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Mac Admin Resources
#

This page lists essential resources for Mac administrators, including documentation, tools, communities, and GitHub repositories to help manage, troubleshoot, and automate tasks on macOS.

Official Documentation
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  • Apple Support - macOS
    Apple Support - macOS
    Official Apple documentation covering features, troubleshooting, and configuration of macOS.

  • Apple Developer - macOS Deployment
    Apple Developer - macOS Deployment
    Best practices for deploying macOS in enterprise environments.

  • Apple Configurator 2 Guide
    Apple Configurator 2
    Apple’s guide for using Apple Configurator 2 to configure and deploy iOS and macOS devices.

  • MDM Protocol
    Apple MDM Protocol
    Official documentation for Mobile Device Management (MDM), including macOS device management at scale.

Tools and Utilities
#

  • Homebrew
    Homebrew
    A package manager for macOS that simplifies the installation and management of open-source software. Essential for managing software dependencies.

  • Munki
    Munki
    An open-source tool for managing software installations and updates on macOS. Widely used in enterprise environments for deploying and managing applications.

  • Jamf Pro
    Jamf Pro
    A comprehensive MDM solution for Apple devices, enabling efficient management and deployment in enterprise environments.

  • MacAdmins Slack
    MacAdmins Slack
    A vibrant community for Mac admins to discuss issues, share resources, and get support.

  • ADHelper
    ADHelper GitHub
    A set of scripts for managing Active Directory interactions on macOS devices, simplifying integration with Windows-based networks.

  • osquery
    osquery GitHub
    An open-source project that allows you to query macOS system data in a SQL-like format. Useful for security auditing and monitoring.

  • Security-Updates
    Security-Updates GitHub
    A script for checking and applying Apple security updates to macOS systems.

macOS Security
#

  • System Integrity Protection (SIP) Overview
    System Integrity Protection (SIP)
    Apple’s guide to SIP, which protects system files and processes from modification.

  • Apple Security Updates
    Apple Security Updates
    Stay informed about macOS security updates and patches.

  • macOS Hardening Guide
    macOS Hardening Guide
    A comprehensive guide to improving the security of macOS systems with configuration recommendations and best practices.

Scripting and Automation
#

  • AppleScript Resources
    AppleScript Guide
    Official AppleScript documentation for automating tasks on macOS.

  • macOS Terminal Commands
    macOS Terminal Commands
    A list of essential macOS Terminal commands for system administration.

  • Automator and Shortcuts
    Automator and Shortcuts for Mac
    Automate repetitive tasks using Apple’s Automator and Shortcuts app for macOS.

  • Setup Mac
    Setup Mac GitHub
    A minimalistic and automated script for setting up a fresh macOS environment, installing software, and configuring system settings.

  • macos-defaults
    macos-defaults GitHub
    A collection of macOS configuration scripts to improve system defaults and streamline productivity.

Communities and Forums
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  • MacAdmins Community
    MacAdmins.org
    A community for IT professionals managing Apple devices. Offers conferences, training, and resources.

  • r/macadmin - Reddit
    r/macadmin
    A Reddit community for Apple system administrators, offering discussions, resources, and advice.

  • Mac SysAdmin Mailing List
    Mac SysAdmin Mailing List
    A mailing list for macOS system administrators to exchange information, tips, and solutions.

Blogs and Articles
#

  • MacAdmin Blog
    MacAdmin Blog
    A blog dedicated to tips, guides, and news for macOS administration and deployment.

  • The Mac Admins Podcast
    Mac Admins Podcast
    A podcast covering a wide range of topics related to macOS administration and Apple device management.

  • Derek’s Mac Admins Blog
    Derek’s Blog
    A blog with technical tutorials and notes for macOS administrators.

  • macOS Deployment Guide - Scripting and Automation
    macOS Deployment Guide
    A resource for best practices in macOS deployment, with a focus on scripting and automation.

Books
#

  • “Mac OS X Internals” by Amit Singh
    A classic book for understanding the inner workings of macOS, useful for troubleshooting and deep system administration.

  • “Learning macOS System Administration” by Jeremy J. M. Cline
    A comprehensive book on macOS administration, covering configuration, automation, and troubleshooting.

  • “Apple Pro Training Series: macOS Support Essentials”
    A guide for anyone seeking to get certified in Apple’s macOS support essentials.

Other Helpful Resources
#

Recommended GitHub Repositories for Mac Admins#

Here’s a curated list of GitHub repositories offering useful tools, scripts, and configurations for macOS administrators.

Tools for macOS Administration
#

  • Munki
    An open-source tool for managing software installations and updates across macOS systems. Great for large environments.

  • MacAdmin-Toolkit
    A toolkit of helpful scripts for macOS administrators, including automation and deployment utilities.

  • macOSDeploymentTools
    A collection of tools for deploying and managing macOS in enterprise environments, with scripts for system setup and configuration.

  • Jamf Pro API Scripts
    Scripts to interact with the Jamf Pro API, automating macOS device management tasks.

  • osx-vm-templates
    HashiCorp’s templates for creating macOS virtual machines, useful for CI/CD, testing, and automation.

Security and Monitoring Tools
#

  • osquery
    A powerful tool for querying macOS system data via SQL, ideal for security auditing and real-time system monitoring.

  • LittleSnitch
    GitHub repo for Little Snitch, a macOS firewall that helps monitor network traffic and block unwanted connections.

  • Checkr-Mac
    A monitoring tool for macOS providing system diagnostics and alerts for system health.

Scripting and Automation
#

  • macos-defaults
    A collection of macOS configuration scripts to improve system defaults and productivity.

  • setup_mac
    A minimalistic setup script for automating macOS environment configurations, including software installation and system preferences.

  • dotfiles
    A curated collection of dotfiles that help configure macOS environments for a variety of use cases.

  • **[MacOS-Autom

ation-Scripts](https://github.com/dale3h/macOS-Automation-Scripts)**
A set of scripts to automate common administrative tasks on macOS, such as software installation and system management.

These tools, resources, and communities should provide you with everything needed for efficient macOS administration, from system setup and configuration to automation, security, and troubleshooting.