Imaging Size Limit?

[musat]

Hello,
We are having an odd issue (for us) with our 10.10 and 10.11 images. We have started creating the base OS DMG using AutoDMG, but so far have run into issues. Our image Configuration uses that as the base and then installs many packages on top. We have tried adding in GarageBand and all of the associated packages (sounds, loops, and lessons.)

However, every time we add those files into the Configuration the image process goes about 1/2 way through the package list (the exact point is not consistent) and then just starts to quickly step past each item in the list. Because not all packages get installed (and none of the post-boot items get installed), when the Mac reboots it just looks like a system out of the box, asking for the language to use. If we remove GarageBand from the list, everything images fine.

We can then use all of those same GarageBand packages to install GarageBand using our Self Service Policy we have created. But leaving this up to students at the schools then puts all of that GarageBand traffic (over 10GB) over WiFi since we don't have enough network dongles to distribute out to the schools.

I guess I am wondering what might be causing this issue.

In a probably related issue, our 10.11 image frequently reboots and just sits at the "Temporary Adobe Login" desktop, without displaying the black "Casper is finishing the Install Process" message. We were able to make this more reliable in our Yosemite image by removing a few larger items. So both of these issues seem to be size related.

I just upgraded the JSS to 9.82, but am still using Imaging 9.81. I will be updating our netboot image today, so maybe that will resolve everything, but I though I would put this out there in case there was something size related.

[GabeShack]

Check out this thread:
https://jamfnation.jamfsoftware.com/discussion.html?id=14594

Gabe Shackney
Princeton Public Schools

[mpermann]

@musat if your JSS is 9.82 you need to use Casper Imaging 9.82 otherwise you will have weird issues. I'm using 9.82 and we put down all the iLife/iWork apps without any issues. The only thing that gets put on the drive before first boot is the OS. Everything else is being installed from the temporary Adobe Install account. I'd first suggest you get your Casper Imaging version to match your server version and if that doesn't fix it try using the "Install at first boot option" on your packages to see if that helps.

[musat]

Updating the Imaging version didn't help with the issues, but it looks like changing all of our large packages (anything over 50MB) to "Install at First Boot" does seem to help the issue. Looking at that GarageBand thread (one of the few GarageBand threads I hadn't seen), this seems to be something that some people are doing for almost all of their packages. And it seemed to help.

Thanks for the tips.

[bentoms]

@musat are you using JDS's?