ccsd89 tech
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Replacement for Workgroup Manager in el Capitan?

I have recently built new servers, intending on using open directory.

The hardware I am using are new mac-mini servers, with dual 1 TB drives and 16GB memory.

 

Historically I have used work group manager to direct home folders, printer deployment, user groups and the like.

Is there a replacement for work group manager which no longer works with el capitan(10.11.3)?

Mac mini, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Jan 28, 2016 7:01 AM

by John Lockwood,Solvedanswer
John Lockwood John Lockwood
Level 6 (9,411 points)
Servers Enterprise
A:

Officially Apple say Workgroup Manager is now discontinued and again officially the installer package will not let you install it under Yosemite or El Capitan. However unofficially you can either drag a copy from an old Mavericks system, or use Pacifist to force install it.

 

Workgroup Manager might be used for two main functions -

 

  1. Adding or editing user accounts and groups
  2. Setting MCX aka. Managed Preferences

 

I would strongly advise where possible to not use MCX settings via Workgroup Manager and instead to as Apple want you to do use Profile Manager or other MDM solution. Saying that I do have an unusual situation where I have been forced to use Workgroup Manager and MCX settings. This is because we have two separate computer networks and one of them is completely and totally disconnected from the outside world i.e. Internet for security reasons rendering it impossible to use an MDM solution. So for that isolated network I have no choice but to still use MCX settings. (I use Profile Manager on the other 'normal' network.)

 

So Apple would say use Profile Manager for settings and use Server.app for adding/editing users and groups.

 

Note: You can also use Directory Utility to hand edit Open Directory records and fields, and you can also use command line tools like dscl.

Posted on Jan 29, 2016 2:38 AM

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ccsd89 tech

Q: Replacement for Workgroup Manager in el Capitan?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Jan 28, 2016 9:12 AM in response to ccsd89 tech
    Level 10 (208,044 points)
    Applications
    Jan 28, 2016 9:12 AM in response to ccsd89 tech

    The replacement is the Profile Manager service. See the built-in Server help for instructions to get started. It's beta-quality software, at best.

  • by Leopardus,Helpful

    Leopardus Leopardus Jan 29, 2016 5:00 AM in response to ccsd89 tech
    Level 4 (1,122 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 29, 2016 5:00 AM in response to ccsd89 tech

    Sadly there is none with the same capabilities. Some features of WGM still work on El Capitan, but care has to be taken that both PM and WGM are not open simultaneously. If you still have a Mavericks installation available, you can however drag it across into the App folder and it will work. You cannot install it new.

     

    PM has some severe limitations especially wrt to managing Macs, but it has some great features for using as a MDM for all the devices. Best is to get updated on PM. Apple has made it quite clear that WGM 10.9 was the end and that they see PM as the future.

     

    Some good reading matter include the books from Reid (Strontium90 on the ASC), the videos of Todd Olthoff, and the writings/blogs of Jesus Vigo at Techrepublic.

     

    Leo

  • by John Lockwood,Solvedanswer

    John Lockwood John Lockwood Jan 29, 2016 2:38 AM in response to ccsd89 tech
    Level 6 (9,411 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Jan 29, 2016 2:38 AM in response to ccsd89 tech

    Officially Apple say Workgroup Manager is now discontinued and again officially the installer package will not let you install it under Yosemite or El Capitan. However unofficially you can either drag a copy from an old Mavericks system, or use Pacifist to force install it.

     

    Workgroup Manager might be used for two main functions -

     

    1. Adding or editing user accounts and groups
    2. Setting MCX aka. Managed Preferences

     

    I would strongly advise where possible to not use MCX settings via Workgroup Manager and instead to as Apple want you to do use Profile Manager or other MDM solution. Saying that I do have an unusual situation where I have been forced to use Workgroup Manager and MCX settings. This is because we have two separate computer networks and one of them is completely and totally disconnected from the outside world i.e. Internet for security reasons rendering it impossible to use an MDM solution. So for that isolated network I have no choice but to still use MCX settings. (I use Profile Manager on the other 'normal' network.)

     

    So Apple would say use Profile Manager for settings and use Server.app for adding/editing users and groups.

     

    Note: You can also use Directory Utility to hand edit Open Directory records and fields, and you can also use command line tools like dscl.

  • by ccsd89 tech,

    ccsd89 tech ccsd89 tech Jan 29, 2016 5:02 AM in response to Leopardus
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 29, 2016 5:02 AM in response to Leopardus

    Thanks for taking the time to reply.

    I have done as suggested and and moving forward once again!

  • by ccsd89 tech,

    ccsd89 tech ccsd89 tech Jan 29, 2016 5:03 AM in response to John Lockwood
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 29, 2016 5:03 AM in response to John Lockwood

    Thanks for taking the time to reply.

    I have done as you suggested and I am once again moving forward.

  • by Gerard Dirks,

    Gerard Dirks Gerard Dirks Aug 24, 2016 10:20 AM in response to ccsd89 tech
    Level 1 (38 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 24, 2016 10:20 AM in response to ccsd89 tech

    Hello

     

    Version 10.9 (421) of WGM seems to work normal with 10.11.6

     

    Regards

    Gérard