Screen Saver management in Mountain Lion.

[taugust04]

I apologize if I'm missing something obvious here, but I'm just digging into configuration profiles to replace managed preferences on 10.8 clients. Is there a way to create a configuration profile that manages the screen saver for users? There does not seem to be a profile setting available at the user domain level.

It looks to me that even in Mountain Lion, this is a .plist stored in the ByHosts folder. I have configured the screen saver I wish for the Login Window configuration profile, but I wasn't sure if this setting also trickles down for the user domain as well.

~Ted

[jarednichols]

Don't know if it helps you, but this may be a clue anyway...

I use MCXs for screensaver settings and I found in Mountain Lion I had to use the ByHosts config. Previously in all versions of the OS I was able to get away without needing to use ByHosts.

[taugust04]

Thanks for the reply Jared. I double-checked, and I did have the ByHost settings set in Managed Preferences for the default screen saver.

I think I might have figured this out. I use the "Computer Name" screen saver as the default system and user/byhost screen saver. It looks like in Mountain Lion, some elements of the "Computer Name" screen saver have changed.

The name of the screen saver module in the Preference Pane has been changed from "Computer Name" to "Messages".

Though the "Computer Name" screen saver remains in its historical directory in /System/Library/Frameworks/ScreenSaver.framework... it looks like Mountain Lion uses /System/Library/Screen Savers/FloatingMessage.saver instead.

I've duplicated my MCX settings, adjusted for the changes listed above, and scoped it to Mountain Lion clients only to see if the settings finally start sticking. I'll reply back when testing is done.

[cjatsbm]

I am having issues with this as well... Can't seem to set the Computer Name as the floating message in 10.8.
I tried with the Login Window Configuration Profile but it did not seem to alter the user's chosen screen saver.

[yellow]

Also having an issue, I was frustrated with not being able to use Computer Name and just "wrote" my own screen saver with Quartz Composer. However, no matter what I do, the ByHosts screen saver always reverts to Flurry. All other settings are honored and correct, but... Flurry.

Mac: Hey, we think you want to use Flurry!
Me: I don't want to use Flurry, I set it to Cube.
Mac: Awesome.. here's Flurry!
Me: NO, I WANT CUBE!
Mac: I bet! Enjoy Flurry!