Working on add Netinstall creation from within PKGImage from the created configs

Active Directory script re-write to a standalone app that can be called upon to join machine to AD / OD.

working on deployable ASR built image from config.

Using PKGImage 1.7.8 to deploy a 10.6 image

PKGImage 1.7.8 will deploy a OS X 10.6 ASR .dmg file and packages in the same way that it did with OS X 10.5.

Create a 10.6 ASR image with Disk Utility, Composer etc

Deploy using your current OS X 10.5.x Netboot image running on Server 10.5/4 with PKGImage 1.7.8

All previously created packages will deploy.

Active Directory and Open Directory Binding will work

Beware of a bug in OS X Client 10.6.(0 & 1) that prevents Active Directory mobile accounts working unless the account is pre-created or the “UNC Home Directory” option is ticked on.

PKGImage 2 & Snow leopard

An update on PKGImage.

Because of the changes that have taken place in PKGImage I have decided to release it as version 2. PKGImage 2 has addressed as many issues and suggestions as i could and added some great new features.

There are a couple of bits to iron out with 10.6 (Snow Leopard) to ensure that previously created config files are still created and read with backward compatibility for older versions of the software.

A redesign on the Config creation page to add many wanted features like double click to add or remove packages, NTP Server and Time Zone added, AD and OD within the config to make viewing configs simple, PKGClient select to install and many more.

Admin control over PKGClient, Imaged clients and server setup is all finished and is looking to be a great starting place for further development.

Progress….

PKGImage 2 app now running in 10.6.x without errors on config
Backward compatible with previous config’s.
Netboot 10.5.x – 10.6.x nearly finished.

Beta testers should receive a copy in the next few weeks.

More soon..

PKGImage

PKGImage 1.7.6 has now been released.

New: Local Restore.
New: SMB.

1.7.6 has just been emailed to the beta group and should be out soon. 1.7.6 has local restore so you can boot from an external HD to restore.

I am pleased to anounce that PKGImage has just gone passed 47,000 downloads.

Lots of new developments with PKGImage.

Version 1.7.0 now released.

Main new Features;

NetBoot Image creation.
ASR Image creation.

All are important features, a highly requested and much needed part for the further development of PKGImage.

The way that PKGImage creates the netboot image will be a very important feature of the future of imaging. The main System OS should be a modular install and PKGImage 1.8+ will focus on this area.

PKGClient

PKGClient has just finished the writing phase and is now in testing.

PKGClient is a small app that sits in the background and checks that the configuration on the computer is the same as the configuration on the server. If any additional .mpkg/.pkg files are added to the server side configuration file the client will download and install the updates. This is all done in the background without the user being aware or even if the computers are not logged in. This allows you to update and maintain your computers without the need to re-image or to visit. PKGClient runs on a scheduled time but can be forced to run at any time, from the local client or through an ARD/SSH command.

PKGClient will ship as an integrated part of PKGImage 1.8.

PKGAdmin

PKGAdmin is still very much under development.

This is part of PKGImage (v. 1.8) that allows you to easily control, administer and setup PKGClient. From setting up the server to changing the preferences of the image.

Combining PKGImage, PKGAdmin and PKGClient to give you a suite that will image, deploy and maintain all your OS X clients.