Composer User Guide 8.0 - JAMF Software

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Creating Packages Depending on the nature of the files you want to package, Composer offers six different methods of package creation: Snapshots. Composer takes before and after snapshots of your boot partition and builds a package source based on the changes. This method allows you to monitor installations in all locations on the boot drive. If necessary, you can also quit Composer or log out/reboot during the installation process. File system monitoring. Composer uses the File System Events (FSEvents) framework to monitor any changes that are made to the file system during the installation process. A package is then built based on the changes. This method does not allow you to quit Composer or log in/reboot during the installation process. In addition, an excess of file system activity can cause FSEvents to miss changes. Using pre-installed software. Software or files that are pre-installed on your computer can be built into a package based on Composer’s bundled diff files. This method allows you to build packages without monitoring the installation process. Dragging contents from the Finder. A simple drag-and-drop process allows you to package files already installed on your computer. Using an existing package. Composer allows you to make modifications to an existing package or convert between the PKG and DMG package formats. Packing an operating system (OS package). You can create disk images of pre-configured operating systems to enhance consistency across your network. Special preferences can be set to ensure the removal of unnecessary files before Composer created the disk image. This section explains how to create packages using these six methods. Creating a Package Using Snapshots If the files you want to package are not already installed on your hard drive, Composer can take a snapshot of your boot partition before and after the files have been installed and create a package source based on the changes. Composer can take two kinds of snapshots: Normal snapshots. These snapshots capture any new files on the boot drive. These snapshots can take anywhere from ten seconds to several minutes depending on your hardware and the number of files on your boot drive. New and modified snapshots. These snapshots capture any new files on the boot drive, as well as any files that have been modified. These snapshots can take longer than normal snapshots, since Composer records the modification date of each file while performing the snapshot. There are a several benefits to using the snapshot approach: Composer monitors installations in all locations on the boot drive. You can quit Composer during the installation process. 6
You can logout or reboot during the installation process. If you delete a file while making modifications to a package source, it may be possible to restore the deleted file. For more information about restoring deleted files, see the “Editing a Package Source” section. To create a package using snapshots: 1 Open Composer and authenticate. 2 Click the New Package icon in the toolbar (Command + N). 3 Under the Monitor Installation heading in the sidebar, select Snapshot. 4 Select Normal Snapshot or New & Modified Snapshot in the New Package pane. 5 Click the button labeled Choose. 6 Enter a name for the package and click Begin. 7 Install and configure your software, and then click the Build Package button to initialize the “after” snapshot. 7
Page 1 and 2: Composer 8.0 User Guide Snow Leopar
Page 3: Contents Chapter 1 Introduction to
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Composer User Guide 8.0 - JAMF Software

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