Installing (and removing) Adobe software

68 views
Skip to first unread message

Gregory Neagle

unread,
Jan 18, 2023, 12:22:49 PM1/18/23
to munki-dev
One of the major features of Munki over the years was its support for installing and removing Adobe software using its non-standard installation media.

Munki has supported installs of Adobe software since at least Adobe CS3, and added support for newer Adobe install “things” as Adobe changed how their install media worked over the years.

In recent years, however, the organization I work for has moved to just installing the Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop and allowing users to install and remove Adobe products (with Named User Licensing) via the Creative Cloud Desktop. So I have not been using or testing installs of current Adobe software via installation media created via the Adobe Admin Console.

If it is important to you that Munki continues its support for installing and removing Adobe software — you need to chip in and help.

My inclination at this point is to abandon all of Munki’s special code for handling Adobe installs, and just treat an Adobe install as a regular Apple package install. (And in fact, many people are doing just that manually by changing the “install_type” in the package info.) But there’s no easy way to get Munki to do an uninstall by just installing the uninstall package, so there will almost certainly need to be code changes there.

My proposal for a future release of Munki: a new generic uninstall_method that is “install_pkg” or similar. It would not be limited to Adobe products. This future release would also no longer special-case Adobe packages when doing a `munkiimport` or `makepkginfo` — it would process them the same as any other Apple installer package.

For Adobe software, you’d still do something like `munkiimport /path/to/AdobeInstaller.pkg --uninstallpkg=/path/to/AdobeUninstaller.pkg` but the resulting pkginfo would be quite different.

I’m curious about the thoughts of people/orgs that are still using Munki to directly install and remove Adobe software.

-Greg

Vaughn Miller

unread,
Jan 18, 2023, 1:01:53 PM1/18/23
to munk...@googlegroups.com
I still have the need to deploy Adobe packages.  I am among those that have been changing the install_type as I import Adobe packages.  

I like the proposed idea of a generic uninstall method of install_pkg.  This keeps the import process the same for many admins, even if the underlying methods have changed quite a bit.  I would hope this approach would lessen support headaches.

Vaughn

--
Find related discussion groups here:
https://github.com/munki/munki/wiki/Discussion-Group
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "munki-dev" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to munki-dev+...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/munki-dev/380EAEBD-4BE4-45E8-9B17-F48D9CCF6DD5%40mac.com.

Beth Shirk

unread,
Jan 18, 2023, 1:25:06 PM1/18/23
to 'Greg Neagle' via munki-dev
Echoing Vaughn: we also still have a need to use Munki for Adobe package deployment, but we’re using the dataJAR AutoPkg recipes that take care of changing the install_type.

The proposed generic uninstall_method would work well for us.

Beth

Gregory Neagle

unread,
Jan 18, 2023, 1:45:36 PM1/18/23
to munki-dev
Implementing a generic uninstall_method of “install_package” would be so much easier if I could limit it to supporting only flat packages, the default type of Apple package for over ten years.

But sadly Adobe uninstall packages are still bundle-style packages in 2023, which requires them to be wrapped in a disk image…

Sigh.

-Greg

Ben Toms

unread,
Jan 18, 2023, 2:12:01 PM1/18/23
to munk...@googlegroups.com
Changes sound reasonable to me.

As folks have mentioned, we’ve not been using the Adobe CC installer type with Adobe CC media for a few years and have been successful.

This has been since at least CC 2021, if not longer.

Whilst we mainly deploy Adobe CC via Munki, we have had some experience with Jamf and in that case the uninstaller PKG worked as well.. and just like a normal PKG.

So, all sounds good and cannot foresee issues.


--

Regards,

Ben

Franson, Chris

unread,
Jan 18, 2023, 4:53:22 PM1/18/23
to munk...@googlegroups.com
I've been continuing to deploy Adobe shared device licensed apps through Munki but in general have found better results by removing the installer_type key altogether, so I don't see a clear need to maintain the special Adobe installer handling. I know at one point the Adobe packages gave more progress info than they do now, so again treating them as a standard install package seems to make sense.
I do still use the Adobe uninstall packages to remove apps deployed through Munki, but there are other methods available that don't rely on the uninstall package so maybe moving that functionality altogether may be useful.
-Chris
--
Find related discussion groups here:
https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Fmunki%2Fmunki%2Fwiki%2FDiscussion-Group&data=05%7C01%7Cc.franson%40northeastern.edu%7C5ffd789618414f4fe07a08daf9789fea%7Ca8eec281aaa34daeac9b9a398b9215e7%7C0%7C0%7C638096593713981612%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=01LrtVduTUG3lkgQStHopBP6geVOhTdH60h8BB4hmBs%3D&reserved=0 <https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Fmunki%2Fmunki%2Fwiki%2FDiscussion-Group&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cc.franson%40northeastern.edu%7C5ffd789618414f4fe07a08daf9789fea%7Ca8eec281aaa34daeac9b9a398b9215e7%7C0%7C0%7C638096593713981612%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=01LrtVduTUG3lkgQStHopBP6geVOhTdH60h8BB4hmBs%3D&amp;reserved=0>
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "munki-dev" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to munki-dev+...@googlegroups.com <mailto:munki-dev+...@googlegroups.com>.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgroups.google.com%2Fd%2Fmsgid%2Fmunki-dev%2F380EAEBD-4BE4-45E8-9B17-F48D9CCF6DD5%2540mac.com&data=05%7C01%7Cc.franson%40northeastern.edu%7C5ffd789618414f4fe07a08daf9789fea%7Ca8eec281aaa34daeac9b9a398b9215e7%7C0%7C0%7C638096593713981612%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=va7oFdaPVz7DnuQfd4dGYtNH%2BDbq9g50HlgEehsFHec%3D&reserved=0 <https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgroups.google.com%2Fd%2Fmsgid%2Fmunki-dev%2F380EAEBD-4BE4-45E8-9B17-F48D9CCF6DD5%2540mac.com&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cc.franson%40northeastern.edu%7C5ffd789618414f4fe07a08daf9789fea%7Ca8eec281aaa34daeac9b9a398b9215e7%7C0%7C0%7C638096593713981612%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=va7oFdaPVz7DnuQfd4dGYtNH%2BDbq9g50HlgEehsFHec%3D&amp;reserved=0>.



Alan

unread,
Jan 18, 2023, 5:15:54 PM1/18/23
to munk...@googlegroups.com
Same here—I've found recently that when I use the AdobeCCPInstaller key, the install hangs, but if I take it out, the Adobe installer runs just fine, so maybe have a separate process for Adobe makes even less sense now.


---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "munki-dev" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to munki-dev+...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/munki-dev/8BB6FC47-DA86-40FB-855C-2F18412D965A%40northeastern.edu.

Gregory Neagle

unread,
Jan 18, 2023, 7:24:45 PM1/18/23
to munki-dev
An initial implementation of the changes discussed is now available in the “uninstall_pkg” branch here: https://github.com/munki/munki/tree/uninstall_pkg

New uninstall_method is “uninstall_package”

To force munkiimport/makepkginfo to use the “legacy” Adobe methods, add `—adobe` to your command.

-Greg

--
Find related discussion groups here:
https://github.com/munki/munki/wiki/Discussion-Group
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "munki-dev" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to munki-dev+...@googlegroups.com.

Gregory Neagle

unread,
Jan 19, 2023, 12:11:51 PM1/19/23
to munki-dev
"I do still use the Adobe uninstall packages to remove apps deployed through Munki, but there are other methods available that don't rely on the uninstall package”

It would be really helpful for someone to document those methods for other Munki admins. The wiki is editable!

-Greg
> https://github.com/munki/munki/wiki/Discussion-Group
> ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "munki-dev" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to munki-dev+...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/munki-dev/8BB6FC47-DA86-40FB-855C-2F18412D965A%40northeastern.edu.

Steve Major

unread,
Jan 20, 2023, 12:29:56 PM1/20/23
to munki-dev
We don't use the uninstall packages with Munki either, we use the Adobe command line tool to do it per the app(s) that were installed. Removing Photoshop would be something like:

/Library/Application\ Support/Adobe/Adobe\ Desktop\ Common/HDBox/Setup --uninstall=1 --sapCode=PHSP --baseVersion=22.0 --platform=osx10-64 --deleteUserPreferences=false

You can remove specific base versions with the list here:


It allows us more selectivity in removing specific products where many might be installed and seems to be more reliable with our Shared Device Licenses (SDL) in academic lab when changes are made.  An uninstall script works well enough.  As long as we can still import and install with Munki, we're good.

Gregory Neagle

unread,
Jan 20, 2023, 2:46:12 PM1/20/23
to munki-dev
Again it would be very helpful for someone to write this up, with examples, in the Munki wiki.

-Greg

Vaughn Miller

unread,
Jan 20, 2023, 3:14:29 PM1/20/23
to munk...@googlegroups.com
Carved out a little time to test this.  Build a package from the "uninstall_package" branch and install it on a machine.

munkiimport failed as follows : 

millerva@test-air ~ % munkiimport /Users/millerva/Packages/Photoshop-test/Build/Photoshop-test_Install.pkg --uninstallpkg /Users/millerva/Packages/Photoshop-test/Build/Photoshop-test_Uninstall.pkg

Making disk image containing Photoshop-test_Install.pkg...

created: /tmp/munki-9g0cngsd/Photoshop-test_Install.dmg

Disk image created at: /tmp/munki-9g0cngsd/Photoshop-test_Install.dmg

Making disk image containing Photoshop-test_Uninstall.pkg...

created: /tmp/munki-9g0cngsd/Photoshop-test_Uninstall.dmg

Disk image created at: /tmp/munki-9g0cngsd/Photoshop-test_Uninstall.dmg

Traceback (most recent call last):

  File "/usr/local/munki/munkiimport", line 608, in <module>

    main()

  File "/usr/local/munki/munkiimport", line 379, in main

    pkginfo = pkginfolib.makepkginfo(installer_item, options)

  File "/usr/local/munki/munkilib/admin/pkginfolib.py", line 452, in makepkginfo

    pkginfo.get('installer_type') == "AdobeCS5Installer"):

AttributeError: 'str' object has no attribute 'get'

millerva@test-air ~ % 


Using the "--adobe" flag was successful.

Vaughn

Gregory Neagle

unread,
Jan 20, 2023, 4:43:23 PM1/20/23
to munki-dev
Thank you for the testing. Replicated and fixed.

-Greg

Gregory Neagle

unread,
Jan 24, 2023, 1:12:33 PM1/24/23
to munki-dev
Hoping for more testing and feedback. To make that easier, I’ve built a package containing the new code: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5zigg6z38k4jrm5/munkitools-6.2.0.4539.pkg?dl=0

An additional thing I would like community help on:

Documentation. 

The Adobe documentation in the wiki is seriously out of date. We need a new wiki page, focused on deploying current Adobe Admin Console packages. Earlier pages can remain, but be marked as “of historical interest” (who knows, there may be some poor K-12 admin still deploying CS6!)

-Greg

Patrick Fergus

unread,
Jan 25, 2023, 12:15:51 PM1/25/23
to munki-dev
Sorry folks--my job role has changed significantly and I was just passed this conversation.  I realize I'm retreading some of what folks have said earlier in this thread:
  • Regarding installation:
    • We've not been using the AdobeCCPInstaller installer_type (via deleting the installer_type key) for the last couple of years (starting with late-version CC 2020 products (built roughly early 2021) through current 2022 products (built current day)), it's been working fine
    • Obviously this doesn't test the package import code to not generate the installer_type, but the Munki package installation code is working properly
  • Regarding uninstallation:
    • We've been using the CLI uninstall via the "Setup" binary (documented here under "Method 2: Uninstall selected app versions") for at least the last couple of years
    • Thus we have not been using an uninstall_pkg to remove software during that time (although for belt-and-suspenders we do import the uninstall package) 
    • The CLI uninstall has been working well as an uninstall_script to remove CC 2015 releases and forward
    • A CLI uninstall will not remove Feature Restricted Licenses (FRL) and Shared Device Licenses (SDL)
- Patrick

Vaughn Miller

unread,
Jan 26, 2023, 2:59:46 PM1/26/23
to munk...@googlegroups.com
I was able to do some testing with build 4539, and it performed as expected.  I was able to successfully munkiimport both with and without the --adobe flag.  Tested installing and removing with the new method and both were successful.

Vaughn

Beth Shirk

unread,
Jan 27, 2023, 12:51:10 PM1/27/23
to 'Greg Neagle' via munki-dev
I tested this build against the AdobeAdminConsolePackagesImporter.py script in dataJAR’s Adobe Admin Console Packages Autopkg repo (https://github.com/autopkg/dataJAR-recipes/tree/master/Adobe%20Admin%20Console%20Packages), and it worked just fine. No issues with importing (it does require the uninstallpkg to succeed).

Beth

Greg Neagle

unread,
Jan 27, 2023, 2:34:18 PM1/27/23
to munki-dev
Thank you for the testing feedback.

Can you elaborate on "it does require the uninstallpkg to succeed”?  In my testing importing works just fine without an uninstallpkg. It does assign an uninstall_method of “removepackages” as it would with any other Apple installer package import, and it’s true that Munki won’t actually be able to remove the Adobe software using that method, but the import itself is successful.

-Greg

Beth Shirk

unread,
Jan 27, 2023, 2:38:38 PM1/27/23
to 'Greg Neagle' via munki-dev
My apologies: “it” is the AdobeAdminConsolePackagesImporter.py script itself, which requires the uninstaller to be present in the Adobe build directory and will fail if it’s not there. 

I included that info because it means I didn’t test munkiimport under the new build without an uninstallpkg, but I should have been more clear.

- Beth

Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages