Update Adobe Flash on Macs with Munki

Due to the high volume of updates for Adobe Flash and Java I decided I needed a central way to manage updates for my 300+ Macs.  ARD works well for deploying to desktops that are always connected to the network, but it makes it harder to ensure that all mobile users have the updates available to them to install.  After some research I decided to use Munki.  It is easy to use, set up and manage. You can also point Munki's Managed Software Update application at your Apple SUS server and install Apple updates for users who don't have administrative rights.

Here are the steps to deploy Adobe Flash via Munki.  I am deploying version 11.7.700.169.

• Download the DMG installer from the Adobe Flash Player Distribution site.

• Open the install_flash_player_11_osx.dmg file to mount it.

• Open Terminal and type the following commands:

/usr/local/munki/munkiimport /Volumes/Flash\ Player/Install\ Adobe\ Flash\ Player.app/Contents/Resources/Adobe\ Flash\ Player.pkg

• If you already have Adobe Flash in your Munki repo you will be prompted to use the exisiting item as a template.  Type 'Y' if you would like to do so.

Note:  The following steps may vary depending on how you have set up your environment and naming conventions.

• Enter the following:

Item name:  Adobe Flash (Version)
Display Name:  Adobe Flash (Version)
Description:  Adobe Flash (Version) Released (Date)
Version:  (Version)
Catalogs:  production

• When prompted, type 'Y' to confirm you would like to import the item.

• When prompted, type 'Y' to rebuild the catalogs.

I prefer to use MunkiWebAdmin to manage my catalogs and manifests.  Now that we have added the Adobe Flash install to our repo, we need to assign it to a manifest.

• Log into MunkiWebAdmin

• Click on Manifests

• Click the manifest you would like to apply the update to and click the Edit button.
  

• Click the green "+" next to Managed Installs.

• Type in the Item name for the package we uploaded earlier.

• Click Save.

Now the update should be available via Managed Software Update on any Macs that are set to use this manifest.

I would recommend going to http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/ to verify that Adobe Flash was in fact updated.

I have most of my clients set to require the user logout to install the updates.  This keeps users from having applications open that may need to be closed to apply the update.  If Safari is open when you run this update, it will need to be Quit and reopened to activate the latest plug-in version.

For more information on Munki, visit their project page:

http://code.google.com/p/munki/