Imaging iMacs

[LuisCLC]

Hi all,

 

Does anyone know if there is any way to image iMacs? We used to use deploystudio but since High Sierra, we have been unable to

 

Thanks

[bald_pig]

At my last place we used deploystudio after High Sierra? IIRC you have to use HFS+ still instead of APFS

[IAMCloud_Curt]

Hi all,

 

Does anyone know if there is any way to image iMacs? We used to use deploystudio but since High Sierra, we have been unable to

 

Thanks

 

How many iMacs you talking?

[Arthur]

We used to use deploystudio but since High Sierra, we have been unable to

Imagr can restore High Sierra using 'startosinstall'.

 

• https://github.com/grahamgilbert/imagr/wiki/startosinstall-Notes
  
• https://github.com/grahamgilbert/imagr/wiki/High-Sierra-Notes
  

However, now might be a good time to get an MDM since "imaging is dead".

Edited February 8, 2019 by Arthur

[Sheridan]

We imaged our HS macs with DeployStudio and it seemed to work OK? Our DS is still running on an older 9.5 server though. We imaged them as there was a fair bit of software on, but then manage them with Profile Manager. Did you update the (.nbi) boot images in DeployStudio as I know we had to do that to get it to connect and copy the image over.

[Mustang]

We imaged our HS macs with DeployStudio and it seemed to work OK? Our DS is still running on an older 9.5 server though. We imaged them as there was a fair bit of software on, but then manage them with Profile Manager. Did you update the (.nbi) boot images in DeployStudio as I know we had to do that to get it to connect and copy the image over.

 

This is bad advise do not use DeployStudio for deploying High Sierra, Apple does not support imaging APFS volumes and any Mac with a T2 chip cannot be net booted.

 

As @Arthur said Imaging is Dead and you need to look into thin imaging/MDM (basically application and settings deployment)

[kidpressingbuttons]

Just rebuilt all of ours to Mojave. Was not fun- our old DS set up didn’t create a recover partition so have had to build with USBs then let Mosyle do the software.

 

Way more work involved that when we had deploystudio. Used to be able to do the whole school in 2 days now we are on day 3 and still not done...

[Brimstone]

Just rebuilt all of ours to Mojave. Was not fun- our old DS set up didn’t create a recover partition so have had to build with USBs then let Mosyle do the software.

 

Way more work involved that when we had deploystudio. Used to be able to do the whole school in 2 days now we are on day 3 and still not done...

 

Did you enrol them in DEP..?

[kidpressingbuttons]

No they were bought before my time and the company purchased from have since gone under so haven’t really got very far with apple.

[ewanc1234]

In reality each mac should need no more than 10 mins physical involvement, the best way to achieve this is with an MDM and munki (for software deployment)

 

Also there is a Mac subforum and a great slack called MacAdmins with loads of people that will help you out if you need it!

[Mustang]

Just rebuilt all of ours to Mojave. Was not fun- our old DS set up didn’t create a recover partition so have had to build with USBs then let Mosyle do the software.

 

Way more work involved that when we had deploystudio. Used to be able to do the whole school in 2 days now we are on day 3 and still not done...

 

 

What are you using the recovery partition for?