q for macuser and others familiar with macs on a corp.LAN

RamboPreacher · Postby **RamboPreacher** » February 2nd, 2009, 7:12 am

Been doing some research for corporate implementation in imaging and application deployment for a centralized, managed LAN.

It appears that the Casper suite is the "industry standard", but only from reading and research.

I have a need that could begin across an international WAN with some hundreds of users. and perhaps even thousands of users. the paradigm would require very consistent roll-outs and deployments.

The repackaging would need to include the ability for creating user-inter faceless, of shrink-wrapped apps as well as internally developed apps and scripts.

any suggestions?

MacUser · Postby **MacUser** » February 2nd, 2009, 1:09 pm

Any links to research any of this proposed?

RamboPreacher · Postby **RamboPreacher** » February 3rd, 2009, 6:40 am

just for casper
http://www.jamfsoftware.com/products/casper.php

the proposal, is a potential project that I may lead, and so can't say much about the internal aspects.

MacUser · Postby **MacUser** » February 3rd, 2009, 9:57 am

Not fully understanding your final goals.. Casper looks to be the choice for Mass Administration.

I don't envy you. :wink:

RamboPreacher · Postby **RamboPreacher** » February 3rd, 2009, 3:58 pm

MacUser wrote:Not fully understanding your final goals.. Casper looks to be the choice for Mass Administration.

I don't envy you.

yes, mass administration. the goal is to have an imaging process to have a base/core os and app set for all macs use, and then a layer (so to speak) of line of business apps on top of that that are packaged and either delivered (pushed), or as part of the imaging process.

and this is extremely simple for PC's, and part of bringing the TCO down (below macs) in a large corporate environment, which is what I have been saying all along.

MacUser · Postby **MacUser** » February 3rd, 2009, 4:00 pm

RamboPreacher wrote:extremely simple for PC's, and part of bringing the TCO down (below macs) in a large corporate environment, which is what I have been saying all along.

Yea whatever. The words.. "extremely simple" and "PC" just don't go together... no matter what kool-aid you drink with it. :lol:

Pastor Bill · Postby **Pastor Bill** » February 4th, 2009, 7:07 am

Are you basically wanting to push a ghost image to the machines for mass deployment? We do this with all our Windows machines on campus, and I believe they've started doing this with the Macs as well (in the past we were doing so few Macs and so many of them in very specific uses that a generic image wasn't used, but we're changing that some.

If this is all it is you are looking for, I'll check with Aaron to see what program he's using. I know we use Ghost on the Windows side, and I think that's what we're using on the Macs too, but I'm not sure.

RamboPreacher · Postby **RamboPreacher** » February 4th, 2009, 8:58 am

yes, essentially. though macuser seems to think it is difficult with PC's - it is obvious that he doesn't know any better. need bandwidth throtteling, centralized management, and if possible zero-touch imaging (remote, no tech-touch)

never mind MU. I'll figure it out.

MacUser · Postby **MacUser** » February 4th, 2009, 11:45 am

RamboPreacher wrote:never mind MU. I'll figure it out.

Rambo,
I specifically responded to the TOC poke you unnecessarily inserted. No need to get testy. :lol:

First, (gladly) I do not have experience in mass administration of both PCs and Macs on a large corporate Network of your such size. The application you linked at my request seems to fit the bill exactly. Maybe I was looking for greater elaboration.. such as; create a flowchart, workflow, or visual tree on how you are wanting this to deploy.

In general.. anytime you can mass image a massive PC network in perfect health ( is impossible first imho ) and just hit restore and essentially wipe any new data or personal settings the unique corporate users enjoyed to me isn't really "saving data" (but a radical restore unless it can be done selectively, such as Time Machine - awesome!). I however can see how this would help a less secure operating system by wiping over any newly installed "bug"... but these to me are drastic measures and not to be done lightly as when new critical information is lost due to this.. it could be irreplaceable.

Many moons ago when I started dealing with business and corporate clients many would come and drop limited info from a range of topics expecting to get an instant workable answer. In anticipation of these situations.. I placed a large sign above my back office area that read..." ANY INSIGHT GREATLY APPRECIATED".

Again, I will be glad to help you review anything.. but you have to give solid more elaborate information to me with details etc. as this isn't my profession.

God Bless.

Jude 2