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Apple @ Work: DDM OS Reminder 2.0 fixes the biggest flaw in Declarative Device Management software updates

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Declarative Device Management is no longer the future of Apple device management for IT teams, it’s the present. There is no debate there. It moves the logic from the server to the device, making things faster, more autonomous, and more reliable. One of the best uses of DDM is managing software updates. You set a deadline, and the device enforces it. Coming from the legacy technology, DDM for software updates was a huge upgrade that really solved some major pain points.

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About Apple @ Work: Bradley Chambers managed an enterprise IT network from 2009 to 2021. Through his experience deploying and managing firewalls, switches, a mobile device management system, enterprise grade Wi-Fi, 1000s of Macs, and 1000s of iPads, Bradley will highlight ways in which Apple IT managers deploy Apple devices, build networks to support them, train users, stories from the trenches of IT management, and ways Apple could improve its products for IT departments.

However, if you have deployed DDM macOS updates in production, you have probably noticed that Apple’s native notifications are subtle. End users often miss them, ignore them, or simply don’t realize a forced restart for the update is coming until it happens. DDM OS Reminder 2.0 is an incredible tool to fill the gap.

What problem does it solve?

If you are new to this solution, the concept is simple. Apple’s native DDM notifications are designed to be unintrusive, which is great for a home user but terrible for a knowledge worker who is about to lose unsaved work.

DDM OS Reminder runs locally on the machine. It utilizes a LaunchDaemon to watch the /var/log/install.log file for specific entries that indicate a software update through DDM is pending and has an enforced deadline. When DDM OS Reminder sees that a deadline is approaching, it uses swiftDialog to display a notification to the user.

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The key with DDM OS Reminder is that it’s “intelligently intrusive.” It attempts to detect whether someone is in an online meeting using Zoom or Teams before alerting the user, so you aren’t interrupting a presentation, etc. It gives the user a clear countdown and the ability to start the update on their own terms before the forced restart kicks in.

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