Technical professionals. Trusted advisors. Certified expertise.

HCS Blog

Problem-solving by Apple Certified Professionals
Mar
30

See if Find my Mac is enabled from the command line

nvram -p | grep fmm-mobileme-token-FMM

Mar
28

Easily see all your orders in the DEP Portal

Log into your DEP Portal and choose, Manage Devices.

In the Choose Devices By section, Select the Order Numer radio button.

Continue reading
Mar
25

How to upgrade munkireport-php using a Git clone

NOTE:  You should edit your config.php and set Migrations to TRUE before following these instructions.  This will ensure your database gets migrated if upgrading from an older version of munkireport-php.

If you installed munkireport-php using munki in a box, then it was installed via a Git clone.

The easiest way to update it is to checkout the latest master, then do a pull.  This will keep your database and config.php file untouched.

You need to be in your web root folder.  In this example, I’m using OS X Server.  The web root folder is located at:  /Library/Server/Web/Data/Sites/Default.

Launch Terminal and go to the web root folder:  cd /Library/Server/Web/Data/Sites/Defau

NOTE:  If you installed munkireport-php using munki in a box, your default path will look similar to:

/Library/Server/Web/Data/Sites/Default/munkireport-php


Once there, enter the following:


git checkout master

Then enter:

git pull

This will clone all the latests updates for munkireport-php to your server but will NOT overwrite your database or config.php file.

Mar
25

Deploying Printers with Munki

This how to guide goes over Graham Gilbert’s “printer-pkginfo” script to easily get printers into your munki repo for deployment.

Enjoy.

Continue reading
Mar
24

Lighting to USB 3 Camera Adapter

Lighting to USB 3 Camera Adapter

Lighting to USB 3 Camera Adapter
On Monday Phil Schiller, Senior Vice President of World Wide marketing at Apple, mentioned the release of new Lightning to USB 3 adapter. It woudl provide USB data and power in a Y-style adapte. It became even more exciting news when he went on to say you could use an Ethernet adapter with it to connect to corporate networks. Apple’s site mentions it as well in the product description: 
 
 
 
"Add even greater capability and versatility to your iPad Pro by powering the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter with a USB Power Adapter. Then you can connect USB peripherals like hubs, Ethernet adapters..."
 
 
Apple site says these models of iPad are officially supported but more than these work. 
iPad with Retina display
iPad mini
iPad mini 2
iPad Air
iPad Air 2
iPad mini 3
iPad mini 4
iPad Pro (9.7-inch)
iPad Pro (12.9-inch)
 
Full details about the product is located at the link below: 
 
Prior to iOs 9.X there was a way for iOS to connect to an ethernet network with a usb to ethernet adapter. It involved a Usb Hub but it was patched an no longer worked during testing on 9.2.  A great post about it can be found at: http://www.hcsonline.com/support/blog/entry/ios-connecting-your-ipad-to-ethernet
 
After Monday’s announcement I immediately purchased the new USB 3.0 to Lighting adapter from Apple and received it today.  I went ahead and tested the new USB 3.0 to Lighting adapter with an Apple USB 2.0 to ethernet adapter.  I did make sure that each device was running iOs 9.3 when I performed my final tests.  The products I tested were: iPhone 6S+, iPhone 6S, iPad Pro 12inch, iPad Mini 4th Generation, iPad Mini 3rd Generation , 1st Generation iPad Air , 2nd Generation iPad Air & a 5th Generation iPod Touch. I would have tested more but this is what I had in the lab at the time. 
 
I discovered several things. This is certainly not a definitive list but were observations I made in testing. 
 
1.) It works on all the devices I listed above. Apple site doesn’t officially support iPod Touch and iPhone but it worked regardless. 
2.) It doesn’t necessarily need 9.3. When testing the 1st Generation iPad Air it showed up and worked. It was running 9.2 at the time. I tried to on the 3rd Generation iPad Mini running 9.1 and it didn’t work.  Having said that I felt it's best to update to 9.3.
3.) A charger is needed. On each device I was warned that it needed more power. A regular lighting cable with at least 10W charger was sufficient for it to dismiss the dialog window, saying it needed more power, and work properly. 
4.) It can be used during activation of device even if cellular and wifi aren’t present. Unlike a Mac you don’t have a place to select the wired collection. Visually the “next” dialog turns blue and you can proceed.
5.)No visual way to manage it. When you connect it you can see it in Settings/General/About. It does not show network information only hardware info about the adapter. I would love to see an Ethernet section Appear in Settings. Maybe in an update. You never know.
6.) When in Ariplane mode it still works. You can surf the internet and perform any network related actions.
7.) I tested it on a Cisco 802.11 AC 5GHZ network and a Cisco Gigabit Ethernet switch. When running a speediest it’s faster on ethernet…only slightly.
 
Overall this is exciting news for consultant and consumer alike. I am sure there are things I didn’t catch or see. Leave a comment and help the community learn how this product can be used more effectively in your environment.
 
For more great news and resources check out http://www.hcsonline.com/support/blog
 
 

 

Christopher R. Holmes
Senior Systems Engineer/Technical Training Specialist 
HCS Technology Group
2314 Kaliste Saloom Apt 708 Lafayette, LA 70508
T: (337) 476-2772 T: 866-518-9672 Ext. 702 
Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Locations


New York

Connecticut
Florida
Louisiana
Chicago

Corporate Headquarters
New York

80 Orville Drive Suite 100
Bohemia, NY 11716
Tel: (866) 518-9672
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Connecticut

65 High Ridge Road #510
Stamford, CT 06905
Tel: (866) 518-9672
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Florida

3321 SW 194th Terrace
Miramar, FL 33029
Tel: (866) 518-9672
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Louisiana

218 Barksdale Drive
Broussard LA 70518
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Chicago

4 Knollwood Place
Joliet, IL 60433
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

London

10 Grosvenor Court
Rayners Road
London SW15 2AX UK

Stay Connected

© Copyright 2023, HCS Technology Group. All Rights Reserved.