, etc., a network administrator can control available resources for a given Windows workstation.  Macs are seemingly not as easy to manage on a large scale.



As an example, I recently upgraded all of our copiers.  Of course, the drivers for these copiers had to be installed for each workstation.  On my Windows workstations, this was easy.  I simply updated the drivers on my print server, and the workstations all updated themselves.  On my Macs, the story was not so painless.  I had to go to each workstation individually and install the drivers manually.  Not that I have hundreds of Mac workstations to update, but it was still a pain to coordinate when I could access each workstation.



This is just one example of many changes that occur on any of our networks over the course of a business year.  As more networks become saturated with Macs, one of two things has to occur - either we find and use tools that automate these kinds of changes on a Mac as easily as it already is on a Windows workstation, or we increase our administrative overhead by hiring more staff.  What tools do you use to push network configuration changes out to your Mac users?


[cid:image001.jpg at 01C93427.2417D3C0]
Paul Phillips
IT Manager
[cid:image002.jpg at 01C93427.2417D3C0]
(770) 458-9300 x305
pphillips at walkthru.org<mailto:pphillips at walkthru.org>


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