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<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=Windows-1252"><title>Re: [Casper] First post - please be easy on me..</title>
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<font face="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><span style="font-size:11pt">Of course I’ll chime in! My comments below as well, but pretty much everyone has nailed it down.<br>
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Craig Ernst<br>
Systems Management & Configuration<br>
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University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire<br>
Learning & Technology Services<br>
Old Library 2109<br>
105 Garfield Ave<br>
Eau Claire, WI 54701<br>
Phone: (715) 836-3639<br>
Fax: (715) 836-6001<br>
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<a href="ernstcs@uwec.edu">ernstcs@uwec.edu</a><br>
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On 9/3/09 11:40 AM, "don montalvo" <<a href="donmontalvo@gmail.com">donmontalvo@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
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</span></font><blockquote><font face="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><span style="font-size:11pt">I've been avoiding third party Mac management solutions since I was burned by the discontinuation of NetOctopus. When I was given the reigns for the Mac environment at Morgan Stanley (IBD Creative Services) just before 9/11, I had my first opportunity to clean up sneaker-net managed 50 Mac environment. I requested a budget for the only real solution at the time, NetOctopus/Timbuktu.<br>
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In less than 30 days, I was able to create one OS9 image that would work on any computer we had (only the Extension Set had to be changed to on predefined for that model computer). I used Disk Utility and ASR to image computers (as opposed to dragging folders). I was able to "package" software for distribution using FileScripter Pro (bundled with NetOctopus, allowed you to snapshot and compile InstallerVISE installers that NetOctopus could push out to workstations). I automated a good amount of the workflow (using my predecessor's QuicKeys shortcuts, modified and expanded to handle more tasks).<br>
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Then came 9/11, and two years of waiting for the economy to recover. During that time, I guess NetOctopus kind of died. Then OS X came out and started to mature. I was forced to look into a new solution. I looked at Radmind (steep learning curve, difficult to find techs who understand it). I looked at FileWave, and I looked at Casper. While I was looking, I couldn't help but worry about how I could be left out in the cold if any of these solutions stopped being developed. So for the past few years, I've stuck to the Apple toolset (NetBoot, NetInstall, OD, UNIX/Apple scripts, etc.) logGen/pkgGen/Iceberg.<br>
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Well, NetRestore is now history (I know, rolled into 10.6 server...). So I've revisited and decided to dig into Casper. As clean and mature as Casper is turning out to be, I'm still not convinced it will be here in N years, after I've deployed it (and thus created huge dependencies on it). That said, I'm going to take the leap. I have a few questions...and no, I haven't taken the time to sift through the list archives (sorry, it'll take weeks - would rather just pop off a few questions)...<br>
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1. Where does one get Casper training? I called JAMF and they only offer Jumpstart training if you purchase their solution. Doesn't seem fair to the client, since JAMF is essentially forcing techs to learn on the clients' dime. JAMF also suggested 6 or more months of real experience before going for certification. There seems to be a HUGE lack of resources for techs who want to learn Casper...I would think JAMF would see the value in providing training, if only to help their product get out there. Are there any Dallas area Casper user groups?<br>
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<font color="#0000FF">As already mentioned JAMF does offer several certification courses throughout the year. It is a good recommendation to use the software first before going for this for the reasons already mentioned. I don’t quite get the whole clients’ dime thing. Nothing is really free. You want a tech to come out and help you setup your product/environment. That’s not exactly free for JAMF to send someone, so of course costs get passed along to the person requesting the services. The online KB is good, there are video examples on the website, this list is very helpful, the manual is probably the best source to learn on your own, and of course a jump start. I am of the mind that the product, over all, is a very easy product to learn after the brain wraps around some really basic concepts. Get an eval copy, dig into the manual, and get your hands dirty.<br>
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2. I see several Casper suites. I'm currently most interested in imaging/packaging/distribution. I've got years of imaging, packaging and distribution experience, so it shouldn't take long to learn the JAMF toolset. Can one buy the Casper suite to run in a LAB environment? Training is fine - but you do need to LAB test before deploying (initially, changes, etc.).<br>
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<font color="#0000FF">We use the suite to manage all of our macs, both labs and offices. We run a test environment to try and test as best we can everything we deploy. If you have to deal with Adobe Creative Suite this tool will help with that greatly.<br>
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3. Can I get some input from those who have deployed Casper to managed/integrated environments? How is AD/OD integration impacted by Casper? Can our clients continue to use OD for policies? Can our legacy packages/scripts be used if Casper is deployed?<br>
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<font color="#0000FF">We’re an AD only place. It just works, although the addition of other binding options like AdmitMac, etc in version 7 have somewhat limited one function of AD binding (specifying a different computer_id than the machine name), it still just works. I don’t know what you have for packages necessarily. Some of them may be able to just get dropped in. Your scripts should just be able to get dropped in and used.<br>
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4. How comfortable is everyone that Casper isn't going to be the next NetOctopus? Is there more than one person steering Casper development? Or is there a chance one person can leave JAMF to start his own company, and leave all Casper deployment folks out in the cold?<br>
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<font color="#0000FF">A very large percentage of this company is actually alumni or former employees of this university, including one of the founders. I know many of them quite well. This company isn’t going anywhere based on the growth and customer base it now has. There is a group of people that work on development of the product itself, but the primary developer is one of the co-founders. I don’t think he’s going anywhere, and neither are any of the employees. I imagine they have a next to zero turn over on employees. They do very much listen and try to cram as much of what the people have spoken for into the product. The latest release, version 7, is sick (if I can use that term in a positive manner) and a testament to that. I haven’t even had the time to use the new version to its full potential there is so much there. It’s a smaller company focused on a single goal and because of that and who they are I think they have a unique passion for trying to make what they provide great.<br>
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Thanks,<br>
Don<br>
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