Installing software to multiple macs over a network

[sim667]

We've got illustrator at work to install to about 30 machines, except our IT dept havent got time to do it, so have asked me to do it. Now this provides me with a grand oppurtunity to do some impressing, as the dept works closely with an apple consulting firm who come in every now and then.

Now as the IT technicians dont know anything about macs, they'd just go round the machines 1 by 1 doing the install.......

Im well aware that as we have apple remote desktop I can push out the install silently across the network, however ive never done it, so was wondering if anyone can help me, I'd really like to take the opportunity to impress a bit here

 

[Consultant]

Normally, you need the admin, and the password of all computers.
1. add computers to ARD admin
2. choose "install" and set a few options
3. done
Apple Remote Desktop, Mac App Store link, $80: http://bit.ly/egvby6

Will need this free thing to install Adobe CS software:
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/creativesuite/enterprisedeployment.html

 

[pismobrat]

Out of the box, I don't recommend the above install method.

Due to serial numbers and other package contents, it would be a challange

Use this link below. It might work with the new illustrator, it worked for me on the CS5 side of things..

http://www.bazmac.co.uk/blog/files/d72ef5d739e51b7bbfd15b8d9cf45d5d-49.php

 

[sim667]

Out of the box, I don't recommend the above install method.

Due to serial numbers and other package contents, it would be a challange

Use this link below. It might work with the new illustrator, it worked for me on the CS5 side of things..

http://www.bazmac.co.uk/blog/files/d72ef5d739e51b7bbfd15b8d9cf45d5d-49.php

Thanks, Ill look into that.

I'd read that installing cs5 stuff over ARD could be problematic.

 

[BrotherBeagle]

We've got illustrator at work to install to about 30 machines, except our IT dept havent got time to do it, so have asked me to do it. Now this provides me with a grand oppurtunity to do some impressing, as the dept works closely with an apple consulting firm who come in every now and then.

Now as the IT technicians dont know anything about macs, they'd just go round the machines 1 by 1 doing the install.......

Im well aware that as we have apple remote desktop I can push out the install silently across the network, however ive never done it, so was wondering if anyone can help me, I'd really like to take the opportunity to impress a bit here

I push Adobe stuff via Casper (1000+ workstations) without problem; but we've invested in JAMF as a solution provider.

I'm starting to play more with Munki to leverage some things, though... you might want to take a look here as well:

http://code.google.com/p/munki/wiki/MunkiAndAdobeCS5

 

[BrotherBeagle]

We've got illustrator at work to install to about 30 machines, except our IT dept havent got time to do it, so have asked me to do it. Now this provides me with a grand oppurtunity to do some impressing, as the dept works closely with an apple consulting firm who come in every now and then.

Now as the IT technicians dont know anything about macs, they'd just go round the machines 1 by 1 doing the install.......

Im well aware that as we have apple remote desktop I can push out the install silently across the network, however ive never done it, so was wondering if anyone can help me, I'd really like to take the opportunity to impress a bit here

I push Adobe stuff via Casper (1000+ workstations) without problem; but we've invested in JAMF as a solution provider.

I'm starting to play more with Munki to leverage some things, though... you might want to take a look here as well:

http://code.google.com/p/munki/wiki/MunkiAndAdobeCS5

As has been mentioned, ARD isn't a solution for this. You could work out a semi-hands off solution (mounting image over network, invoking installer, etc...), but it'd be more cumbersome than it's worth, really. ARD is really useful in a lot of areas, but large software deployment via ARD is not best practice.

 

[sim667]

I push Adobe stuff via Casper (1000+ workstations) without problem; but we've invested in JAMF as a solution provider.

I'm starting to play more with Munki to leverage some things, though... you might want to take a look here as well:

http://code.google.com/p/munki/wiki/MunkiAndAdobeCS5

As has been mentioned, ARD isn't a solution for this. You could work out a semi-hands off solution (mounting image over network, invoking installer, etc...), but it'd be more cumbersome than it's worth, really. ARD is really useful in a lot of areas, but large software deployment via ARD is not best practice.

Brill thanks, Ill have a look at that site.... it would certainly speed up a lot of things at work if i got this nailed....

You dont happen to know why illustrator will only install properly if we've got a web browser window open do you?