Bulk config of Macs with AC2

[JureJerebic]

Hi everyone,

I'm working on setting up an Apple Configurator 2 laptop, from which we can bulk restore and enrol Macs (over DEP). I take it others are already doing this, so I'm wondering if so, which Thunderbolt/USB-C hub have you been using, and what your overall experience with AC2 and Apple Silicon Macs has been?

Thanks!

[mainelysteve]

Eh? You can use AC2 to add an Apple Silicon Mac to ABM or ASM, but it's not necessarily a tool to use for mass enrollment of them. If these Macs don't need a manually created standard/admin user at the setup assistant just change your prestage to auto advance. You'll need a usb-c ethernet adapter for each machine to achieve this.

[jbisgett · Accepted solution]

For DFU restoring AS Macs using AC2, I would highly recommend the Cambrionix ThunderSync3 (https://www.cambrionix.com/products/thundersync3-16-rackmount-thunderbolt-usb-hub). It's pricey, but worth every penny. We have two of these, which you can link together, so you can mass restore a lot of devices at one time. It's a life saver for us right now, upgrading from BigSur to Monterey on our teacher refresh devices before enrollment. It's also great for DFU restoring iPads with AC2.

[JureJerebic]

Thanks, that's awesome! How many Macs can you restore at a time with one/two of these? Do you also enrol over this or just restore?

[TryingEverythi]

okay so i put the m1 mac in dfu mode. I have the thundersync3-16 that you provide the link for. how you connecting the the dfu mac to the cambrionix. Do you using male usb a to usb c adapter?

https://www.amazon.com/Female-Adapter-Charger-Airpods-Samsung/dp/B079LYHNSR/ref=sr_1_7_sspa?crid=382...

[jbisgett]

We've done about 30 at one time. We do not enroll using this method, we just restore. We let the prestage handle enrollment and configuration.

[MrRoboto]

30 at a time, wow that is awesome! On the host Mac you still need about 15 GB of free space for each connect target Mac. Do you have 1 TB storage on the host Mac?

[jbisgett]

I never really paid attention to that, but yea, we have a MacBook Pro with a 1TB hdd as the host machine.

[marcus_ransom]

can confirm the Thundersync is the way to go for doing this

[JureJerebic]

These are great instructions for iOS setups, but this thread is about Mac deployments with AC2 🙂

[mainelysteve]

AC2 can only configure and or enroll iPads. You can install/restore MacOS on Apple Silicon Macs, but enrollment isn't possible. Other than the provisioning utility for Thundersync that @jbisgett mentioned above your options for a USB type plug and go setup are fairly limited.

What's in your pre-stage? Are you asking for a user to be created?

[JureJerebic]

Just the jamf admin user, the rest is then set up during the Setup Assistant

[JureJerebic]

Question for you, @marcus_ransom and @jbisgett - when you restore several Macs at a time over Thundersync, did you notice a drop in time it takes to restore the Macs? When compared to restoring just one machine over the Apple Configurator Mac.

[marcus_ransom]

There is a minor overhead when restoring multiple machines, but not a huge amount. Definitely much faster than doing restores one at a time

[JureJerebic]

Awesome! I'm looking at the Thundersync but I can only see the USB outputs, I take it one has to use the USB to USB-C cable with it?

[MrRoboto]

Yes, you need to purchase USB-A to USB-C cables. Make sure they are USB 3 speed rated at 5gbps, some are only USB 2 speed at 480mbps.

[jbisgett]

Agreed, it may take a few minutes longer for multiple versus one, but not a huge difference. Really, barely noticeable, especially if you are using the time to get the next batch of devices ready. Yes, you do need USB to USB-C cables. They should be the USB 3.1 (to support the faster transfer speeds).

[rmckellar]

Cambrionix just came out with their 10-port USB-C hub (https://www.cambrionix.com/products/thundersync3-c10), so you should be able to use the charging cable that comes with the Mac.

[JureJerebic]

Cool! But it doesn't look like one can purchase it just yet, but just request a bulk quote?

[rmckellar]

@JureJerebic Yeah, that's what I did to get in touch with a sales rep before. They should be able to get you a quote then for just 1 or 2, or whatever you need.

[pivott_prosys]

@jbisgett AC can do 16 devices at one time. If you daisy-chain 2 Camrbonix  16 ports each, AC will pick randomly first 16 devices and preform restore, after that second set of 16. The same apply to iOS/iPadOS/macOS. For your next restore process, - select all, start restore and open Activity of AC . You will see progress, and you can actually count how many devices are being restore. I have 192 to stations, each mac has its own hub. I done have issues anymore like I had when I connected 2 or 3 together.