Casper Imaging Questions

My quick thoughts:
1. That sounds about right...not just you.
2. The App doesn't have a reboot option....if you are netbooted just quit the app and reboot the OS
3. I don't think so...I always quit and re-launch Casper Imaging.
4. Yes
5. I'd like to know as well...we don't currently use them. I don't think the erase command actually changes the volumes, it just erases the contents. So my guess is it would be able to image a working fusion drive, but not be able to fix a broken one.

5: Depending on how Casper deals with disappearing and reappearing volumes this is may be scriptable, if you select a Before script the schedule shows it will run before the OS installation. I actually need to deal with this exact issue and this is how I was intending to try and do it.

If you're coming from DeployStudio there are definitely a few things that could be improved in Casper Imaging. It's main strength is being able to see the contents of large imaging configurations. DeployStudio admin can be clunky when you have more than 5-6 items in a workflow but as Casper Imaging lists them in the side bar it's much clearer.

We've used DS for years and Netrestore, and in recent years Casper Imaging. With 10.11, we're moving to a DEP / thin workflow with policies, finally letting go of imaging.

For what it's worth here is an incredibly destructive reformat and rebuild fusion drive script that appears to work when placed at the start of a Casper Imaging workflow...

USE WITH EXTREME CAUTION AS IT WILL DELETE BASICALLY EVERYTHING IT FINDS

There are a few things to know.
It won't run booted from an internal drive (USB or NBI only).
It renames the drive to Macintosh HD and if the drive doesn't start named Macintosh HD it will probably fail, mainly because I couldn't be bothered looking for the existing name first
I only wrote today so there may be bugs
It completely reformats the first internal SSD and first internal none SSD it finds so ALL data and partitioning is removed

#!/bin/bash
#Sam Look November 2015, all care and no responsibility, this sucker will blitz everything so watch out

##### SUBROUTINES START HERE #####

Get_First_HDD(){
echo Starting search for HDD
for The_Disk in $(diskutil list | awk '/internal/ && /physical/ {print $1}'); do
echo Checking $The_Disk
if [[ ! "$The_HDD" ]] && [[ "$(diskutil info $The_Disk | awk '/Solid State/ && /No/')" ]]; then
The_HDD=$The_Disk
echo HDD found at $The_HDD
break
fi
done
}

#####

Get_First_SSD(){
echo Starting search for SSD
for The_Disk in $(diskutil list | awk '/internal/ && /physical/ {print $1}'); do
echo Checking $The_Disk
if [[ ! "$The_SSD" ]] && [[ "$(diskutil info $The_Disk | awk '/Solid State/ && /Yes/')" ]]; then
The_SSD=$The_Disk
echo SSD found at $The_SSD
break
fi
done
}

#####

Remove_Existing_Fusion(){
CS_Group=$(diskutil cs list | awk '/-- Logical Volume Group / {print $NF}')
if [[ "$CS_Group" ]]; then
echo Removing CS group detected at $CS_Group
diskutil cs delete $CS_Group
sleep 2
else
echo No CS group detected
fi
CS_Group=$(diskutil cs list | awk '/-- Logical Volume Group / {print $NF}')
}

#####

External_Boot(){
if [[ "$(diskutil info / | awk '/Device Location/ && /Internal/')" ]]; then
return 1
else
return 0
fi
}

#####

Create_New_Fusion(){
diskutil partitionDisk $The_HDD 1 GPTFormat jhfs+ "HDD Fusion" 0
diskutil partitionDisk $The_SSD 1 GPTFormat jhfs+ "SSD Fusion" 0
diskutil cs create fusion $The_SSD $The_HDD
sleep 2
CS_Group=$(diskutil cs list | awk '/-- Logical Volume Group / {print $NF}')
sleep 2
diskutil cs createVolume $CS_Group jhfs+ "Macintosh HD" 0
}

##### MAIN PROGRAM STARTS HERE #####

if External_Boot; then
Get_First_HDD
Get_First_SSD

    if [[ "$The_SSD" ]] && [[ "$The_HDD" ]]; then
    echo Drives required for fusion detected
    Remove_Existing_Fusion

        if [[ ! "$CS_Group" ]]; then
        Create_New_Fusion
        else
        echo Cannot create fusion as previous CS group cannot be removed
        fi

    else
    echo Invalid drives for fusion detected
    fi

else
echo This script cannot be run while booted off the internal drive
fi

##### FIN #####

Just to clear up some answers:
2. You can reboot by choosing "Boot to target drive after imaging". This is works if you're netbooted though. Not something you want if you are using target mode imaging. 3. There is a refresh button in the top left corner that lets you refresh so that it pulls the latest info from the JSS. You can not change things up after imaging has begun (nor do I believe DeployStudio allows this either).
4. JAMF is aware of this: https://jamfnation.jamfsoftware.com/featureRequest.html?id=907 But it has honestly been too long and one almost gets the feeling this is not nearly a priority for them as other feature requests. We now have Retina iMacs, MacBook, and MacBook Pro. The only one missing there is the MacBook Air.

Some of your questions depend on how you setup your netboot image. Setting up Deploy Studio's .nbi and Casper's is rather different. To be specific, Deploy Studio fully configureds the .nbi for you so you get what you get (or at least, that's what I remember of it). With casper you have to make one or use a utility to create a .nbi to run Casper Imaging from. So, the utility and the .nbi are quite seperate entities. This could be considered a hassle or a huge benefit, as you can customize the .nbi to your hearts content (as I do).

While I had preferred to make my own forever I've shifted to using both AutoCasperNBI or Casper Net Install Image Creator. These will both make your .nbi's in an automated fashion. Casper NetInstall Image Creator's .nbi is a little more similar to DelopyStuio .nbi's as they are completely stripped down OSs with little in the way of the Imaging app. With AutoCasperNBI you get the full OS and can use ALL of the GUI features you expect. I tend to load other utilities in there as well so I can use that .nbi for other diagnostic purposes.

That said, there are a HUGE number of feature requests regarding Casper Imaging and i'm sure it's going to get some sort of updates soon. That said, I've been in EXACTLY your boat about 5-6 years ago. Personally, I'm loving Casper Imaging.

P.S> Just in case. You can reboot from the normal drop down menu under the "Apple" logo in the upper left hand corner of the screen. It's also worth really going through both AutoCasperNBI and Casper NetInstall Image Creator to see what they're about.

Thanks @Chris_Hafner

Im getting used to Casper Imaging and AutoCasperNBI now. I must say that I dont hate them now. Time heals all wounds.

While Id prefer a super lean 'n mean NetInstall set, I cant use Casper Net InstallImage Creator, because I use SMB repository mounts from my JDS's. As I understand it, Casper NetInstall Image Creator currently only suppoerts AFP volumes. That being said, I'm using AutoCasperNBI. While much slower and more "bloated", I do appreciate the ability to install diagnostic utilities and NBI customization/curation. It is certainly a trade-off.

Im pretty sure I will replace DeployStuido with Casper Imaging soon. Its growing on me. I can certainly see DEP replacing traditional modualr imaging altogether in the coming years.

Good point. Since I continue to use AFP with both I had never contemplated the lack of SMB support on the CNIIC product. Sounds like a good feature request with the way the world is heading (SMB...).