Deploy Screensaver

You might be better off asking this question in the Remote Desktop forum.

The screensaver is a ByHost preference, which is going to make this harder. The file is here:
Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.screensaver.<UUID>.plist

I have a similar question, though only for my two Mac's. I am wondering how to set the screensaver that my user has, as the system default screensaver. I don't see a /Libraries/Preferences/ByHost folder. There is a /Lib.../Prefs.../com.apple.screensaver.plist file, and it seems to contain instruction to run the "flurry" which is in fact what runs when nobody is logged in.

I have also found a few files of interest applicable to my user
~/<SAME_NAME>
~/Lib.../Prefs.../ByHost/com.apple.screensaver.<ID>.plist
~/Lib.../Prefs.../ByHost/com.apple.screensaver.slideshow.<ID>.plist

I am wondering if I can just cp these files from ~/... to /... or is there more to it than that? It is my best guess but I am not confident enough to try it. Still shaky on this scripting stuff. I hate to rely on Time Machine unnecessarily.

Thanks!

Right, there isn't a /Libraries/Preferences/ByHost folder, only a ~/Libraries/Preferences/ByHost folder.

I've never messed with /Libraries/Preferences/com.apple.screensaver.plist, but it seems reasonable that you could modify the default screensaver by editing that file.

If you have Workgroup Manager you can use Preference Manifests. Add com.apple.screensaver.ByHost and set your settings. This may help to get you started:

http://managingosx.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/mcx-vs-the-screensaver-and-leopard/

My Example:
Once:
Often:
idleTime integer 600
moduleName string ScreensaverName
modulePath string /Library/Screen Savers/ScreensaverName
Always:
askForPassword boolean true



Or push out the ByHost Pref in ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost But you have to have a script to change the name of the byhost UID number if your reimaging your machines with one image. If you have users with mobile homes or something along those terms you have to get it into the users home, probably with a a script.

My users get a new Home directory on login so all I do is push the new pref out to my client computers into the /System/Library/User Template/English.lproj/Library/ByHost/ folder and I have a script on login that changes the UIDs.

***** for the users having a new home on every login, but it saves me alot of headaches. We rarely have issues.

Hope one of these helps.

-Dan