Deploy flame updates on 5 macs

Flame Tools and Tech
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I have used puppet and ansible before in a much larger environment.

Anything super nice and simple to push Flame updates to multiple macs at once? Ansible seems like a bit much for this simple task?

with all these hotfixes i am struggeling to find the time to update all machines all the time.

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tmux

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We deploy software as a cmdjob via Backburner, but that is on Linux. Don’t know if Flame on Mac has a --nogui mode or if cmdjob works the same there.

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Ansible is a bit much? How so? It’s like the easiest thing. Takes longer to setup the ssh keys than build a script to update Macs.

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Havent used it on macs but moving from puppet to ansible 5? years ago was a bit much, maybe not.

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I have seen puppet deployments hurt more than help. Why not utilize our old friend the command line and try sudo ./startInstaller --silent

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@motoronlysync - yep - with tmux - on 5 machines - simultaneously

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Deploying installers to multiple Macs can be streamlined with the right tools and techniques. Here are some easy and effective methods for managing deployment:

1. Use Apple Remote Desktop (ARD)

Apple Remote Desktop is a built-in macOS app designed for managing multiple Macs in a network.

Steps:

  1. Install ARD from the Mac App Store on your admin Mac.

  2. Add the target Macs to your ARD console.

  3. Use ARD’s “Send Files” feature to transfer the installer.

  4. Execute the installer remotely using terminal commands or by setting up a deployment script.

2. Leverage a Mobile Device Management (MDM) Solution

An MDM solution like Jamf Pro, Mosyle, or Kandji provides centralized control for deploying software across Macs.

Steps:

  1. Enroll the Macs in the MDM platform.

  2. Upload the installer package to the MDM console.

  3. Assign the software to specific devices or user groups.

  4. Schedule or trigger the deployment.

3. Use Munki (Free Software Deployment Tool)

Munki is an open-source tool for deploying and managing software on macOS.

Steps:

  1. Install and set up a Munki repository on a server.

  2. Create .pkg or .dmg installers for the applications.

  3. Configure the repository with the installers.

  4. Install the Munki client on target Macs to pull and install packages.

4. Use SSH with a Script

If you have SSH access to the Macs, you can write a script to automate the deployment process.

Steps:

  1. Copy the installer to each Mac via scp or a shared network folder.

  2. Run a remote script using ssh to execute the installer:

ssh user@target-mac “sudo installer -pkg /path/to/installer.pkg -target /”

  1. Loop through all Macs in a script for mass deployment.

5. Use Rsync and Launch Daemons

Combine rsync for file transfer and launchd to automate installation.

Steps:

  1. Use rsync to copy the installer to all Macs.

  2. Set up a launchd plist file on each Mac to trigger the installer.

6. Use Homebrew

If the software is available via Homebrew, you can use it to deploy software across Macs.

Steps:

  1. Install Homebrew on all target Macs:

/bin/bash -c “$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)”

  1. Create a script to install applications:

brew install --cask

  1. Use ARD or SSH to execute the script on all Macs.

7. Create a Disk Image or Bootable USB

For initial setup or large deployments, create a pre-configured disk image with all required software and deploy it.

Steps:

  1. Use Disk Utility to create a disk image containing the pre-installed software.

  2. Deploy the disk image using tools like ASR (Apple Software Restore) or by cloning it to target Macs.

8. Use Cloud File Sharing Services

For smaller deployments or non-centralized networks, use cloud services (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive) to share the installer. Provide instructions or an automation script to the end users.

9. Deploy Using Ansible (MacOS Integration)

If you already use Ansible, you can extend it to manage macOS devices using SSH.

Steps:

  1. Set up SSH access to the Macs.

  2. Create an Ansible playbook to copy and execute the installer.

  3. Run the playbook to deploy across multiple Macs.

10. Use Scripts with Automator

Automator scripts can simplify deployment for smaller environments.

Steps:

  1. Create an Automator app or script to install software on target Macs.

  2. Distribute the Automator script alongside the installer.

Choose the method based on your scale and requirements. For larger networks, MDM or Munki is recommended. For smaller or one-off tasks, ARD or SSH scripts are efficient. Let me know if you need help setting up any specific method!

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allright gonna look into these…

But is anyone really doing this on macs? I an afraid about all thse sucky permission things not sure they can be delt with from a terminal…

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Tmux executes a command line on multiple workstations simultaneously and is free.
It blew my mind the first time I saw it.
My mind is pretty tiny and I’m easily startled.

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