ARCHIVED: Completed project: Casper Enterprise Service

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Primary UITS Contact: Pete Bucklin

Last Update: December 17, 2015

Team Lead: Robert Whitt

Strategic Plan Action Items: 5, 6, 7, 29

Description: The Casper Suite, created by JAMF Software, has been used to manage Apple computers located in IU Student Technology Centers since 2012. This project aims to expand the scope of the service by providing individual sites to IU schools and departments, allowing each to centrally manage their Apple devices. This will include securely deploying software and configuration profiles, as well as providing asset and license management and reporting.

Phase I: Phase I consisted of creating a new test environment within the IU Intelligent Infrastructure that included one master JAMF Software Server (JSS), one root JAMF Distribution Server (JDS), and two campus-specific JDS servers (IUB and IUPUI). The version of Casper used was upgraded from version 8 to version 9. A new STC site was created within the test environment that will be used to manage the new IU Lab Build (Mac). Phase I was completed May 2, 2014.

  • Phase I milestones:
    • November 2013: Internal testing Casper 9
    • January 2014: Casper Enterprise Service architecture design
    • February 2014: Proposed architecture approved
    • March 2014:
      • Set up Casper test environment within new server architecture
      • Migrate IU Lab build to new STC site in test
      • Provide IU Lab build (Mac Alpha) to STC partner groups for testing

Phase II: Phase II added a beta environment which closely mirrored the test environment. The STC site was the first site moved into beta in preparation for fall 2014 classes. Several strategic partners were identified to take part in the initial testing of the sites feature. Support for off-campus devices was added, allowing for secure management of devices regardless of location. Phase II was completed August 27, 2014.

  • Phase II milestones:
    • May 2014:
      • Four servers added to support the beta environment
      • STC Site moved into beta
    • June 2014: Individual sites created in the test environment for HelpNET, IUSB, IUS, and Kokomo
    • July 2014: Two additional servers added to manage off-campus devices
    • August 2014: HelpNET moved from test to beta
    • June-August 2014: Preparation, packaging, and testing for STC Fall 2014

Phase III: Phase III began the closed beta for the Casper Enterprise Basic Service. A limited number of groups were asked to participate in testing the sites feature for the Casper Enterprise Basic Service. Individual sites were created for each participating unit. Sites from the initial testing phase were moved from the test environment to beta.

  • Phase III milestones:
    • September 2014:
      • IUS site moved from test to beta
      • Distribution point added for IUSB in the test environment
      • Distribution point added for IUK in the beta environment
      • Several groups were invited to take part in beta
      • CAITS site added to the test environment
      • FIAD site added to the test environment
      • Regenstrief added to the test environment
    • October 2014:
      • Casper Test Environment upgraded to 9.61
    • November 2014:
      • Casper Beta Environment upgraded to 9.61
      • Jacobs School of Music added to test
    • December 2014:
      • Jacobs School of Music moved from test to beta

Phase IV: Phase IV began the open beta for the Casper Enterprise Service. Any interested department could participate.

  • Phase IV milestones:
    • January 2015:
      • Further expansion of the Casper Enterprise Service by opening the beta to additional groups
      • 1114 Macs managed with Casper
      • In-house application Egon developed to allow site admins the ability to manage their own scripts
    • March 2015:
      • In-house application PrintGhost developed to allow site admins the ability to manage their own printers
      • JAMF Training Pass renewed and offered to any interested Global Casper site admin
    • September 2015:
      • In-house application Casper Containment Unit (CCU) developed to allow all site admins the ability to upload and manage their own software pkgs
    • November 2015:
      • IUN site added to the test environment

Phase V: The Casper Enterprise Service moved into production and is open to any university department or school on any IU campus.

  • Phase V milestones:
    • December 2015:
      • 18 sites in production
      • 1941 managed Macs
      • 118 managed iOS devices

Outcome: A centralized Mac management solution available to all IU departments and schools

Primary client: Edge units

Project team:

  • Leveraged Services Engineers
  • Enterprise Systems Administration (ESA)
  • Database Administration (DBA)
  • Storage and Virtualization (SAV)
  • Campus Network Engineering

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Last modified on 2018-01-18 17:33:22.