Create a PLIST for Enterprise Applications on macOS
Create a PLIST for Enterprise Applications
For macOS devices, your desired application might be not available in the App Store so you can't distribute the application via the Volume Purchase Program. In this case your application needs to be distributed as an Enterprise application. While uploading applications for macOS devices into the App Portal, it is required to provide next to your *.pkg file a property file with the ending *.plist and within this guide, we will demonstrate the creation of a properly list with Microsoft Teams in combination with the MDMPackager tool. This procedure can be easily adopted to other applications and ensures the creation of a valid *.plist file. A valid *.plist like this example manifest.plist contains usually the md5-size of the package and metadata like the bundle-identifier, bundle-version and so on. Please be aware that sometimes application vendors provides additionally files that might end as well with *.plist but rather contains a XML configuration that can be provided in the App Deployment options in Silverback. In addition, vendors may provide an additional *.mobileconfig file that can the distributed as a custom profile within Silverback.
Download Sources
- Refer to Get clients for Microsoft Teams on Microsoft
- Locate the Download link, e.g. https://teams.microsoft.com/downloads
Use a macOS device to download the macOS client for teams.
- Download the *.pkg file
Create Property List
- Download the MDMPackager.zip on a macOS device
- Open your Finder and navigate to Downloads
- Perform a double-click on your downloaded MDMPackager archive
- Perform a right click on the exported MDMPackager application
- Click Open
In case you receive a warning, press open to open the MDMPackager
- Enter as name Microsoft Teams
- Enter as bundle identifier com.microsoft.teams
If you don't know your bundle identifier yet, install the app manually and run Terminal and execute osascript -e 'id of app "Finder"' for receiving the bundle ID as an example for Finder.
- Enter as version your downloaded version, e.g. 1.4.00.22368
- Now click first in the Path to package (.pkg) field
- Now drag and drop your downloaded *.pkg file into the field
Before releasing the file, ensure you see a green + symbol. Additionally, you can enter the path manually, e.g. /Users/Admin/Downloads/MicrosoftEdge-95.0.1020.44.pkg
- Press create plist
- Confirm with OK
The property list will be created in the *.pkg location (e.g. under Downloads) and named as manifest.plist
Upload to App Portal
- Navigate to your Silverback App Portal
- Select macOS and click New Application
- Enter as Name e.g. Microsoft Teams and enter a description
- Upload your *.pkg file
- Upload your recently created manifest.plist
- Press Save and wait until the upload is finished and press OK
Distribute Microsoft Teams
- Navigate to Tags
- Create a new Tag, provide a Name and enable Apps and macOS and press save
- Navigate to Apps and Assign Microsoft Teams
- Assign the tag to a test device or Push the tag to your already assigned devices
Review Installation
- Navigate to Devices
- Locate an assigned device for this tag, open the device information and press refresh
- Click Actions and select Pending Commands
- Locate the Request Type InstallEnterpriseApplication as it is indicating if the device acknowledges the installation request
- If the command is displayed as acknowledged, the application should be installed automatically on the device in the background
- Head over to your managed device
- Open Microsoft Team