H+-+Sunset+2-+The+Death+of+Monolithic+Imaging


 * Convened** **by**: Colin Otis, The Dalton School cotis@dalton.org
 * Attendees:** I forgot to take attendance. Lots of brilliant people others might describe as "dashing" and "debonaire"


 * The Death of Monolithic Imaging **

Monolithic Imaging is no longer supported by Apple. With High Sierra, the file system has changed from HFS+ to APFS. It is not (currently?) possible to install an APFS image on an HFS+ drive due to missing firmware that is installed with High Sierra. Apple's recommended process is to install the OS, enroll device in MDM via DEP, and pull down configs/packages.

APFS imaging is possible, if machine is already on APFS. Need to get users to upgrade to High Sierra on their own.

**Last Resort Scenario** - High Sierra can be installed keeping HFS+ format (launch installer from terminal with /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/startosinstall --converttoapfs NO

This would let you make a deployable High Sierra monolithic image - kicking the can a little farther down the road.

DEP would work on out of box (new laptops) enrollment in MDM and policy/package download - however in practice it works great on mobile devices, not so great with laptops.

Announced TODAY - Apple is deprecating many features in macOS Server, including NetInstall. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208312

Tools: MDMs and Self Service Casper - JAMF Meraki Munki Imagr - will do the OS installing, in place of DeployStudio Configurator 3 can enroll devices in DEP DEP - can create multiple DEP servers.

Ghost for Windows imaging for Win 7 = great, Windows 10 not so much (crazy pricey licensing) Acronis True Image is great, amazing, and fast (so fast).
 * Windows Imaging **

No easy answer, we all will have to see what happens and try a lot of different things. Best practices include munki/JAMF/MDM to pull packages/configs after OS install