Default Desktops

[golbiga]

We just implemented Casper and we're in the process of building our new images. In the past I used to get a new machine and just build an image off that machine and then ASR it. Now I'm trying to go the whole InstaDMG way of imaging. I'm having an issue when it comes to desktop patterns for my various accounts (User/IT Admin/Root). I know I can force MCX to set the default desktop with com.apple.desktop. However, that applies to all accounts. I've tried using Composer and taking a snapshot of the Desktop Pattern, but thats also been iffy. Any thoughts out there as to the best way to get this working? I know that this could possibly be done with a script, but I just need some direction.

Thanks
Allen Golbig

[jarednichols]

You could create a policy that pushes down the desktop pattern setting based
on login user

j

[Bukira]

it should be per machine and not user, unless u want a different picture per user

call it Aqua Blue.jpg etc and it will replace the default on,

or apply All desktop pictures and then per user install a preference file depending on which image you want as default

Criss Myers
Senior Customer Support Analyst (Mac Services)
iPhone Developer
Apple Certified Technical Coordinator v10.5
LIS Development Team
Adelphi Building AB28
University of Central Lancashire
Preston PR1 2HE
Ex 5054
01772 895054

[golbiga]

This is all begs the question. Would it just be easier for me to go with network accounts instead of local accounts. I know this is going off topic a bit, but its definitely related. We have the ability to bind our macs to AD, we've just always put it off. It seems like any network bound mac might be easier to manage than a local machine. Especially since we can granularly manage the machines down to the user (if we need to do exceptions, etc). For the case of the desktops, I could have two separate com.apple.desktop mcx one that is good for all users but our admin group in AD and the other only good for the Admin group.

On May 18, 2010, at 7:40 AM, Criss Myers wrote:

it should be per machine and not user, unless u want a different picture per user

call it Aqua Blue.jpg etc and it will replace the default on,

or apply All desktop pictures and then per user install a preference file depending on which image you want as default

Criss Myers
Senior Customer Support Analyst (Mac Services)
iPhone Developer
Apple Certified Technical Coordinator v10.5
LIS Development Team
Adelphi Building AB28
University of Central Lancashire
Preston PR1 2HE
Ex 5054
01772 895054

[Bukira]

id go network accounts always, using AD and OD

Criss

Criss Myers
Senior Customer Support Analyst (Mac Services)
iPhone Developer
Apple Certified Technical Coordinator v10.5
LIS Development Team
Adelphi Building AB28
University of Central Lancashire
Preston PR1 2HE
Ex 5054
01772 895054

[golbiga]

Wouldn't AD and MCX from Casper be just fine? What are the advantages of having both AD & OD?

On May 18, 2010, at 8:44 AM, Criss Myers wrote:

id go network accounts always, using AD and OD

Criss

Criss Myers
Senior Customer Support Analyst (Mac Services)
iPhone Developer
Apple Certified Technical Coordinator v10.5
LIS Development Team
Adelphi Building AB28
University of Central Lancashire
Preston PR1 2HE
Ex 5054
01772 895054

[tlarkin]

I had written a response earlier with a log in script that applied the proper background via custom trigger policies and thought to myself that it would cause some issues down the road so I canceled the email. The best way to do this in my opinion is OD Users/Groups. Since your local accounts will not be part of the OD group, they will not be touched. You can use MCX to apply your defaults and be done with it.

[Bukira]

Well i prefer OD MCX over Casper, but Casper would do too

Criss Myers
Senior Customer Support Analyst (Mac Services)
iPhone Developer
Apple Certified Technical Coordinator v10.5
LIS Development Team
Adelphi Building AB28
University of Central Lancashire
Preston PR1 2HE
Ex 5054
01772 895054

[tlarkin]

you can have OD users, OD groups and OD computers. You can granulate MCX locally as such (with Casper), but it would require you to create local groups on each computer, which would be annoying so to speak. In OD it is centralized, you import it once and replicate it out and be done with it.

--missing content--

opinion.

[jarednichols]

We’re doing AD with Casper MCX instead of a true OD.

j

On 5/18/10 8:51 AM, "Criss Myers" <CMyers at uclan.ac.uk> wrote:

Well i prefer OD MCX over Casper, but Casper would do too

Criss Myers

Senior Customer Support Analyst (Mac Services)

iPhone Developer

Apple Certified Technical Coordinator v10.5

LIS Development Team

Adelphi Building AB28

University of Central Lancashire

Preston PR1 2HE

Ex 5054

01772 895054

[milesleacy]

Hi All,

I'm not sure if this has been pointed out, but Casper Suite-delivered Managed Preferences are scoped, like a policy.

If you're using an external directory service (AD, OD, etc.), you can scope based on directory groups.

Both methods are centralized, and assuming you don't change your managed preference choices, they're both "set it and forget it".

I'm not advocating one method over another, since each environment and set of requirements is different. I just want to make sure that those who are making decisions about how to manage preferences are working with all of the needed information.

To go back to the original question, my advice would probably be to build a package that places all of your desktop image choices in /Library/yourOrganizationName/DesktopPictures/, then use MCX to set the background for each user.

I hope this helps.

Thanks,

--
Miles Leacy
Technical Training Manager
Mobile (347) 277-7321

miles at jamfsoftware.com<mailto:miles at jamfsoftware.com>
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