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MDS 5.1

Set up and provision Macs with MDS

Category: Utilities
Price: Free
Popularity: Low
Version String: 5.1 (50031)
Release Date: 2023-09-21
Architecture: Intel & AppleSilicon(ARM)
Minimum OS: macOS 12.0
Vendor Name: Twocanoes Software, Inc
Homepage: twocanoes.com

Version History 5.1 (50031)

Version 5.1 Build 50031
• Fixed issue with Rosetta
• Updated and improved DFU section
• Minor bug fixes and improvements
Version 5.0 Build 50028
MDS 5 is a paid upgrade that requires a license file.
• Single button DFU mode: On Apple Silicon Macs, putting a Mac into DFU mode requires a complicated series of keypresses. With MDS, it is a single button. Plug in the Mac to the DFU port and press a button and the Apple Silicon Mac goes into DFU mode. Easy as that.
• Automatic Restore: MDS 5 can detect a Mac plugged into the DFU port and automatically put it into DFU mode, wipe and restore macOS. An MDS workflow can then be run for final setup.
• Fully Automated Mass Restoring: MDS can restore multiple Macs at once. Using the Acroname for MDS USB Hub, up to 5 Macs can be restored simultaneously, increasing the efficiency of deployments.
• Mass Restoring: Using the Single Button DFU and Apple Configurator 2 integration, Macs can be plugged into the DFU port on the Mac running MDS to be put into DFU mode and then unplugged and plugged into any USB hub. Repeat and then mass restore all the Macs plugged into the hub using MDS.
• Licensing: MDS licensing is setup using a mobile configuration file for easy setup. The compiled, notarized, and signed version of the app now requires a license.
• Intel Macs can be restored in recovery for Ventura without launching the installer user interface.
Version 4.3 Build 48086
• Converted Download macOS to use Mist
• On Apple Silicon Macs, user is now prompted to use "Erase Mac" rather than Disk Utility
• Automaton firmware enhancements (timing issues)
• UI tweaks
• Status indicator for remote log
• Progress indicator for downloading macOS
• Fixed PHP for Monterey
• Fixed issue when not installing macOS and running first-boot commands
• Fixed issue where loginlog did not run over login window when not installing macOS and running first-boot commands
• Added new icon
• Added new dmg background
Version 4.1 Build 41137
• macOS Monterey compatibility
• Bug fixes
Version 4.0 Build 40106
• Apple Silicon Support: Run workflows on Apple Silicon Macs
• Arduino on Apple Silicon: Reduce the time in front of an M1 Mac to less than 7 seconds!
• Override Workflow Options: Use a script to select which workflow to run based on hardware properties
• Works with Log App: Shows when packages are being installed on Apple Silicon Macs
• Works with with Auto Advance: Zero touch setup of Macs enrolled in Apple School Manager or Apple Business Manager
• MDS Deploy: A replacement for Imagr to run workflows on Apple Silicon Macs
• Unmount workflow resources drive on MDS Deploy exit
• Package Signing Certificates: Any identity can now be used for signing packages.
Version 3.6 Build 36240
Limited Big Sur support (see remaining issues)
Version 3.5 Build 35201
• Migrate settings: Export all MDS settings to move to another machine.
• More MDM abilities: Lock device, set firmware password, change device name, schedule OS update, list user accounts, remove user account, change user password. Right-click an MDM device to send commands.
• Reboot after first boot: Choose whether to have a workflow reboot after running first boot items.
• Any scripts that have com.twocanoes.mds-pre as a prefix in the name are run first.
• Fix showing Munki version.
• Change Download macOS to not require special access to user folders.
Version 3.0 Build 30108
• Updated user interface
• All services run in the background
• All new web services
• Inventory powered by MunkiReport
• Service version monitoring
Version 2.2 Build 22014
• URL for macOS installer or ASR disk image
• Display computer names for enrolled MDM computers
• New MDM commands
• Delete device from MDM server
• Other enhancements: Reordering of resources, Prevent sleep, Automatic download of online resources, MDS workflow name variable, Improved Imagr UI, Automaton improvements, New sample packages, Persisted location for select folder dialog, Customize Run command
• Misc fixes
Version 2.1 Build 21853
• Fixed issue with repackaging and copying
• Popup menu options for Variables
Version 2.0.1 Build 20252
• Fixed issue with .app error
• Fixed Preferences UI issues and log button issue in main UI
• Fixed toolbar
• New Imagr build to fix issue when new APFS volume is created and cache needs to be cleared
• Initial MDM Profile UI has wrong text
• Save to volume creates duplicate package archive folder in source each time a workflow is saved
• Show status for First Login installs
• Cursor jumps when typing in the workflow name textbox
Version 2.0 Build 20119
• MDM with Deployment Enrollment
• Download macOS installers right in MDS
• ASR restores
• Support for macOS Catalina (10.15)
• User account photos
• Efficient workflows
• Pre-install scripts with ASR
• Updated graphics for both light and dark mode
• Self-signed certificate is now shared between services and has a better tool for creation
• Multiple options for having MDS Automaton restart Mac to different Internet Recovery modes
• Added support for skipping ScreenTime Setup Assistant in Catalina
Version 1.9 Build 19115
• First user log in option for package installation
• Updated preference window
• Improved Chromebook support for wireless (802.1x support)
• Option to restart or shutdown after running workflow. Previously this was only available if not installing macOS.
• Added language sample script and updated other sample scripts.
• Better Arduino timing when flashing software
Version 1.8.1 Build 18103
• Fixed issue with packages installed with the workflow
• Fixed issues where home directory didn't exist for additional scripts
• Fixed regression where blank password did not work
• Added additional sample script to show how resources can be copied to user desktop
Version 1.8 Build 18059
• Workflow syncing to remote master
• Improved automaton creation and configuration
• Improved workflow management: duplicate, delete multiple, export selected, export with or without passwords
• Automatically erase FileVault volumes with automaton
• Automaton for Chromebooks
• Have a workflow create multiple user accounts
• Set user account to automatically log in
• Computer name variables
Version 1.7 Build 12406
• Hosting Munki Repository
• Munki Client Configuration
• Signing Packages
• Computer naming is now done before packages are installed.
• Improved support for unicode characters
Version 1.6 Build 11641
• Webserver for Hosting Images
• First Boot Scripts
• Target Volume
• Rename Volume
• Variables
• Moved network options to its own section
• A blank password can now be specified for a user
• Turned off “wait for networking” in Imagr since that option is handled in the package scripts.
• Fixed issue where the password hint didn’t work unless you used a ssh key
• Fixed issue with profiles did not install
• Fixed quote in run script
• Tweaked automaton configuration to make it more reliable
• Added a warning if no user account is created and setup assistant was skipped
• Moved log to toolbar button
Version 1.5 Features
• Script and profile ordering
• Package install pre-macOS and post-macOS
• Password hint support
Version 1.4 Features
• Updated Workflow UI
• Ability to create user including long name, short name, password, UID, and SSH key
• Prompt for computer name or set as serial number
• Skip Setup Assistant with option to configure to allow Location Services automatically
• Skip User Privacy and Location Setup for new users
• Enable Screen Sharing
• Join WiFi after macOS install
• Join WiFi when launching Imagr in recovery
• Try both en0 and en1 when configuring WiFi in both recovery and post install if those options are set.
• Can specify a .app instead of a .dmg for installing macOS (though both work).
• Imagr no longer creates an unneeded folder that results in a /Previous Content folder getting created.
• Default name of the disk image is now first active workflow name.
• Remote logging to MDS app and Imagr Server
• LED flashing for Automaton monitoring
• Enable SSH option
• Support for installing profiles
Version 1.3.1 Features
• Change Disk Image Volume Name
• Prompt and Set Computer Name
• MDS Automaton Bootloader Command
• Specify Package Folder
• Customized Imagr serverurl
• FileVault Support
Version 1.2.0 Features
• Import/Export: Workflows can now be imported and exported.
• Package Only Installs: If Install macOS is deselected, no OS upgrade or install will be performed, and Imagr will just install the specified packages.
• Firmware Update Prompting: If firmware updates for the automaton are available, the user will be prompted when trying to configure the automaton.
• Automaton DEP configuration mode
• Automaton Boot to Recovery mode
Version 1.1.0 Features
• New name: Mac Deploy Stick is now called MDS.
• Per workflow macOS: Specify the OS in each workflow.
• Packages & Apps: Apps placed in the Packages folder will be installed in the target Mac.
• Scripts: Scripts can be added to a workflow to be run after packages are installed.
• Upgrade macOS: If "Erase and Install" option is deselected, the target Mac's existing OS will be upgraded with the specified macOS installer instead of being erased and replaced.
• More Package Types: MDS now supports bundle package types (both pkg and mpkg).
• Faster: When a workflow is run, the packages are installed faster.
• Automatically Run Workflow: An option to have a specified workflow run automatically after the specified countdown.
Version 1.0.1 Features
• Improved process for flashing Arduino
• Fixed bug related to downloading resources
Version 1.0 Features
• Create Workflows
• Install Packages
• Install macOS
• Label Workflows
• Automate Restores
• Create Bootable macOS Volumes

Description:

The Fastest Way to Deploy Macs – For Free!

Deploy Macs in Minutes

Quickly set up and provision Macs with MDS. Within minutes of a Mac pulled out of the box, it will be set up, configured, and ready to deploy. MDS works with all Macs, including new Macs with Secure Boot and System Integrity Protection. MDS sets up all the resources for booting from the recovery partition or an external drive, wiping and installing macOS, and installing require packages. It is the easiest, fastest way to deploy Macs.


Features

✓ Create Workflows
✓ Install Packages
✓ Install macOS
✓ Label Workflows
✓ Automate Restores
✓ Create Bootable macOS Volumes
✓ Configure Automaton
✓ Save to Disk Image
✓ Save to External Volume
✓ Add Packages to Workflows
✓ Add Workflow Descriptions


Everything You Need for Mac Deployment
MDS 3 raises the level for a Mac Deployment service. MDS 3 includes package management with Munki, inventory fleet management with MunkiReport, MDM with MicroMDM, and much more. Quickly set up and deploy MDS 3 on a Mac and have all the resources you need to successfully deploy dozens or thousands of Macs.

Shop Hardware
The MDS Automaton automates the commands to start up in the recovery partition and kick off workflows. It makes it easy to set up and deploy a large number of Macs. Once the workflow starts running, the automaton can be unplugged and plugged into the next Mac. We recommend 5 automatons per tech that will be deploying Macs for peak efficiency!

Restore from the Recovery Partition
MDS works by booting from the recovery partition (holding command-R at boot) and restoring from an external drive or web server and then installing optional packages. In the past, administrators used NetBoot or booting from an external volume, but currently shipping Macs do not support NetBooting or booting from an external drive without changing security settings.

Completely Free!
MDS is free! Use it to deploy as many Macs as you want for as long as you want. It is also open source hosted on bitbucket so you can depend on it being around in the future.

We offer paid support options and encourage you to support the project by purchasing a license, but you are under no commitment to do so. We also sell MDS Automatons to fully automate your Mac deployments, but also make the source and compiled version of the firmware available to do it yourself.

Perfect Complement for MDM & DEP
MDS does not replace a client management system, but works seamlessly with it. Whether you are using Munki, FileWave, or an MDM-based client management system, use MDS to install the package that installs the client or enrolls the system.

If you are using Apple Device Enrollment Program (DEP), MDS can be used to quickly restore non-responsive systems with an automated workflow for re-installing macOS.

Create External Resources on External Drive
MDS can save the macOS installer, workflows, and configuration on an external volume for quick and easy access. Boot up from the recovery partition or the external drive, and you have all the resources you need for re-installing macOS and installer packages.

Deploy from Any Web Server
MDS goes beyond external volumes. Export resources to a disk image and then copy the disk image to any web server. You can then restore the Mac directly from a web server in the recovery partition without any external resources. Boot into recovery, mount the image from the web server, run the workflow selector (Imagr) and go.

Automate with an Automaton
If you are deploying a lot of Macs, speed is important. Let the Automaton do the keystrokes for you. Using an inexpensive Arduino Micro, MDS turns it into a powerful Automaton that fully automates the process. All you do is start up the Mac with the option key held down, insert the Automaton into any USB port and you are done. The Automaton does the rest.

Use a macOS Externally Bootable Disk
MDS walks you through creating a bootable external disk so you can run workflows from an external drive or do maintenance on macOS without booting into the internal drive.