Firefox proxy settings with OD users

Hi

Firefox keeps its settings in /Users/Home/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/mixofnumbersandletters.default/prefs.js. This file does not lend itself too easily for use in Workgroup Manager's Preferences Manifest.

What you could do - which is what I sometimes do - is to configure the Proxy Settings first on one client workstation. You could do this either one of two ways; keying about:config in Firefox itself or simply amending the Network Settings. This should 'write' the relevant information you want. Copy the prefs.js file to the Desktop. Quit out of Firefox and delete the User's Firefox Profile from the Application Support folder. Right click or Control Click on the Firefox application itself and select show Package Contents. Drill down through the Contents folder to the MacOS folder. Keep on going through the defaults folder. In there you should see a profile folder with an existing prefs.js. Overwrite this with the one on the Desktop. Now re-launch Firefox. Any user (local or otherwise) will receive those settings as default as they are set by the Application rather than by the User.

All you have to do now is copy the Firefox application to all of your clients. Which you could a number of ways. Copy the application to a pencil stick or CD and walk round each client in turn and copying the amended Firefox Application to the Applications folder. Or use the Copy command in ARD. Or prepare the client workstation you did this all on as a NetRestore Image and image the remaining workstations.

Tony

One might have to consider the durability of this fix when Firefox updates are distributed and the fix is being done in the package contents? Just wondering out loud..

-Doug

Hi Doug

You are right to wonder out loud. However in a Corporate or Educational environment I doubt this needs be an issue. Typically once the image has been built it's 'good practice' to not alter anything until a major recess/hiatus. In the UK this would usually be the 6 week summer break. This is generally the time when the whole network/environment is 'refreshed' as a whole anyway. Important Service Pack updates and trialling new software and so forth. In the AD-OD and OD environments I generally work in this is usually standard practice.

@ Rich

You're welcome and all the best for the Festive Season!

Tony

Hi Tony,

You are right to wonder out loud. However in a Corporate or Educational environment I doubt this needs be an issue. Typically once the image has been built it's 'good practice' to not alter anything until a major recess/hiatus.

True. Not working in an environment dealing with imaged clients puts me on the on the unknowing side. What triggered my posit was the frequency of updates issued for Firefox, and in particular, updates to patch security issues. Depending on the severity of the security hole being patched, one would have to patch and roll a new image. Just another level of complexity working in that situation I suppose.. Ah, the simple joys of sysadmins. 😉

@Rich -

Just great to understand how the inner workings of the app can be altered.

Yeah, "getting under the hood" can have its moments. 🙂

Best to you both and Happy Holidays!

-Doug

Hi

Thanks Doug and have yourself a Merry Festive Season!!

Tony

A somewhat easier way to do this (as I just found out having to deal with this myself) is to set firefox's proxy settings to "Use System Proxy". You must be running I think at least Firefox 3.5 to do this though. Then you can set the proxy settings in WGM and firefox will essentially inherit that setting. This has a nice benefit of being able to manage proxies by user, computer, or group and not have to hit each firefox preference any time you want to make a change to a proxy setting.

Yes. Start Firefox and open the preferences. Click on Advanced (picture of a gear) and then the Network tab. Next click on settings and then select "Use System Proxy Settings". Then all you need to do is log in as a member of and OD group with a specific set of forced proxy settings and Firefox will pick them up.
You can then copy the prefs.js file of the account you just set up to the firefox profiles folders of all your other users. This way if you make a change to the proxy in OD (or decided to not manage it at all) Firefox will behave how you want it to.

How would one go about copying this prefs.js file to all of the other users...when we have 500+ users? Thanks.

Well after setting up the prefs.js file the way you need it for your environment copy it to an easily accessible place on your server. In the same folder create a script such as the following:



#!/bin/tcsh -f
#
cd / UserHomeFolderLocation
foreach userDir (*)
rm $userDir/Library/Application\ Support/Firefox/Profiles/*/prefs.js
ditto -rsrc /LocationWhereYouCopiedtheFile/prefs.js $userDir/Library/Application\ Support/Firefox/Profiles/*/
chown -R $userDir $userDir/Library/Application\ Support
end



The remove and chown commands aren't strictly necessary but I find that's being better safe then sorry. All commands are also on one line each (especially the ditto one which might get wrapped around for display purposes) You can then put the prefs.js file as part of your default user template. Remember anyone who has firefox open when you copy this file will not get the updated preferences.



tom

Well I'm a newbie at scripts...I assume I create this in Script Editor. Am I copying the prefs file to a folder on the server that the users will need to access as a share point or something? Or will the script run automatically? I'm primarily a teacher who has these duties. We have students as managed clients in Workgroup Manager.
After reading this thread, and it's multiple directions, I wonder if you could start at the first step through the last to assist my attempt? Thanks.