Base OS install Casper Imaging

[stutz]

I would like to install just my (never booted) Base OS.dmg using Casper Imaging so I can create clean software packages. Is that possible? When I try to install just the OS it always enrolls the computer into the JSS.

[jhalvorson]

A) Instead of Casper Imaging, you could use Disk Utility do a restore to the drive. You would select your base OS.dmg as the source and then select the destination.

B) Using Casper Admin to create a Configuration profile, you'll be forced to fill in the Management tab. But, you can use the JSS Web page to create a new config, which does not require you to enter in Management information. Just be sure to label it so others that use Casper Imaging are aware it shouldn't be used for production devices, example "xDEV testing only 1010 pkg development". The JAMF binary will still get installed when using Casper Imaging, but it won't be a managed system and won't take on policies. You could include in the config a script that removes JAMF. Talk to your JAMF support person for the command.

[davidacland]

I don't think it is an option to not enrol, I've thought this a few times in the past when I'm just testing images. It seems a shame to have to use another tool when Casper Imaging is already set up and ready to go.

If its very occasional I would use Disk Utility as well. If its more frequent I would use DeployStudio.

[stutz]

Its a lot more frequent so I have Deploy Studio setup. I was just hoping I could do the same in Casper Imaging.

[stevewood]

If the reason you need a clean OS on a machine is for package building/testing, then I'd suggest getting a copy of VMWare Fusion or Parallels and going that route. WIth either product you can snapshot the system before you do your installs or make your packages, and then roll back when done testing. That's how a lot of us here on JAMFNation do it.

[Chris_Hafner]

Agreed. linked VMs are awesome for testing!

[emily]

+1 VMs! Have VMware Fusion or Parallels handy. You can spin up and trash (or snapshot, or clone) as many VMs as you need for package building.

I guess if you want to use a physical machine for testing and building you can just make yourself a USB boot disk: http://www.macworld.com/article/2367748/how-to-make-a-bootable-os-x-10-10-yosemite-install-drive.htm...

[jhalvorson]

One advantage of using a DMG and restoring via disk Utility is you can recover in about 4 to 10 minutes.

Using USB bootable installer, usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes to get back to a clean OS.

Using VMware or Parallels to restore to a snapshot can happen in as little as a few seconds.

I find myself using and of the three options depending the time and hardware I have available.

[stutz]

Thanks for the responses. I've setup a ESX server about a year ago to play around with Mac VM's but it was a very convoluted process to get it to work with Deploy Studio so I stopped using. I'll look into Fusion 7 for this process maybe its more simplified.

I did create a feature request for this though to have an option in Casper Imaging to not enroll into the JSS.

[Chris_Hafner]

Check this out

http://www.jamfsoftware.com/blog/bringing-the-casper-suite-to-life-with-virtual-test-environments/

Rich Trouton gave a great presentation on just such an endeavor. Including how to properly setup NetBoot within a virtualized environment.

[davidacland]

I had the same problem with ESXi... I could get NetBoot working sometimes but I found myself spending more time troubleshooting the NetBoot setup than working on the task I was trying to accomplish.

I work all over the place and wanted something simple. Give that the only requirement was to boot the virtual machine and be able to wipe / re-image the virtual disk I made an OS X VM but gave it two virtual disks. One has Casper imaging and deploy studio installed, the other is used as a target.

It won't suit all purposes but was nice a low tech for my needs!