How to Build a Mac for Off-Campus Deployment

Occasionally, a Mac needs to be deployed to an end user that is not on campus. While the @Home build process is convenient, it is not as reliable as an On-Campus build. Whenever possible, we prefer that you build the Mac and then ship it to the end user, rather than utilizing the @Home process.

This guide will help you build a Mac, perform some additional configuration, and ready it for shipment to an end user that is off-campus.

1. Build the Mac as 'normal':https://miworkspace.atlassian.net/wiki/x/A4BIH

2. After the initial build is complete, log in with the 'UM-Support' admin account

3. Navigate to System Settings -> Users & Groups, and create a new admin user account that matches the uniqname of the end user. This account should have a simple, temporary password that will be changed later. (e.g. - ChangeMe!)

4. Launch Managed Software Center, and apply any remaining updates or pending software installs.

5. Reboot the system once or twice, and log in to the uniqname account, making sure everything is working as expected.

6. Shutdown the Mac by navigating to  → ⏻ Shut Down…

7. Ship the Mac to the end user, and in your correspondence, let them know the temporary password that was created in Step 3.

8. When the user receives the Mac, they will log in with the uniqname account and temporary password

9. Once logged in, direct them to System Settings -> Users & Group, and click the small ⓘ next to their account. In the pop up window that appears click ‘Change…’ to change the password to match their current Kerberos/@umich.edu password.

10. Click ‘OK’ and close System Settings

11. Done! The Mac should now be ready for use.