Learn how to build your Mac image from the ground up. Create a default user template, clean up the file structure, and utilize shell scripting for optimal automated customization. Learn more:

1. Dell World User Forum
UFIL507: K2000 Mac Imaging
Mike Pace, Training Lead
Patrick Warme, Senior Support Engineer
Dell World
User Forum

2. Dell World User Forum
Agenda
• Mac Imaging Overview
• Netboot Basics
• Image Configuration
• How to Netboot
• Application Deployment
• Image Capture and Deployment
• Best Practices

3. Dell World User Forum
Mac Imaging
Overview

4. Dell World User Forum
How does Mac imaging work?
• Macintosh computers use bootstrap protocol (bootp) and netboot environments to
capture/deploy system images independent of client hardware.
• A netboot environment is created from OS X installation media or installer app from the App
Store. Only one netboot environment is needed to netboot different Mac models.

5. Dell World User Forum
Netboot, Subnets, and You
Netboot across subnets requires bootpd relays. Various methods include:
• RSA on individual subnets
• Bless command
• IP-helpers at the routing level

6. Dell World User Forum
Customizing Mac Deployments
Pre and Postinstall tasks operate in a similar fashion compared to Windows. HDD partition tasks,
software deployment, and OS X customization shell scripts are some of the supported features.
Unlike Windows, there is no sysprep tool for Macs but there are a few best practices for preparing
a Mac gold master system image.

7. Dell World User Forum
Netboot Basics

8. Dell World User Forum
Netboot Environment
• A netboot image is a hardware independent operating system that allows hard drive capture
and deployment over the network. One netboot environment contains drivers for multiple
Intel Mac hardware configurations.
• The netboot environment also supports network connectivity to the K2000’s Samba shares
along with network mapping capabilities. Additionally, KACE has provided the OS X
troubleshooting tools for use in the netboot environment.
• Build the netboot environment on a Mac running latest version of OS X that will be deployed. It
is also advised to build the netboot environment on the newest Mac hardware available for
certain feature support, such as Thunderbolt 2.

9. Dell World User Forum
Demo: Building the
Netboot Environment

10. Dell World User Forum
Demo: Configuring
K2000 to Netboot

11. Dell World User Forum
Image Configuration

12. Dell World User Forum
Basic & Advanced Options
Advanced Setup
• Create a Default User Account
• Cleanup Profile
• Caches
• Keychains
• History
• Repair Disk Permissions
• Enable Automatic Login
Basic Image Setup
• Update Mac OS to latest available
• Apply Security and Application Updates
• Install and update applications
• Launch applications
• Configure System Preferences
• Cleanup downloaded files
• Logout from App Store

13. Dell World User Forum
Demo 3: Advanced
Image Configuration

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Netbooting your Mac

15. Dell World User Forum
Netbooting your Mac
Boot Manager
(Hold Option during system startup)
Netboot
Startup Disk System PreferenceBless Commands
Direct network boot (Hold ‘N’
key during system startup)
Insert
icon
here
Insert
icon
here

16. Dell World User Forum
Demo 4: Netbooting
your Mac

17. Dell World User Forum
Application
Deployment

18. Dell World User Forum
Deploying App Files via ditto
Attach the DMG to an Application PO task:

19. Dell World User Forum
Deploying PKGs via installer
Attach the DMG to an Application PO task:

20. Dell World User Forum
Deployment Command Lines
• APP: ditto -rsrc Software.app /Applications/Software
• PKG: installer -pkg Software.pkg -target /
• Other Helpful Tools:
• Pacifist - http://www.charlessoft.com/
• Iceberg - http://s.sudre.free.fr/Software/Iceberg.html
• Xcode PackageMaker -
https://developer.apple.com/downloads/index.action (Search
“packagemaker” for the download link)
• Simple Package Creator -
http://derflounder.wordpress.com/2014/04/29/simple-package-
creator-app/

21. Dell World User Forum
No DMG? No problem.
• Compress files into a ZIP archive and attach to the Postinstallation task. Then run the
command line as if the attached file was a DMG.

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Demo: Application
Installers

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Postinstall Configurations
• Disable Time Machine prompt
• Open Finder in Column view
• Move Screen Sharing app to Applications
• Show System Time on Login Screen
• Enable SSH
• Remove iCloud Login prompt

24. Dell World User Forum
Demo: Postinstall
Configuration

25. Dell World User Forum
Image Capture and
Deployment

26. Dell World User Forum
K-Image vs. Native Image (DMG)
• K-Image: De-duplicates file structure resulting in smaller image footprints on the K2000 HDD.
• DMG: Fast solution with no data deduplication, resulting in speedy deployments which utilize
more space on the K2000 HDD.

27. Dell World User Forum
Demo: Capture,
Configure, and Deploy

28. Dell World User Forum
Best Practices

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Best Practices
Tasks Best Practices
• Use postinstall tasks for software that is
updated regularly (flash, reader, etc.) and
utilize the K1000 for updates.
• Be descriptive in your naming of captured
images.
• Be consistent with naming Postinstall
tasks, like adding "App-" or "Script-" as a
prefix to help keep tasks organized.
Netboot Best Practices
• Build from newest hardware available
• Build from most up to date host OS with
matching Source Media
• Test Netboot on different Model Macs on
different network segments

30. Dell World User Forum
Thank you.

31. Dell World User Forum
KACE Support Portal Migrating to Dell Software Support Portal
• Starting in November, all KACE
Support Portal material will be
migrated to the Dell Software Support
Portal
• All service requests will be submitted
online or by phone
• Same great content
– Knowledge base articles
– Video tutorials
– Product documentation
– JumpStart training
• Check out the Support Portal Getting
Started videos