What’s New in MDS 6.0

Build 60024

MDS can be updated by downloading the latest version from the Version History page.

Since MDS 5 was released, the landscape for deploying Macs has evolved. Apple Silicon Macs have mostly replaced Intel Macs, and the process for deploying Apple Silicon Macs is focused on restoring the OS in DFU mode. MDM has become a hard requirement for managing Macs once they have been deployed. Other related tools have been released that are better suited for specific tasks for deploying Macs. Also, deploying PHP on Apache on macOS is difficult due to the requirements for code signing.

MDS 6 will focus on the core features for deploying Macs quickly and efficiently. Features that are no longer supported or are less commonly used will be removed. 

Improvements

MDS 6 will focus on preparing any Mac from 2013 to present for deployment. MDS has powerful tools to create workflows for initial setup, initial software installation and automation. MDS 6 will focus on using workflows to prepare a Mac for deployment quickly.

Changes

1. Munki: Munki will be removed as a separate service but can still be installed with the built-in Apache web server managed by MDS.
2. MunkiReport: MunkiReport support will be removed due to the lack of support for PHP 8 and code signing requirements for PHP in macOS. Using MunkiReport in MDS was not commonly used and the latest version of MunkiReport requires PHP 8, which was not supported on macOS.
3. MicroMDM: We no longer offer MDM certificates for enabling MicroMDM and cloud MDMs are now common for managing Macs. 
4. Apple Silicon DFU: These features have been moved to DFU Blaster. DFU Blaster has a free option to put a Mac into DFU mode to restore with Apple Configurator. It also has advanced features for automatically restoring over DFU mode. Future development for DFU restore will be focused on DFU Blaster.
5. Download macOS: This feature has always depended on the Mist command line. Since MDS 5 was released, Mist has a full-featured GUI. It is an open-source, free tool, and we encourage people to use Mist to download macOS installers and IPSW. Our efforts for downloading macOS will focus on supporting Mist going forward.
6. Remote logging server. Remote logging is still supported, but the remote logging web app has been removed. To support a wider range of external systems, we will focus on defining webhooks to alert external systems for changes.

Dependencies

The following dependencies will be removed:

1. OpenSSL
2. Crillo Web Service
3. GCDWebserver
4. Paddle

The use of Sparkle for software updates will remain.

• fixed issue 546 : MunkiReport MDS folder should be moved View
• wip View
• cleaned up dependencies to make building easier View
• fixed links to carthage files View
• wip View
• fixed build issues; added additional logging for acroname hub View
• added missing resources View
• added missing resources View
• multiple acroname hub show all ports View
• changed MDM to import; fixed UI issues; hide munkireport due to PHP issue View
• removed php7 option; removed munki View
• removed munki from workflows View
• fixed acroname issue View
• improved apple silicon first boot View
• flipped to opting out of rosetta install View
• fixed rosetta issue View
• wip View
• added missing files View
• added toolbar View
• added icon for automaton View
• some code cleanup View
• removed unused pieces View
• cleaned up ignored files View
• added background image to source control View
• fixed strings and struts a bit View
• wip View
• removed unused files View
• bumped version View
• added new Apple AI skip View