TomPearceGeek

As said previously in this post, we do this to allow ALL data to be stored on our central storage systems shared with our Windows PCs (Network Home). iMovie Libraries cannot be stored on a SMB Share, it's kicked up a fuss for years especially if you use AD Defined UNC path as the MacOS home directory (Which granted is causing fun in catalina anyway, but let's not dwell on that). It works really well for us and a few other schools I've shared this with in the past where there is no 'local storage' available to the network accounts. For now, this works great up til catalina and remains to be tested on Big Sur. As the world moves away from binding, methods will change, no doubt about that... but for those schools that just need a solution, this works perfectly and has done for the last few major OS Revisions.

Okay I gave up on the app for the time being! Finally made a write up and shoved it on GitHub though! https://themacguy.rocks/network-accounts-and-apples-pro-apps/

I'm currently re-working it into an Application / Tray utility to publish to make things easier currently. If I give up, then yes!

Back to the original thread. You CAN use PM if you need to, but it's not recommended. Imaging is indeed dead as reminded by @Brimstone multiple times like a stuck record. Here's my final thoughts on this. And recommendations if you simply cannot AT THIS TIME change away from profile manager. Nomad Shares - Fixes Network Shares issue. Removes reliability on PM working properly Munki and Munki Admin - Deploy Packages automagically like with SCCM. When we used PM this was my absolute saving grace. OS Updates, PKGs, Scripts, Profiles, you name it! There's even self service / Software Center GET APPLE SCHOOL MANAGER - It will make life easier now, and if you change to another MDM at a later date. Fix your Sidebars using MySides Run login scripts using Outset By using the above packages, the only thing PM was really being used for was binding to AD which for me was faultless, Deploying Custom Configurations (plists) for things like Munki to put it in the right room and setting the login screen options. Nothing complicated. It's not the IT admin's dream, but if that's all you need, then it works well. Beside this, I would honestly consider moving away from PM if your Mac demand increases. Have a look at Mosyle, Jamf and Zuludesk (Now Jamf School) as the top education runners. Eventually, Apple is probably going to pull the plug on PM, and alot of people won't be sad about it. But until then, it's not 100% terrible. Even for running a 100+ Mac estate at a public school for 5+years! (us).

In the instance above, none of the issues are really relating to Profile Manager, although it's not helped by it. All of the questions above would be similar with any MDM. Although, as a Jamf Pro user and an ex PM admin, I agree don't use PM for the love of all that is holy, but it's the only option for some and it's just one of those things that you CAN make "Work" how you need it to.

Hi Steve, Here's my thoughts Take a look at NoMAD (Specifically NoMAD Shares) If you are education based, you can get Apple School Manager(ASM) for free. If you have ASM you have DEP which you can link Profile Manager to for automatic supervision / enrollment into PM. If you have purchased your iPads from an Education Reseller, you can give them your DEP ID and they can grandfather your devices into your DEP from the past more often than not. If the iPads aren't purchased through Education, of a certain age you can plug them into Apple Configurator and enroll them into DEP yourself. If you aren't able to enroll them into DEP yourself, but they appear in Configurator, you can 'Supervise' them from Apple Configurator. Profile manager isn't the problem I am afraid. Most MDMs wont support these features as Apple don't support them anymore. As frustating as it is, it's what we now have to work with. We use Windows / AD accounts here with network homes with no issues, so perhaps there's something else afoot... (Also, check out MySides) Tell me about it. I've thought about whether we do something with rsync but again it's hacky. We don't have enough laptop users to properly require the R&D on this yet, but it's something in the back of my mind. 5 Years of Macs has tought me that they are a pain in the rear... I do feel for your 1996 legacy.

Yup! I'm about to start testing it on Catalina too!

I'd suggest having a look at 'NoMAD Shares' which we use here. We also use 'NoMAD' but as a bound environment which works very well. It enables you to mount shares based on AD Groups which is useful! It works very well for us. https://nomad.menu/help/nomad-shares-menu/

Hi Dave, You might be able to find Netinstall under 'View' in the top bar when you are in the server application. Other than that, Netboot is dead. Modern practices rely on things like the Device Enrollment Program (DEP) and an MDM. The easiest way to 'flatten' a mac is to use Internet Recovery (CMD+ SHIFT + R at boot) and then installing software / profiles with either an MDM or something like Munki Tom

I'm not sure you posted in the right forum. I don't think Printers can have their sounds changed...

Very Valid!

Hows that going for you?

This could be awesome! Will give it s try soon.

WE weren't overly impressed with Intune when we had a snoop around in it. So far, on an Airwatch demo we were VERY impressed with what it can do, especially up against Mobile Iron Free which EE currently provide to us. There are only a handful of Android Phones that we are going to manage, and it's only for an overhead view of the android devices rather than a full deployment program etc.

Hi All, Might be worth following through this blog post that details setting up a local cache and indexing. I didn't write it! https://yearofthegeek.net/2018/01/revisiting-apple-logic-content-and-indexing/