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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Mac OS X Upgate Packages

Mickwilli - Jan 12, 2006 - 8:52 pm

Hello

Is there a way i can install lot's of Packages that i have downloaded all at once. I need to be able to install them on a lot of old G3 iMac's and i'd use Software update if it wouldn't blow the internet Cap Real Quick.

Thanks
Mike

DeltaMac - Jan 12, 2006 - 9:45 pm

Yes, I do this all the time. You cannot use more than one installer at a time with Jaguar (OS X 10.2) and older. Panther (OS X 10.3) and newer will let you launch as many .pkg installers as you want. I have launched as many as twenty at the same time. Each installs one at a time, but continues through every installer that you have launched, then 'optimizes' the drive when the last install is complete. The installers DO NOT begin automatically as with Software Update. You must click through the various progress screens for EVERY installer. All those mouse clicks is the only disadvantage.
There might be a way to speed this up with an AppleScript, or with Automater - but I have not pursued that.

- Dale

Mickwilli - Jan 12, 2006 - 11:39 pm

I knew that but we need something better so that is no good.

Can you re-open this for me.

Thanks
Mike

Natobasso - Jan 13, 2006 - 3:31 pm

Howdy!

Why not just download a combo updater? It will contain all the packages and upgrades you'll need. Remember that there are limits to what your G3 iMac can handle, os x-wise. Check here for how high you can go and what updates you can install, firmware-wise:
http://www.apple.com/support/imac/g3/

Here's a great info page for G3 OS X combo and stand-alone updates:
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/macosxupdates.html

Natobasso - Jan 13, 2006 - 7:33 pm

Actually the combined updater gives you all the single updates at once (up to a certain point), so it does actually help you a lot…

Mickwilli - Feb 18, 2006 - 7:11 pm

Well actually there isn't really any limits on how far a G3 iMac can go. As long as it doesn't have a toung (Tray Loading) it can go up to tiger. I speek from experence. I have a G3 iMac 350mhz running 10.4 rather well!

In the end i gave in and just made a new image. However i would have thought that software update would have opened the packages from the Hard Drive and install them as usual for me. Sadily not.

However if you come accross a program that will do updates like that without the need to download them every time please let me know.

Thanks
Mike

Natobasso - Feb 21, 2006 - 12:10 am

You can either get combined updaters or update as they are released. i don't know of any other ways to do it. Want me to put your question back to queue so you can let other techs try to answer this one?

Mickwilli - Feb 21, 2006 - 12:22 am

Yea Mite As well

Natobasso - Feb 21, 2006 - 12:32 am

Kay. Here you go!

skapp - Feb 21, 2006 - 11:29 am

I'm not real sure I quite understand the problem, but you are aware that you can use Software Update to just download and save an update to the hard drive. You can then distribute it over a local net or by CD to other machines without the need to re-download on each computer.

Mickwilli - Feb 21, 2006 - 9:42 pm

Yes i'm totally aware of that.

The problem would be that updating 20 diffrent computers with 30 diffrent updates it takes a long time, and a lot of human input.

When software update does it it does it efficiently.
Gives you the software licence agreements and then procedes do download them and install them with out any user input. It then optimises the drive when it is finsihed installing everything.
However it does not install updates if you just throw them at it form the drive.

I need a way to install the updates off the network or another drive.
Any ideas

stottm - Feb 21, 2006 - 9:56 pm

You need to get this: http://www.apple.com/remotedesktop/ It's a whole lot more then just Remote Control... The software distribution features are on par with Microsoft's SMS or Novell Zen. It's really easy. You can download the updates, set them into a collection and push that collection to multiple computers. The only downside is the cost, but it will save you a ton of time! There is a free online seminar were you can learn more about it.

Quotes from the Apple site:

"You’ve Never Had It So Easy With its state-of-the-art software distribution features, Apple Remote Desktop 2 makes installing software on the Macs you manage a virtual walk in the park. It lets you remotely install new software on any number of your networked Macs without interrupting the client systems or requiring any interaction."

"Apple Remote Desktop 2 also lets you create custom install packages — containing company-specific software or files, for example. Or if you want to copy files and folders to targeted locations in your clients’ hard drives, you can do that, too.

Apple Remote Desktop 2 allows you to specify multiple software packages for consecutive installation. Once you get the process started, you’re done, even if the package requires a restart. Apple Remote Desktop will detect and offer to restart the computer for you upon completion of the installation.

It also enables you to schedule your distributions, so you can set it to perform your installations durings those times when network traffic is at its lowest."