Radmind Manual for Mac OS X
From radmind
(→The basic idea: Added text from Ofir's PDF) |
(→Getting Started: Added text from Ofir's PDF) |
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==Getting Started== | ==Getting Started== | ||
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| + | Download and install Radmind on two computers – one will be the server, the other will be the client. It is highly recommended that any data on the clients is backed up. It’s very easy to delete users’ data with Radmind. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Setting up the server=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | On the server open Radmind Assistant and select Run Setup Steps from the Session menu. In the First Time Run window select I’m new and I want to setup a Radmind server. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Follow the setup procedure and when the setup is complete the Radmind Assistant will close and Open the Server Manager. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Setting up the client=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | On the client open Radmind Assistant and select Run Setup Steps. This time select I’m new and I want to setup a managed client. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In the following screens, enter your Radmind server address, leaving the other options at their default values. You can skip the automation options at this point and continue. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The next window lets you select the negative transcript. You can simply select the one that fits your setup best and continue. The Lab Negative transcript is designed for giving you more control over the system while the Desktop Negative transcript gives users more control over their computers, allowing them to install printer drivers for example. Note that the loadset is uploaded as empty files. This is normal for loadsets associated with negative transcripts. The assistant will prompt you to quit all other applications – this is always a good idea. | ||
| + | |||
| + | When the upload is complete go back to the server and open Server Manager. Click Refresh in the Radmind Loadsets window and select to Verify and Check in. You can safely ignore the message that the transcript is incorrect – this refers to the lack of checksums. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Follow the prompts until you end up with a negative transcript assigned to your client | ||
| + | |||
| + | Go back to the client and continue. The next step is to create the base loadset. This can take a few minutes. When the process is complete you will be prompted to upload the base loadset to the server. Depending on your configuration this can take between 20 minutes and several hours. A high speed Ethernet connection and fast Macs at both end can help a lot. | ||
| + | |||
| + | When the upload is complete go back to the server and click Refresh again in the loadsets window. Follow the prompts to add the new loadset to your setup. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Updating a new client=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Assuming you have setup your server successfully you can now move on to update a new client. For this you will need a third Mac. Install Radmind and again open the Radmind Assistant. This time choose the third option – to update the client. When this is complete you should find the new client has inherited the software setup of your first client without affecting any data. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Read on to understand how to customise and get the best out of Radmind… | ||
| + | |||
==How Radmind works== | ==How Radmind works== | ||
==Transcripts, loadsets and command files== | ==Transcripts, loadsets and command files== | ||
Revision as of 11:06, 29 November 2006
A special thanks goes to Ofir Gal for writing this document and his continued support of the Radmind project.
The basic idea
Radmind (remote administration daemon) is a client management system that allows you to create a specific setup on a single Mac OS X system and then be able to implement the same setup on multiple clients. Most importantly, Radmind enables you to install updates and new apps on a single Mac and then force the other Macs to inherit the same configuration. It can be set to automatically bring back systems to a pristine state every night in a college lab or as a way to distribute new system updates on demand.
Radmind supports multiple configurations so one Radmind server can handle several departments in your organization, each with its own setup and applications.
At its core, Radmind operates as a tripwire; it is able to detect differences between the server and the client to any managed file system object, e.g. files, directories, links, etc. However, Radmind goes further than just integrity checking: once a difference is detected, Radmind can optionally take action.
This is ideal for small to large businesses as well as schools and universities. Radmind not only lets you upgrade and keep all systems the same, it also lets you downgrade if you need to. Radmind is generally useful if you have three or more Macs that need to run similar or identical configurations.
You can use Radmind to combat any application or system corruption and even deliberate mis- configuration by simply running the Radmind update session. When used with checksums, Radmind also verifies the integrity of files and any damaged ones are replaced.
Radmind even works in super user mode (Command+S at startup) allowing a system administrator to repair a system that won't start properly.
Radmind can be used in conjunction with Apple Software Restore ( ASR ), NetBoot, NetInstall and Carbon Copy Cloner.
Radmind is a very powerful tool that can also delete important files. It is therefore recommended that you read this document through and only then attempt to use Radmind. It is also a good idea to experiment on test systems before deploying the setup in the real world (if such a thing exists). OS X, unlike its predecessors, installs a large number of files, and you'll want to choose which to manage in the process of your testing.
Radmind does not require a special "master" client for generating updates for other clients; any Radmind client can become the master by simply updating it with Radmind.
Radmind can be set to skip user data and other files - that is leave user documents untouched while updating the rest of the system.
Radmind can be started manually, or automated to run at startup, login, logout or at timed intervals. But before you get ahead of yourself, let's start with the basics...
Getting Started
Download and install Radmind on two computers – one will be the server, the other will be the client. It is highly recommended that any data on the clients is backed up. It’s very easy to delete users’ data with Radmind.
Setting up the server
On the server open Radmind Assistant and select Run Setup Steps from the Session menu. In the First Time Run window select I’m new and I want to setup a Radmind server.
Follow the setup procedure and when the setup is complete the Radmind Assistant will close and Open the Server Manager.
Setting up the client
On the client open Radmind Assistant and select Run Setup Steps. This time select I’m new and I want to setup a managed client.
In the following screens, enter your Radmind server address, leaving the other options at their default values. You can skip the automation options at this point and continue.
The next window lets you select the negative transcript. You can simply select the one that fits your setup best and continue. The Lab Negative transcript is designed for giving you more control over the system while the Desktop Negative transcript gives users more control over their computers, allowing them to install printer drivers for example. Note that the loadset is uploaded as empty files. This is normal for loadsets associated with negative transcripts. The assistant will prompt you to quit all other applications – this is always a good idea.
When the upload is complete go back to the server and open Server Manager. Click Refresh in the Radmind Loadsets window and select to Verify and Check in. You can safely ignore the message that the transcript is incorrect – this refers to the lack of checksums.
Follow the prompts until you end up with a negative transcript assigned to your client
Go back to the client and continue. The next step is to create the base loadset. This can take a few minutes. When the process is complete you will be prompted to upload the base loadset to the server. Depending on your configuration this can take between 20 minutes and several hours. A high speed Ethernet connection and fast Macs at both end can help a lot.
When the upload is complete go back to the server and click Refresh again in the loadsets window. Follow the prompts to add the new loadset to your setup.
Updating a new client
Assuming you have setup your server successfully you can now move on to update a new client. For this you will need a third Mac. Install Radmind and again open the Radmind Assistant. This time choose the third option – to update the client. When this is complete you should find the new client has inherited the software setup of your first client without affecting any data.
Read on to understand how to customise and get the best out of Radmind…
