Why InstaDMG over Composer (was New Mac Mini)

[stevewood]

Well, for me there are a couple reasons. First, it's just old habit. I
On Wed, Aug 25, 2010 at 3:30 PM, Weber, Jason <jason.weber at district196.org>wrote:
used ID at my last location when I was using NetRestore to image machines.

Second, I like that I can drop a DVD into a machine, run a few Terminal
commands, and an hour later I have an image I can drop into Casper Admin. With Composer I have to setup the machine the way I want, then boot off of
another device (or NetBoot) to run Composer, have Composer grab the OS, and
finally drop into Casper Admin. It's also nice because ID will grab all of
the current updates and roll them into the image for you. Can do any
configuration changes via scripts after imaging.

And finally, third, even though this doesn't use Composer, dropping a DVD
image into Casper Admin and checking it as an Apple Installer doesn't work
for me either, only because you cannot build a compiled config using this
method.

So, for me, those are the reasons I use ID.

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

[tlarkin]

Simple. You literally run 2 scripts, and that is it. Done. They
maintain an up-to-date catalog file, and there are some bugs with the
new Apple flat packages. InstaDMG literally allows me to run a command
and walk away from my computer. When it finished I run the last python
script and it updates my OS to the newest build.

Then I can toss it into Casper Admin and compile it with all my
composer packages.

[ImAMacGuy]

I've just started using instaDMG in the last month or two... it has a
higher learning curve to get the most out of it, (and some 'bugs' in
10.5 images, but the support community is great!) But it allows you to
pump out a basic image day 1 using a short quick start guide included in
the package (or a more in depth one available online)

instaDMG lets you create a more modular design (separate pkg for OS,
Applications, Scripts, etc)... whereas Casper has you doing a monolithic
design (one all encompassing image).

The theory behind this is the OS updates, 10.6.5 lets say... why do you
want to wipe a system and pull down 10.6.5 and all the patches and
updates and reload the applications, accounts, ARD, proxy, user
accounts, etc to create a new monolithic image that can be 15+ gig and
push that through the wire? Wouldn't it be faster and easier to just
run a script and change the base OS, and leave the rest of it untouched,
then let Casper push down the individual packages via workflow?

InstaDMG basically creates a fresh install every time you load it on a
machine. Casper you're loading a copy of an existing image from another
(could be completely different hardware) machine.

We started running into problems using Casper's method with systems
becoming unstable after being built, particularly in the older equipment
that worked fine using older images, those problems have gone away since
we started using instaDMG.

John Wojda

Lead System Engineer, CTS

3333 Beverly Rd. B2-338B

Hoffman Estates, IL 60179

Phone: (847)286-7855

SMS / Text Page: 2245873298
<mailto:12245873298 at messaging.sprintpcs.com>

Team Lead: Chris Sta Ana
<mailto:cstaana at searshc.com;jwojda at searshc.com?subject=John%20Wojda%20Fe
edback&body=I%20am%20contacting%20you%20regarding%20John%20Wojda.>

[talkingmoose]

Just thought I'd point this out about Casper (this is what I'm doing).
On 8/25/10 4:15 PM, "Wojda, John" <John.Wojda at searshc.com> wrote:

You can still create just a fully patched OS image using Casper Admin's
Compile feature and then use that compiled image as your Mac OS (priority
1) package for any other configuration.

I have my Mac OS DVD .dmg file along with the latest 10.6.x combo update,
security patches, Java updates and anything else I could normally get
through SoftwareUpdate all put into one configuration. IIRC, I couldn't
use InstaDMG's feature to download everything else for me because of our
proxy.

I Compile this configuration using Casper Admin and when it's done the new
fully patched Mac OS .dmg will appear in /Casper
Volume/Packages/CompiledConfigurations.

I move that back into the Packages area where I can make that a part of
any other configuration I like. This gives me the advantage of a block
copy for the largest package I have plus keeps me from having to compile
monolithic images that includes apps, scripts, etc.

--

William Smith
Technical Analyst
Merrill Communications LLC
(651) 632-1492

[ktrampe]

Can't you do the exact same thing with composer? I use composer and I do not use the "monolithic" approach. I just drag pkg files into composer and... bango.

Sorry for jumping in, I haven't read this entire thread, so please forgive me if I'm a jerk/wrong. :)

Cheers,
Kerry

[stevewood]

You're right Kerry, except I think maybe you mean you can drop the pkg files
On Thu, Aug 26, 2010 at 8:16 AM, Kerry Trampe <ktrampe at basd.k12.wi.us>wrote:
into Casper Admin. You can create a layered imaging approach instead of
monolithic with Casper Admin and the JSS in a couple of ways:

1) You could just create your config and not compile it in Casper Admin. By doing that each piece of software is added by itself and not rolled into
the OS image. Doing so means a longer imaging time, but it also means you
don't have to re-compile if you update an application package.

2) You could also create a policy in the JSS to install all applications
and have that set to a custom trigger, or perhaps to occur on logout scoped
to a Smart Group. If using the custom trigger, you could call that trigger
from a Post Imaging script. If using the logout method, it means you'd have
to touch the machines, but you could have Imaging set the name of the
computer with a prefix, create a Smart Group to look for that prefix, then
the policy triggers against those machines.

Different ways to skin the same cat. :-)

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

[tlarkin]

Casper 7 has the same features almost because it uses instaDMG to build
compiled configurations. The problem is, that the whole flat package
thing came out with 10.6 and it borked compiling a configuration. Also,
Casper does lack one feature. That is the auto update. InstaDMG has a
set of python scripts with a software update catalog in it. Which is
maintained by the afp548 dudes and the people who help them with their
project. So, if I have a 10.6.0 DVD I just run one simple python script
and that DVD gets an image made from it, then all the updates from apple
get downloaded and then spliced into my 10.6.0 image to make a pristine
10.6.4 base OS image.

As far as it being more modular, I think that is just a matter of
preference and opinion. I really have a very hard time finding things
Casper cannot do. It just may not be the same method as other products,
but Casper provides you the tools to pretty much do anything you are
capable of.

[Cem]

I am also surprise no one mentioned Apple's SIU (System Image Utility). After I have realised you can not create custom base OS image in Casper Admin using Apple OS installer. I have been testing and comparing ID (InstaDMG) vs SIU.

I think SIU is great as the GUI works and delivers what ID can do (apart from software updates needs to be added manually, but I had to do the same for latest iMaci3 with ID). Also supported by Apple.

I have find this web site very useful;

http://wiki.cmich.edu/groups/imaging/wiki/751d7/Creating_an_imaging_workflow.html

I hope this helps

Cem

[ImAMacGuy]

I just did our new mini image this week, I just had to add 1 item to the
catalog file and it updated it, though I did need to redo the NBI and
the base OS.

John Wojda
Lead System Engineer, CTS
3333 Beverly Rd. B2-338B
Hoffman Estates, IL 60179
Phone: (847)286-7855
SMS / Text Page: 2245873298
Team Lead: Chris Sta Ana

[tlarkin]

If you block copy, you don't need it. I use my instaDMG image and compile it with all my base apps and then just use an ASR script to block copy it to the client. Works like a champ.