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Scotch_Brawth Author

Level 3

825 points

Profile Manager is baffling me

OK, I'm a noob. I'll admit it. I thought having some experience with iPhone Configuration Utility would stand me in good stead with Profile Manager, but it's not. I have some questions:

1) What does it mean to assign a device to a user? I can think of no purpose to this.

2) What is the purpose of the "Apps" tab when you select a user? At the moment it's completely blank, and offers no guidance as to its purpose. If it were available under the Devices section, I'd guess it allowed you to push applications out, but under Users? *baffled*

3) How do I automate user creation, and associated preferences, using Profile Manager?

4) What, in fact, do "Users" and "Groups" have to do with Profile Management at all? I can see no purpose to these in relation to device management. At least, not how it's presented in Profile Manager.

Sorry if these are atrociously simple questions, but Apple's (lack of) documentation has killed any desire to keep on searching for answers in their official places.

Someone, please help.

Mac Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8)

Posted on Sep 15, 2012 12:05 PM

19 replies

Engender

Level 1

22 points

Sep 18, 2012 6:20 PM in response to Scotch_Brawth

Sounds like you are trying to create an "image" of your laptop from which you can restore. OS X Server calls this service "Netboot" and you can read the Apple support article on the subject here.

Scotch_Brawth Author

Level 3

825 points

Sep 21, 2012 11:53 AM in response to Engender

Hey Engender,

I had a read around and I think you mean NetInstall. That does actually sound like what I could have used, but once again I'm finding there's a lack of decent information provided by Apple on how to properly configure such an image. The irony I'm finding right now is that the available 3rd-party books on the matter of OS X Server all cost more than the software itself, and my local library is still catching up with the latest releases.

I've already installed ML 10.8.2 on my MBP using the old fashioned method, so the point is moot now. But thank you to both of you for your advice.

Engender

Level 1

22 points

Sep 23, 2012 6:21 PM in response to Scotch_Brawth

Scotch,

I recently learned the the publisher of a lot of the quality 3rd-party instructional books on technology and networking, O'Reilly, operates a website where you can get digital access to all of those books for a montly fee. It's called www.safaribooksonline.com - and there's a two-week or so trial period.

This won't answer your need right at the moment, because they won't publish their OS X Server Mountain Lion book until October something. However, it will give you access to a lot of related networking books, including their For Dummies stuff on OS X Server Lion.

niteowl

Level 2

416 points

Oct 3, 2013 1:53 PM in response to Mark23

What are the differences between Workgroup Manager and Profile Manager?

Profile Manager is baffling me