Parallels Desktop Business Edition | IT Administrator's Guide | v17

Deploying with Parallels Device Management for Configuration Manager

Parallels Device Management for Configuration Manager enables you to deploy Parallels Desktop to Mac computers via the Configuration Manager Software Distribution functionality. For the complete information about Parallels Device Management, please read the Administrator's Guide that can be downloaded from https://www.parallels.com/products/device-management/resources/.

The basic steps of deploying Parallels Desktop using Parallels Device Management are:

1. Prepare the Parallels Desktop autodeploy package (described earlier in this guide).
2. Create a software distribution package using the Microsoft Configuration Manager console.
3. Send the package to a distribution point.
4. Deploy the package.

The following describes steps 2-4 in detail.

Create a software distribution package

The Parallels Desktop autodeploy package is distributed to Macs using the standard Configuration Manager functionality:

1. In the Configuration Manager console, navigate to Administration / Overview / Application Management / Packages.
2. On the toolbar, click Create Package.
3. Use the Create Package and Program Wizard to create a software distribution package and a program.
4. On the Package page, specify the package name and an optional description, manufacturer, language, and version information. Select the This package contains source files option and click Browse. Select the folder that contains the Parallels Desktop Autodeploy.pkg folder. Please note that you must select the parent folder of the Parallels Desktop Autodeploy.pkg folder, NOT the .pkg folder itself.
5. Click Next.
6. On the Program Type page, select the Standard program item and click Next.
7. On the Standard Program page, specify the information about the program. Type the following in the Command line field:

   chmod 700 "Parallels Desktop Autodeploy.pkg/Contents/Resources/postflight" && installer -pkg "Parallels Desktop Autodeploy.pkg" -target /

8. When done specifying the program information, click Next.
9. Click Next on the Requirements page.
10. Review the summary and click Next to create the package.

Upload the package to the distribution point

To upload a copy of the package to the distribution point, right-click the package and choose Distribute Content in the pop-up menu. Use the Distribute Content Wizard to specify a distribution point to which you want to send the package.

Please make sure that the distribution point is properly configured. For more information, see the Parallels Device Management Administrator's Guide.

Deploy the package

To deploy the package:

1. In the Configuration Manager console, right-click the package and then click Deploy in the pop-up menu. The Deploy Software Wizard opens.
2. On the General page, click the Browse button next to the Collection field and select the collection containing your Macs (e.g. All Mac OS X Systems).
   Note: If you are deploying Parallels Desktop on both Apple M1 and Intel based Macs and your autodeploy package contains a virtual machine for one of the processor types, you need to select a collection containing computers matching the corresponding type. If your autodeploy package doesn't contain any virtual machines, this step is unnecessary.
3. Click OK and then click Next.
4. On the Content page, verify the distribution point info and click Next.
5. Click Next on the Deployment Settings page.
6. On the Scheduling page, specify the schedule for this deployment. Click New to specify the assignment schedule. When done, click Next.
7. Use the default values on the rest of the wizard pages and complete the wizard.

The package will be advertised to Macs in the specified collection and will be distributed to them according to the specified schedule.