New Mac mini

[golbiga]

For those that have imaged the new Mac Mini, what method are you using? For my regular image I started using InstaDMG, but that wont work on this machine since it's a 10.6.4 build that is different from everything else. Just sits at a spinning pinwheel. I'm about to try the Casper Admin Modular image method, but I've never had much luck with it. From what I'm hearing the new Mini, iMac and Mac Pros will all need separate images? Or do you think that building a main one off of the new Mac Pro will work on all since it's the newest machine? Oh wait that wont work with InstaDMG yet, at least not till 10.6.5.

Thanks
Allen Golbig

[#2]

If you use the latest Universal 10.6.4 OS installer the Image will be
compatible with all other platforms other then the i3,i5,i7 platform.

-- Grant Lutz

[stevewood]

I'm interested in why you think you cannot build the image with InstaDMG?
On Wed, Aug 25, 2010 at 8:00 AM, <GolbigA at mskcc.org> wrote: ID should be able to build the image since it ID does not care about
platform or image file, for the most part. ID just cares that there is an
image of an OS X Install disc and that the image of the OS X Install disc is
named properly. Other than that, it will create your OS image all day long.

Now, in order for it to work properly on the i3/i5/i7 devices, and probably
on the MacMini, you have to do everything on that machine. By this I mean
that you CANNOT boot the i3/i5/i7/MacMini in Target Disk mode and connect to
your MacBook Pro to build the image. No, you have to run InstaDMG on that
i3/i5/i7/MacMini, add that InstaDMG image that was output to Casper Admin
from that i3/i5/i7/MacMini, and if you are compiling configs, do the
compiling on that i3/i5/i7/MacMini.

To your first question, or comment, yes, until 10.6.5 is released you will
need to maintain an OS image file for the MacMini and an OS image file for
everything else. Now, you should be able to use the OS image file you
create from the MacMini for every other device on your network, but your
mileage may vary in that. I have always been of the mindset that you create
an OS image from the highest (newest) piece of hardware you have for a
particular class of machines. So, for laptops I would have one OS image
built off the newest machine I had, and for desktops another OS image file
created off the newest and highest (MacPro) desktop machine I had. I have
had very few problems with my machines when following this mantra.

To your specific situation, this is how I would create a new OS image file
for use in Casper Admin:

1) Install the OS on the MacMini and run through the standard configuration
setup stuff. No need to run Software Update or to get too heavy into
customization, just get the machine up and running with the OS.

2) Open a Terminal window on that MacMini and navigate to your Desktop
folder. Now enter this into the Terminal to download the latest version of
InstaDMG to your desktop:

svn checkout http://instadmg.googlecode.com/svn/trunk instadmg

3) Insert the DVD that came with the MacMini into the drive and enter this
into the Terminal window:

sudo ./instadmg/AddOns/InstaUp2Date/importDisk.py --automatic --legacy

4) After about 45 minutes or so you'll have the proper DVD image in the
InstaDMG folder strcuture. Now enter this:

sudo ./instadmg/AddOns/InstaUp2Date/instaUp2Date.py 10.6_vanilla --process

5) After that process finishes, you now have an OS image file in
./instadmg/OutputFiles that can be added to Casper Admin. Rename this image
file whatever you want.

6) Fire up Casper Admin on the MacMini and drop that new OS image file into
Casper Admin.

7) Optional: drop the OS image file into whatever config you want to use
and then click Compile (I do this part logged in as 'root')

You should now have a configuration that will install on the MacMini and
should install on any other older platform in your shop.

One other note, you'll want to update your NBI if you use the ResourceKit to
build a Casper Imaging NBI, otherwise you'll get funky results. And again,
if you do that, do it all on the MacMini.

Hope that helps.

Steve Wood

Director of IT

swood at integer.com

The Integer Group | 1999 Bryan St. | Ste. 1700 | Dallas, TX 75201

T 214.758.6813 | F 214.758.6901 | C 940.312.2475

[golbiga]

Steve,

Since the mini has a different 10.6.4 installer, the vanilla wont work unless I change the catalog file. I haven't have much luck with that. Just sits at a spinning pinwheel. I'm going to try again this morning.

Thanks
Allen

[#5]

...I'm interested as to why so many people are using InstaDMG to build there
bases, even though they obviously have purchased the Casper Suite?

I have built a new Mac Mini base, that has worked with all our new models so
far this summer using Composer and things are working with no issues..
(knock on wood) I'm just curious as to why people are using InstaDMG over
Composer in the first place?

I must say, using the JAMF Composer tool with the rest of the JAMF suite
works quite well... Just my $.02

-- Jason Weber
Technology Support Cluster Specialist
Independent School District 196
jason.weber at district196.org
(651)-423-7974

[#6]

[mailto:casper-bounces at list.jamfsoftware.com] On Behalf Of Weber, Jason
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 3:31 PM
To: Casper List
Subject: Re: [Casper] New Mac mini

..I'm interested as to why so many people are using InstaDMG to build
there bases, even though they obviously have purchased the Casper Suite?

I have built a new Mac Mini base, that has worked with all our new
models so far this summer using Composer and things are working with no
issues.. (knock on wood) I'm just curious as to why people are using
InstaDMG over Composer in the first place?

I must say, using the JAMF Composer tool with the rest of the JAMF suite
works quite well... Just my $.02

Uh, cause it's the bomb diggity!!!! : )

Everyone pretty much covered why. I've been using it since it was
released and it's always been a lifesaver. I can produce images with as
many tweaks and tunes as I want to make packages for. Spin one up test
it and then do it again and again and again all in the same work day. I
can't say enough great things.

- JD

[donmontalvo]

+1

The JAMF tools are nice, but I still use InstaDMG, Iceberg, logGen/pkgGen...

Don