[FEATURE REQUEST] Way to export configurations...and way to provide read-only access

[donmontalvo]

We're scrambling to "refresh" several hundred Macs in one of the environments we're responsible for. As we're creating packages along the way, the folks responsible for the refreshes ask for regular updates (what's in the Casper Admin configuration). Currently there's no way to export the configuration contents, as a list. So we're sending screenshots (not very elegant).

Can we get a button to export-to-csv so we can send the configuration list to the folks handling the refresh?

For bonus points, ability to provide folks with read-only access to the configurations page so the analysts can get the info themselves would be great.

JSS > Management > Casper Admin

PS, I'm BCC'ing the JAMF folks...

Thanks,
Don

[talkingmoose]

It's not as elegant as a button but it's easier than a screen shot:
On 3/24/11 2:27 PM, "Don Montalvo" <donmontalvo at gmail.com> wrote:

Using Casper Admin, select the items in your configuration and copy/paste
wherever you need. I prefer to paste into Excel to remove the extra
columns.

--

William Smith
Technical Analyst
Merrill Communications LLC
(651) 632-1492

[lance_ogletree]

There's a feature in the JSS under Settings>General Settings>Summary
in which you can print out a summer of Casper Admin.

This would be a good location for what is being requested.
Including a section for Configurations and listing their contents would get you what you want.

I'll send in the "me too" on this request as well. Would come in handy from a DR perspective if everything had to be reconstructed by hand.

--
Lance Ogletree
JAMF Software
Systems Engineer
Mobile: (972) 342-5990
Direct: (972) 547-9566
lance.ogletree at jamfsoftware.com<mailto:lance.ogletree at jamfsoftware.com>

[jarednichols]

As the API appears to not provide this facility, smells like a SQL query.

j
--
Jared F. Nichols
Desktop Engineer, Client Services
Information Services Department
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
244 Wood Street
Lexington, Massachusetts 02420
781.981.5436

[donmontalvo]

A matrix would be fine, the thing is the analysts need to get the list in Excel. Currently no way to get it there without tons of editing (happens daily for about a dozen analysts), plus since we can't give them access, we have to do the work for them. :)

[donmontalvo]

William, Lance, Jared,

Thanks, we tried copy/paste from the configuration window, but doesn't come in to Excel properly. Didn't know about the Summary tip, but same problem, doesn't come into Excel properly...in each case needing a lot of manual editing to get it into Excel as line items.

The goal is to have each item that exists in JSS, with a column showing which is enabled per configuration. Also, if we could provide this data mining access to folks without giving them access to the Casper Admin and Settings tabs, unless we could give read-only access, that would be great.

Thanks,
Don

[jarednichols]

So I take it you want a matrix. Down the left the JSS item name and across
the top the configuration names. In your grid you have it ticked off as to
what configurations each JSS item is assigned to?
-- Jared F. Nichols
Desktop Engineer, Client Services
Information Services Department
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
244 Wood Street
Lexington, Massachusetts 02420
781.981.5436

[jarednichols]

I'm just trying to understand what you're trying to accomplish and if it's
doable with a SQL query. The easiest angle on the SQL query is to list
the name of the configuration and all packages (etc) attached to it. You
could then use something like MySQL Workbench to export a CSV and pull it
into Excel. Using filters you could get a pretty easy to read output.

If it were me, I'd be experimenting with SQL queries. Jamf's made the SQL
database super easy to understand. A query like this will be rather long
(and involve lots of linking tables that are in the database) but it
wouldn't take all that much to pump out.

J -- Jared F. Nichols
Desktop Engineer, Client Services
Information Services Department
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
244 Wood Street
Lexington, Massachusetts 02420
781.981.5436

[donmontalvo]

Hi Jared,

I wish we had a MySQL resource or someone with time (and desire) to tackle
this. In the past we had solutions that required us to ssh in and get down
and dirty with MySQL. Xinet FullPress comes to mind, although the engineers
at IO Integration had to hold our hands until we got familiar - and even
then we got cold chills whenever we had to go there...<shudder>...

Hmmm....with JAMF releasing API's, I wonder how long before we start seeing
useful tools like this in the App Store.... :)

Thanks,
Don

[jarednichols]

"I wish we had a MySQL resource or someone with time (and desire) to tackle this."

My rate is $200 an hour :)

RE the API thing... currently a "tool like this" doesn't exist in the App Store because the API doesn't provide a facility like this (yet?). Thus the need to go directly at the DB. Trust me, if it did, you'd be using my tool right now. All of the pieces are there in the API (scripts, packages, dock items, etc) but not the configurations themselves. Looking at what's currently in the API, it looks like it's the 80% of the features people want. We're waiting for the extra 20%

j

[donmontalvo]

Hi Jared,

I'm sure you would do an excellent job, but I think our firm has one or three MySQL DBAs on staff. ;)

Whenever we need to add functionality to an existing piece of infrastructure, we generally request this from the provider (so they can support, etc.). I wonder if JAMF plan to start offering custom apps that can do these kinds of things? Nothing in the Resource Kit. Hmm...lemme check App Store...

Thanks,
Don