Package being deployed to remote users Issue

[Matt_Ellis]

So i have a 500mb pkg file that creates a recovery partition. Im connecting to my internal network via our guest wifi and vpn to make it appear as if im one of our field users.

When i watch the activity monitor and force a jamf policy update. It downloads instead of 500mb 1gb of data before running the package on the system. no other policy i have at check in should be downloading / installing anything. is this a normal behavior?

[mm2270 · Accepted solution]

That might be because of checksumming. It has to checksum verify the package while still up on the server, which is equivalent to downloading the package, and then it actually downloads the package.

See this FR and thread for more info:
https://jamfnation.jamfsoftware.com/featureRequest.html?id=3868
https://jamfnation.jamfsoftware.com/discussion.html?id=15285
And yes, this is quite dumb how it operates if that's what you're thinking. Package should download to the Mac and THEN do the checksum, not the other way around. I can't imagine it can't be done this way. Also just noting that the FR above has not been labeled as even Under Review at this stage, which is concerning to say the least. It makes me think it won't be possible to change the behavior.

[Matt_Ellis]

I think you are correct, for testing purposes i turned off Package validation on my JSS and will run another test. ill post the results shortly. Im assuming the checksumming is like when a DMG mounts and it verifiys it on OS X?

[mm2270]

Its something like that yes. Do post back on your results. From the sound of what you described. I'm willing to bet this is what it is.

[Matt_Ellis]

Well it did help at least a bit turning that off, only saved a few hundred megs. but any bit will help my field users. Thanks for the help on this one. hopefully we can get that feature request in a upcoming version

[bentoms]

@Matt.Ellis HTTP/S downloads might help too as those downloads are resumable.

(I'm guessing you're doing that for remote users, but wanted to put that out there just in case).