Display message at login window

[aamjohns]

Hello,
I've searched the forum and it appears others are having success with this while I am not. I would like to display a message upon startup, but before anyone has logged on. When our techs image a system, upon reboot, many apps get installed. I would like to popup a message so they can see something is happening. I can make this work while an account is logged on, just not at the login window.

I would like to use jamfHelper as it presents the most options but I cannot get that or displayMessage to show up. The scripts run and return exit code 0. I just never see anything.

Any suggestions?

[daz_wallace]

Outside of JAMF tools, I've had success using an Application called Big Honking Text.

[aamjohns]

Cool. I am going to test it out. Thank you.

[JRM]

I use a LaunchAgent

I have a package that deploys to /Library/LaunchAgents a com.LoginMessage.plist

Contents of /Library/LaunchAgents/com.LoginMessage.plist

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>com.LoginMessage</string>
    <key>RunAtLoad</key>
    <true/>
    <key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
    <string>LoginWindow</string>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
        <string>/Library/Application Support/JAMF/bin/jamfHelper.app/Contents/MacOS/jamfHelper</string>
        <string>-windowType</string>
        <string>fs</string>
        <string>-title</string>
        <string>"Updating"</string>
        <string>-description</string>
        <string>"This Mac is being updated. Do not interrupt or power off."</string>
        <string>-icon</string>
        <string>"/System/Library/CoreServices/Software Update.app/Contents/Resources/Software Update.icns"</string>
    </array>
</dict>
</plist>

This plist displays the message "This Mac is being updated. Do not interrupt or power off." with the software update icon located at: "/System/Library/CoreServices/Software Update.app/Contents/Resources/Software Update.icns"

You can use a policy to push this out, or include it in your imaging config. The next time the computer boots it will run the launch agent.

At the end of the work to be done, have it remove the launch agent by deletion of the file or un-install via another policy.

Also be sure the file rights are set correctly on the file.
User: rw-
Group: r--
Other: r--

sudo chmod 644 /Library/LaunchAgents/com.LoginMessage.plist

Owner: root
Group: wheel

sudo chown root:wheel /Library/LaunchAgents/com.LoginMessage.plist