[Casper] Defaults write set software update interval

[John Wetter]

We only use it in a small subset of our environment.  Overall, our experience with Managed Preferences has not been a good one as there are just too many issues with it (authentication, time-outs, mobile home directory sync errors, off-site timeout issues, system performance issues).  With the number of computers we're supporting with our staffing, we need something that works more reliably than the MCX's from OpenDirectory.  We've used it for about 4 years and I'm not thrilled to do anything with it in the future.  In my experience, Casper has been reliable, and Managed Preferences have not.  It's a matter of for mass numbers of student laptops with similar environments, Apple has forced our hand to almost require managed preferences, even with the laundry list of issues.

</soapbox rant>

-John


On 1/26/09 10:55 AM, "Criss Myers" <cmyers at uclan.ac.uk> wrote:

> Hi
>
> Do you guys not use Xserves and workgroup manager ? As I do all this in
> workgroup manager
>
> On 26 Jan 2009, at 16:11, John Wetter <john_wetter at hopkins.k12.mn.us> wrote:
>
>> I seldom use that anymore because it only applies it to the root user.  I
>> have it set as a command to run once for each user, but it seems to be
>> running it as root, so it isn't applying it to the user logging in.  This
>> looks to be the same issue as we ran in to trying to change the Office
>> plists.
>>
>> So, for now I guess moving plists is still what we'll have to do...  Unless
>> there is a way to get these to apply to each individual user?
>>
>> -John
>>
>>
>> On 1/26/09 9:47 AM, "NATHANIEL.LINDLEY at spps.org
>> <mailto:NATHANIEL.LINDLEY at spps.org> " <NATHANIEL.LINDLEY at spps.org
>> <mailto:NATHANIEL.LINDLEY at spps.org> > wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Thanks for the command to turn off software update checking, I couldn't get
>>> it to stop reliably before.  It there a way to set this script to FEU and
>>> FUT?   A system wide "softwareupdate --schedule off"  Otherwise it appears
>>> that new users have software update checking on.
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Nathaniel Lindley
>>>
>>> ++++++++++++++++++
>>> Educational Technology
>>> Saint Paul Public Schools
>>> Saint Paul, Minnesota
>>> nathaniel.lindley at spps.org <mailto:nathaniel.lindley at spps.org>
>>> phone:  651-248-6861
>>>
>>>
>>> Miles Leacy <miles.leacy at themacadmin.com
>>> <mailto:miles.leacy at themacadmin.com> >
>>> Sent by: casper-bounces at list.jamfsoftware.com
>>> <mailto:casper-bounces at list.jamfsoftware.com>  01/26/09 07:54 AM
>>> To
>>>
>>> "Nichols, Jared" <jared.nichols at ll.mit.edu <mailto:jared.nichols at ll.mit.edu>
>>> >
>>>
>>> cc
>>>
>>> Casper List <casper at list.jamfsoftware.com
>>> <mailto:casper at list.jamfsoftware.com> >
>>>
>>> Subject
>>>
>>> Re: [Casper] Defaults write set software update interval
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> To turn the automatic checking off, use this command...
>>>
>>> softwareupdate --schedule off
>>>
>>> That's a lot easier than messing with plists.
>>>
>>> You can put that into a policy for existing computers, and/or make it a part
>>> of your configuration for new deployments.  If you do, make sure you set it
>>> to be an "at reboot" script.
>>>
>>> Then you can simply use the checkbox in the "Packages" tab of your policy to
>>> call software update.
>>>
>>> I consider this a best practice and these are among the first
>>> policies/scripts I create when installing a JSS.
>>>
>>> ----------
>>> Miles A. Leacy IV
>>>
>>> ? Certified System Administrator 10.4
>>> ? Certified Technical Coordinator 10.5
>>> ? Certified Trainer
>>> Certified Casper Administrator
>>> ----------
>>> voice: 1-347-277-7321
>>> miles.leacy at themacadmin.com <mailto:miles.leacy at themacadmin.com>
>>> <mailto:miles.leacy at themacadmin.com <mailto:miles.leacy at themacadmin.com> >
>>> www.themacadmin.com <http://www.themacadmin.com>
>>> <http://www.themacadmin.com/ <http://www.themacadmin.com/> >
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 8:33 AM, Nichols, Jared <jared.nichols at ll.mit.edu
>>> <mailto:jared.nichols at ll.mit.edu>  <mailto:jared.nichols at ll.mit.edu
>>> <mailto:jared.nichols at ll.mit.edu> > > wrote:
>>> That's exactly my goal :)  I asked about setting the interval on the plist
>>> because I want to disable it on the clients and run it strictly from a
>>> policy.
>>>
>>> Now that I know it's in the scheduler plist that sets me on the right track.
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>> j
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 1/23/09 15:40 , "Miles Leacy" <miles.leacy at themacadmin.com
>>> <mailto:miles.leacy at themacadmin.com>  <http://miles.leacy@themacadmin.com/
>>> <http://miles.leacy@themacadmin.com/> > > wrote:
>>>
>>> What would be even easier would be to turn off the schedule on the client,
>>> enter your Software Update Server's info into your JSS, and run Software
>>> Update via Casper policy.  Software Update is a checkbox in the Packages
>>> tab, and you can have your policy run every day, week or month.

--
John Wetter
Technology Support Administrator
Educational Technology, Media & Information Services
Hopkins Public Schools
952-988-5373
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