v5.0.0-beta4

[5.0.0-beta4]

2023-09-19

[5.x] Highlights

• Suport for macOS 15 Sequoia.
• New scheduled installation workflows allow administrators or the end user to specify a date and time for the installation of macOS updates/upgrades, Jamf Pro Policies, or enforced system restarts.
• New schedule workflow active option allows administrators to set exactly when the super workflow is active, thus allowing for "maintenance windows".
• MacAdmin's SOFA integration allows schedule and deadline options to align with macOS release dates (as opposed to when super discovers a macOS release).
• Completely rearchitected main super logic so all workflow options can be permanent (via managed preferences) or temporary until the requested workflow is completed.
• Completely rearchitected software update/upgrade discovery to significantly improve reliability, performance, and improve support for native macOS software update/upgrade deferral restrictions.
• Significantly improved behavior for alternate workflow targets (non-system updates, Jamf Pro Policies, and enforced system restarts) now support all deferral, schedule, deadline, and display options.
• Even more user interface customization options.
• Beta Wiki coming soon...

Compatibility Notes (5.x)

• super 5.x requires macOS 11 or newer.
• Several super 4.x command line options and managed preferences are not compatible with super 5.x
• Most super 3.0 command line options and managed preferences are not compatible with super 5.x
• Previously saved super 3.0 and 4.x Apple silicon authentication credentials are automatically migrated the first time super 5.x runs.
• Refer to this spreadsheet (tab separated values) for migrating super command line options to version 5.x.
• Refer to this spreadsheet (tab separated values) for migrating super managed preferences to version 5.x.
• Updated Jamf Pro Extension Attribute scripts now supports super versions 3.0, 4.x, and 5.x.
• Updated example MDM configuration profiles for super v5.x.
• Updated Jamf Pro External Application Custom Schema for super v5.0.0. (Huge thanks to @tonyyo11 for taking this on!)

Known Issues (5.0.0-beta4)

• For workflows authenticated via Jamf Pro API, a new behavior in softwareupdate on computers with macOS 14.4 or later can cause the automated download of macOS update/upgrade to fail. In the mean time, local authentication is always the most reliable.
• Still experiencing reliability issues when calling the Jamf Pro API via the new managed software updates feature. In the mean time, the classic Jamf Pro API remains stable and local authentication is always the most reliable.

Specific Changes (5.0.0-beta4)

• New macOS update/upgrade download workflow detects authentication errors and automatically adjusts to require authentication for macOS update/upgrade workflows.
• Updated user authentication dialog variations to support authenticated downloads and scheduled installations.
• Improved error checking for incompatible workflow settings when using scheduled installation options.
• Resolved an issue that caused inaccurate software update status reporting.
• Resolved several issues preventing proper scheduled installation dialog flows.
• Resolved issues where items were not properly resetting after a completed workflow.
• Resolved an issue preventing creation of the super service account. (Thanks to @TechTrekkie for finding this one!)
• Countless typo fixes and improvements to both regular and verbose log output.
• super 5.0.0-beta4 SHA-256: 94abd4765009a2aa79bcfb6396a00361102cba37f61c46421ef5504a6092445e

v5.0.0-beta3

[5.0.0-beta3]

2023-09-09

[5.x] Highlights

• Suport for macOS 15 Sequoia.
• New scheduled installation workflows allow administrators or the end user to specify a date and time for the installation of macOS updates/upgrades, Jamf Pro Policies, or enforced system restarts.
• New schedule workflow active option allows administrators to set exactly when the super workflow is active, thus allowing for "maintenance windows".
• MacAdmin's SOFA integration allows schedule and deadline options to align with macOS release dates (as opposed to when super discovers a macOS release).
• Completely rearchitected main super logic so all workflow options can be permanent (via managed preferences) or temporary until the requested workflow is completed.
• Completely rearchitected software update/upgrade discovery to significantly improve reliability, performance, and improve support for native macOS software update/upgrade deferral restrictions.
• Significantly improved behavior for alternate workflow targets (non-system updates, Jamf Pro Policies, and enforced system restarts) now support all deferral, schedule, deadline, and display options.
• Even more user interface customization options.
• Beta Wiki coming soon...

Compatibility Notes (5.x)

• super 5.x requires macOS 11 or newer.
• Several super 4.x command line options and managed preferences are not compatible with super 5.x
• Most super 3.0 command line options and managed preferences are not compatible with super 5.x
• Previously saved super 3.0 and 4.x Apple silicon authentication credentials are automatically migrated the first time super 5.x runs.
• Refer to this spreadsheet (tab separated values) for migrating super command line options to version 5.x.
• Refer to this spreadsheet (tab separated values) for migrating super managed preferences to version 5.x.
• Updated Jamf Pro Extension Attribute scripts now supports super versions 3.0, 4.x, and 5.x.
• Updated example MDM configuration profiles for super v5.x.
• Updated Jamf Pro External Application Custom Schema for super v5.0.0-beta3. (Huge thanks to @tonyyo11 for taking this on!)

Known Issues (5.0.0-beta3)

• A new behavior in softwareupdate on computers with macOS 14.5 or later can cause background downloads to fail if any local user password policies are enabled.
• Still experiencing reliability issues when calling the Jamf Pro API via the new managed software updates feature. In the mean time, the classic Jamf Pro API remains stable and local authentication is always the most reliable.

Specific Changes (5.0.0-beta3)

• New --schedule-workflow-active option allows you to define multiple weekday time frames that specify when the super workflow is allowed to be active (aka "maintenance windows"). Each schedule workflow active time frame must be specified using the following format DAY:hh:mm-hh:mm where weekdays are defined as MON|TUE|WED|THU|FRI|SAT|SUN and times are in 24-hour format. Multiple ranges are separated by a comma with no spaces. For example, if you want the super workflow to only run on the afternoons during the middle of the work week then you would specify --schedule-workflow-active=TUE:13:00-17:00,WED:13:00-17:00,THU:13:00-17:00.
• Significant rearchitecting to all deferral, scheduled installation, and deadline behaviors in order to coordinate with new --schedule-workflow-active option. In most cases, super automatically adjusts workflow timings to fit within the scheduled active time frames. These automatic adjustments always show as warnings in the super.log.
• Significantly improved --install-non-system-updates-without-restarting option now behaves similar to other workflow targets (like standard macOS updates) with full support for all deferral, schedule, deadline, and display options. However, available macOS updates/upgrades workflow targets still take priority even if this option is enabled.
• New --display-icon-light-file and --display-icon-dark-file options allow you to specify different icons for macOS light and dark modes. The existing --display-icon-file option remains as a default icon option and as a fail-over if the user's appearance mode cannot be resolved. (Thanks to @scriptingosx for a method to determine the user's appearance mode!)
• Significantly improved handling of display icon files to improve performance and reliability.
• New display accessory options are now aligned with workflow installation targets. These changes include:
  • The --display-accessory-update-file option has been renamed to --display-accessory-macos-minor-update-file.
  • The --display-accessory-upgrade-file option has been renamed to --display-accessory-macos-major-upgrade-file.
  • New --display-accessory-non-system-updates-file option shows a display accessory in dialogs when the --install-non-system-updates-without-restarting option is also enabled and the workflow target is only non-system updates.
  • New --display-accessory-jamf-policy-triggers-file option shows a display accessory in dialogs when the --install-jamf-policy-triggers option is also enabled and the workflow target is only Jamf Pro Policy Triggers.
  • New --display-accessory-restart-without-updates-file option shows a display accessory in dialogs when the --workflow-restart-without-updates option is also enabled and the workflow target is only a forced restart without any updates.
  • The --display-accessory-user-auth-file option has been removed as it does not align with workflow targets. Instead the user authentication dialog shows the display accessory that aligns with the workflow target.
  • The --display-accessory-default-file option remains unchanged as the default display accessory for all workflow targets if no other display accessory options are specified.
• Updated default date display string is now formated as "AbbreviatedWeekday AbbreviatedMonth Day". As always, this can be modifying by adjusting the DISPLAY_STRING_FORMAT_DATE parameter.
• Updated deferral button and deferral menu text for deferral times beyond the current day now read as "Tomorrow" or if further out, a date string.
• Updated day-based deadline dialogs now show the calculated deadline date (as opposed to the number of days specified as the deadline).
• New default date and time display string separator parameter DISPLAY_STRING_FORMAT_DATE_TIME_SEPARATOR now defaults to a single space (previously was statically set as a dash surrounded by spaces).
• Updated the default SOFA feed url. (Thanks to @headmin for the heads up!)
• Updated dialog title bar strings now clearly indicate if the target workflow is a "Required System Restart" versus a "Required Installation (No Restart)".
• Updated test mode to support validation of new scheduling options and workflow modes.
• Updated verbose logging now shows super script line numbers.
• Resolved an issue where setting the --scheduled-install-days or --scheduled-install-date options for the first time was showing a scheduled installation reminder dialog even if it was not needed.
• Resolved an issue where legacy super folder items were not being removed.
• Resolved an issue where the automatic zero date was inadvertently changing if there when there was a failover from the --schedule-zero-date-release option.
• Resolved an issue on Apple Silicon systems where --scheduled-install-* options were being allowed even if there was no saved authentication.
• Resolved an issue where non-standard installations of Java was causing the deferral menu to fail making a selection.
• Countless typo fixes and improvements to both regular and verbose log output.
• super 5.0.0-beta3 SHA-256: 119c3e891b2d116be21c32c6abb567f17aca4c5e00b4bd81a4aceca371cb931a

v4.0.3

2023-12-14

Highlights

• New option to save the user's password for future automatic macOS updates and upgrades. Literally, "Save Password" but for automatic macOS updates and upgrades.
• New display customization options including unmovable dialogs and hide background mode courtesy of IBM Notifier 3.x.
• New macOS installer workflows are now handled by mist-cli integration, thus removing all python dependencies.
• New LaunchDaemon architecture significantly improves automatic launch and deferment reliability for all super workflows.
• New default "always on" behavior automatically checks for Apple software updates on a regular basis.
• Support for Jamf Pro 10.48+ (Beta) Managed Software Updates.
• Support for Jamf Pro 10.49+ API Roles and Clients.
• Please check out the updated super Wiki for more details!

Compatibility Notes

• super 4.x requires macOS 11 or newer (all code supporting macOS 10.x has been removed).
• All super 4.x code has been refactored for style, clarity, and uniformity. As such nearly every single option name has been changed.
• Most super 3.0 command line options and managed preferences are not compatible with super 4.x
• Previously saved super 3.0 Apple silicon authentication credentials are automatically migrated the first time super 4.x runs.
• It is safe to mix super version 3.0 and 4.x managed preferences (except for the DisplaySilently key) in a single configuration profile. However each version only recognizes the managed preference keys that are compatible for that version.
• Refer to this spreadsheet (tab separated values) for migrating super 3.0 command line options to version 4.x.
• Refer to this spreadsheet (tab separated values) for migrating super 3.0 managed preferences to version 4.x.
• Updated Jamf Pro Extension Attribute scripts now supports both super versions 3.0 and 4.x.
• Updated example MDM configuration profiles for super v4.x.
• super 4.0.3 SHA-256: 2c7411a4bfa84a63e20955d18d6c6ba19933b2cf35b04f91bbcac98c666e335c

Known Issues

• The Jamf Pro (Beta) Managed Software Updates workflow is not compatible with the --install-macos-major-version-target option. Until this issue is resolved you can revert your Jamf Pro service back to the current macOS software update workflow.

Please refer to the Change log for full details.

v3.0

• Support for both macOS updates and upgrades.
• Support for macOS Rapid Security Response updates.
• New dialog customization options including; new help and warning buttons, embedded text, embedded images, and even embedded video.
• New user self-servicing workflows with progressive status notifications.
• New Apple silicon user authenticated workflows feature all customizable dialogs (built-in software update interfaces can be entirely avoided).
• New required free storage space and battery charge level detections with customizable notifications.
• Significantly improved error detections automatically try failed workflows again later.
• Vastly improved logging to help you identify specific workflow issues.
• An array of new helper items in the Super-Friends folder to further improve your workflows.
• Even more features and options are documented in the S.U.P.E.R.M.A.N. Wiki.
• Detailed super version progress can be found in the Change Log.
• You can also join the conversation at the Mac Admins Foundation Slack in channel #super.
• super 3.0 SHA-256: ac297dd3f5496a20648e35b73313ccddd8843a75cc95c9dadb9d900a60b8edd8

v2.0

• Version 2.0 is the final release for super version 2. See the [CHANGELOG.md]
• The S.U.P.E.R.M.A.N. Wiki is finally helpful!
• Detailed help removed from within the super script, because...
• If there is a current GUI user the --help option now automatically opens the S.U.P.E.R.M.A.N. Wiki. If there is no current GUI user this option shows basic usage.
• Spellcheck! So. Many. Typos.

v1.1

• Version 1.1 is the final release for super version 1. See the CHANGELOG.md for full details.
• Stay tuned for super version 2 that will offer even more deferment options!