Tag Archives: Mandrill

Using Munki and AutoPkg to automate Mac software deployment (Part 1)

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Recently Munki v2.01 was released and now more than ever with the help of other apps it is easier to automate software deployment. With help with AutoPkg (and AutoPkgr) you can quickly set up a Munki server to deliver software to all your Macs. In the time it takes to download one new app and update each of your client workstations you could instead put it in your Munki repo and have it ready to deploy to everyone.

Munki allows you to automate software deployment. When you have more than one or two Macs to ensure that they are up to date with security, Flash, Java or other app updates you being to realize that an automated system can save you time and maybe even your sanity. You don’t backup manually, of course, you automate it. When it’s important and you want it done right, then some planning ahead of time and automation will make your life much easier.

If you have not yet set up a Munki server then follow along as I walk you through setting Munki 2.01 with AutoPkgr 1.1 in part 1 of this blog post of Munki and AutoPkg. In part 2 I will go into further detail of how to use MunkiAdmin (Mac app) and Mandrill (a node.js web server) to edit and maintain your Munki set up. Pros and cons of each method will be touched upon. Using the command line in the past was required but I will show you how some really good apps and web services can help you maintain your automated software deployment workflow.

Note: Munki requires only a web server to deploy software, while traditionally the munki tools ran on a Mac. You can put your software repo on any web server. I will show you the set up on a Mac for the purposes of this blog post.

Steps to a basic Munki server set up on a Mac running 10.8, 10.9, or 10.10:
1. Install latest Munki tools (v.2.01 at the time I write this), restart
muni tools 2.01 pkg

muni tools 2.01 pkg

2. Install AutoPKGr (v.1.1 at the time I write this)

AutoPkgr icon

Install AutoPkg, and Git using AutoPkgr.
Install autopkg and git using autopkgr

Install autopkg and git using autopkgr

3. Set your Munki repo to some folder (for example, /Users/Shared/munki_repo)
Munki repo

Munki repo

4. Set up web services on OS X by manually editing httpd.conf document root to your Munki repo or with Server.app, setting your munki_repo as where you store your site files.
Server.app Website document root munki repo

Server.app Website document root munki repo

6. Add recipes to AutoPKGr and choose apps. Set a schedule for AutoPkgr.
Configure AutoPkgr

Configure AutoPkgr

7. Check for apps manually the first time, and let AutoPKG download them to your repo
Configure AutoPkgr schedule

Configure AutoPkgr schedule

8. Check your repo for a manifests folder, and if it is not there, create it
Munki repo manifests

Munki repo manifests

9. Download icon importer, move to /usr/local/munki folder, run against your repo
mv iconimporter /usr/local/munki/iconimporter.py
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/munki/iconimporter.py
cd /usr/local/munki ; sudo ./iconimporter.py /Users/Shared/munki_repo/
iconimporter munki repo

iconimporter munki repo

Next, go to the icons folder in your repo, pick a fav icon and rename if necessary (some have more than one icon with name with “_1, _2, etc”).
10. Open MunkiAdmin and add packages to catalogs as needed, edit package info (add developer and category info, descriptions etc as needed), then create a client manifest.
11. Choose apps to install for clients (choose from installs, optional installs, uninstalls)
12. Set client id and repoURL on actual clients.

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/ManagedInstalls ClientIdentifier “test-client”

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/ManagedInstalls SoftwareRepoURL “http://ip.addr.ess”

Done. Your munki server is set up and ready for clients to connect. Next up, in part 2, we will look at Munki’s client facing app, the Managed Software Center. We will also look at how to use Munki Admin (Mac app) and Mandrill (a node.js web server) to edit and maintain your Munki set up. Pros and cons of each method will be touched upon. Using the command line with Munki was required in the past but the Munki ecosystem has grown and there are some really good apps and web services can help you maintain your automated software deployment workflow.
Further Reading:
1. What’s new in Munki 2  (Links to apps in the Munki ecosystem)
2. Munki 2 Demonstations setup (basic walkthrough setup)