OS X has the ability to delete all of the firmware variables you’ve created. This can get helpful if you’ve got a bunch of things that you’ve done to a system and want to remove them all. If you run nvkram followed by a -p option you’ll see all of the configured firmware variables: nvram -p If you run it with a -d you’ll delete the given variables that you define (e.g. boot-args): nvram -d boot-args But, if you run the -c you’ll wipe them all: nvram -c
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Troubleshooting Apache, Proxies, and Tomcat in OS X Server 5
OS X Server 5 dropped last week. It’s the first time I’ve seen an OS X Server version drop before an OS release. I’m guessing there was an impetus to get it out the door before OS X 10.11 ships, so that caching and software update servers can facilitate quicker adoption and tools like Profile Manager will work on 0-day. But, there are some funny issues that are popping up. One of these is OS X Server usurping some ports that would otherwise potentially be used by other tools. Notably for Casper administrators, this includes port 8443. So here are some issues I’ve seen with Apache in the latest OS…
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Use the Software Update Service In OS X Server 5
The software patching configuration built into most operating systems is configured so all that a user has to do is open a box at home, join the network and start using the computer right away. As environments grow from homes to small offices and then small offices grow into enterprises, at some point software updates and patches need to be managed centrally. OS X Server 5 (for El Capitan and Yosemite), as with its OS X Server predecessors has a Software Update service. The service in the Server app is known as Software Update and from the command line is known as swupdate. The Software Update service, by default, stores each update…
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Use The Caching Server In OS X Server 5
The Caching Server in OS X Server 5 (for El Capitan and Yosemite) now does content and Software Updates. Woohoo, the promised land. Now, when 10 of your users download that latest Nicholas Sparks book and movie, you only sacrifice your WAN pipe to download it once, and the other 9 people piggy-back off that. And when OS X El Capitan ships, you only need to download it over the WAN once, and the other local users will pull off that spiffy Caching Server sitting in your office. Pretty sweet, right? So, how do you use this ultra-complicated service. Well, it looks and feels kinda’ like an iPad app. Which is…
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Casper 9.8 and Bushel Now Support El Capitan
JAMF Software has long had 0 day support for new Apple releases. The latest version of Bushel allows you to enroll El Capitan devices. Casper 9.8 also allows you to enroll devices. There are certainly going to be subsequent updates that allow us to do even more. This was a tricky one, as the jamf binary had to be moved and there were some new enrollment policies, to keep your Apple devices as secure as possible! Bushel is SaaS, so it’s available today. Casper should be updated. You can access our installers using your My Assets page on JAMF Nation. Happy updating!
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Second Interview With Command Control Power
Was interviewed by the most excellent guys from the Command Control Power podcast. Wetland everything from Bushel, to IBM, to Apple, to OS X Server, to Krypted, to Instagram nerdy and even a little reading It’s now available at http://commandcontrolpower.com/podcast/2015/9/12/117-charles-edge-of-jamf-software-and-kryptedcom-talks-about-the-response-to-bushel. I have tons of fun with these guys and look forward to getting a good excuse to hang out with them again! Maybe next time I’ll interview them!
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New iOS 9 Payloads
There are some new restriction payloads in iOS 9. These include the following: allowNews Boolean Supervised only. If set to false, disables News. Defaults to true. Availability: Available in iOS 9.0 and later. forceAirDropUnmanaged Boolean Optional. If set to true, causes AirDrop to be considered an unmanaged drop target. Defaults to false. Availability: Available in iOS 9.0 and later. allowUIAppInstallation Boolean Supervised only. When false, the App Store is disabled and its icon is removed from the Home screen. However, users may continue to use Host apps (iTunes, Configurator) to install or update their apps. Defaults to true. Availability: Available in iOS 9.0 and later. allowScreenShot Boolean Optional. If set to false, users can’t save a screenshot of the display…
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How SMBs Can Easily and Economically Manage Apple Devices In Small Biz Daily
I had an article in Small Biz Daily on managing Apple devices in Small Businesses. Check it out if that’s your kind of thing, at http://www.smallbizdaily.com/22366/smbs-can-easily-economically-manage-apple-devices/.
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An Introduction To The Mac Command Line
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Sessions For JNUC Getting Posted
As the largest Apple IT gathering in the world rapidly approaches, we want to give you an early glimpse into the great presentations at the JAMF Nation User Conference (JNUC). We are excited to announce that we’ve added the first ten JNUC sessions to our site. With sessions for education and commercial organizations, you’re sure to find presentations to meet your needs. Highlights include best practices for preparing Macs for online testing, ways to bring Apple’s Volume Purchase Program (VPP) and Device Enrollment Program (DEP) to life in your environment, and methods for mitigating and addressing Mac security threats. Haven’t registered yet? There’s still time, but hurry. We’re nearing our capacity. Secure your…