Archive for September, 2012

Rich Trouton posted a script that checks the status of Gatekeeper and returns a value based upon this status.  He has a generic version as well as an Extension Attribute for Casper Suite (which puts the information into the machine’s inventory screen).  Hop over to Der Flounder for details. Nate […]

Over at Tech Recess, Randy Saeks has a rundown of some new iOS 6 features that are useful in a managed environment.  The feature that will reduce support time the most is the ability to update installed apps without entering an AppleID and password.  This allows you to use a […]

With 10.8.2 came a useful fdesetup option for use with FileVault 2 encrypted systems.  This new option is called ‘authrestart’ and it allows you to reboot a FV2-enabled machine and skip the preboot login screen.  This provides a mechanism for doing maintenance that requires a reboot. Check out the details on Rich Trouton’s blog. […]

Over time version control has become more popular within the sysadmin realm, with one of the most popular version control systems being git. Graham goes over some of the reasons that it is a good idea to use Git in your everyday work over on his blog.  Once you get […]

Apple released Apple TV Software Update 5.1 yesterday which includes several new enterprise friendly features, including support for 802.1X and the use of a proxy server. Both are configured via configuration profiles. Details are at the links below. HT5437 – Apple TV: How to install a configuration profile HT5438 – […]

Along with Server 2.1 came a new setting in Profile Manager.  This setting puts the Mac App Store into update-only mode.  It grays out all the options except for the update pane.  This is great news as we are faced with the prospect of more and more Mac App Store […]

All the sessions from this year’s MacSysAdmin conference are now posted on their website for download.  These sessions are a great resource for advancing your Mac Admin skills, so check them out. If you would like to go to next year’s conference, it is planned to take place from September […]

Final Thoughts The lights have been turned off at MacSysAdmin ’12 in Gothemburg.  What has been on the scene in the last 4 days was definitely above expectations; a real show of interesting and brilliant sessions that touched all the aspects surrounding the life of Mac system administrators, from deployment […]

What did you change?!?! Gary Larizza – Puppet Labs Have you ever wondered how many times we make changes to files or scripts in a deployment process? Gary Larizza did and in a volcanic session, explained how this can be kept under control by tracking changes using a powerful open-source […]

Server AD Migration & Integration – Workstation AD Migration & integration  Zack Smith – 318 If you do not have Active Directory within your environment to deal with, you are probably a happy Macintosh system admin. If you do have to face the Microsoft authentication system, then you have to look at […]