Installing software onto remote computer fails, works fine when on local network (mounting distribution point fails)

[jlbrown]

I have policies for updating software scoped to smart computer groups. I use AutoPkgr, and things work fine if the Mac is on the office network.

My problem is that Macs at employees' homes try to execute the update but fail. The Distribution Point is on volume on a Drobo 5N NAS. We are a new Casper site, so struggling a bit, but getting better! This is the one thing that I can't get to work.

The remote computer's jamf.log looks like this:

Tue Feb 23 09:24:47 James MacBook Pro jamf[57455]: Executing Policy Office 2016 Update...
Tue Feb 23 10:00:13 James MacBook Pro jamf[60368]: Checking for policies triggered by "recurring check-in"...
Tue Feb 23 10:00:19 James MacBook Pro jamf[60368]: Executing Policy Install Latest OracleJava8...
Tue Feb 23 10:01:22 James MacBook Pro jamf[60368]: Executing Policy Office 2016 Update...
Tue Feb 23 10:29:16 James MacBook Pro jamf[63076]: Checking for policies triggered by "recurring check-in"...
Tue Feb 23 10:29:23 James MacBook Pro jamf[63076]: Executing Policy Install Latest OracleJava8...
Tue Feb 23 10:30:28 James MacBook Pro jamf[63076]: Executing Policy Office 2016 Update...

JSS is Mac OS X 10.11.3 Server, client is El Cap as well.

The client's JAMFApplications.log shows:

2016-02-13 00:25:10 <com.jamfsoftware.selfservice>: Adding Plugin: Intranet
2016-02-20 00:05:54 <com.jamfsoftware.selfservice>: Setting Self Service homepage URL...
2016-02-20 00:05:55 <com.jamfsoftware.selfservice>: Loading webpage "https://server.bordo.com.au:8443//selfservice2/index.html?en0=b8.e8.56.3c.27.7e&en1=72.00.00.6e.a0.30&uuid=9CD8221E-D646-522C-9753-B147973BFBDA&day=sat&clientHour=00&clientMinute=05&networkRequirements=Unknown&localUsername=myusername&ssVersion=9.81"

JAMFDebug.log is empty

When I look at the Policy logs it says:

Executing Policy Install Latest OracleJava8...
Mounting Drobo - CasperShare to /Volumes/CasperShare...
Error: Could not mount distribution point "Drobo - CasperShare".

So, I suppose this it the problem. Do I need to establish a VPN back to the office network to mount this network share?

Or should I setup port-forwarding for SMB to the share on the firewall? Or something else?

Any help would be most appreciated!

Thanks,

James.

[mpermann]

@jlbrown will your Drobo allow you to share the files via http? If you use an http distribution point you may have better luck and will gain resumable downloads to boot. Which is very useful when people are off network and the download gets interrupted for some reason.

[jlbrown]

Thanks mpermann. You can put Apache on it, so I'll do that.

Thanks,

James.

[jlbrown]

Actually, looks like you can't put Apache on a Drobo 5N. I think their web site is misleading. :-(

[jlbrown]

You can't put it on because it's already on!

Installed DropBear (ssh client) on it so I could log in to configure the Apache config files.

All good now.

[mpermann]

@jlbrown glad to hear you got it working.