[s2art]

I posted this originally in the wrong section.
I am gearing up for the annual re-imaging fest here at my educational institution, for about 30~40 machines.
I am now buying apps via the app store on a dedicated machine connected to the net, the other machines are not connected to the net, nor will they be for the foreseeable future.
Is there a way I can archive and backup these purchases?

[TattooedMac]

I think your best bet is to back them up via a Ext HHD.
If you don't have a backup solution as of yet then this is the time to start one. There are two main ways to do a backup to a external HHD it to use Time Machine or something like SuperDuper or CarbonCopyCloner.
Time Machine can backup your whole HD to the ext or pick and choose what you want. SD and CCC can clone specific files/folders and all so make it a bootable backup, so if your Mac HD fails at all in the future you can use the bootable clone to keep working. Unlike TM that doesn't make it a bootable clone.
I prefer and bought SuperDuper as i found it easier to use and had the features i was looking for. SD is still free though and only payment required if you want the extra features.
Its a pity the other machines are not hook to the internet because signing in with the same Apple ID would then get you to download them onto those machines.
HTH

Cheers

[s2art]

TattooedMac, on 08 November 2011 - 02:31 PM, said:

Its a pity the other machines are not hook to the internet because signing in with the same Apple ID would then get you to download them onto those machines.
HTH

Cheers

Thanks, are you suggesting I can download purchased apps as often as I need?

[golfer]

s2art, on 08 November 2011 - 08:49 PM, said:

Thanks, are you suggesting I can download purchased apps as often as I need?

yes. As long as you sign in with the same apple id you used when you purchased the app, you can download as many times as you wish.

[TattooedMac]

^ That ^


Try it with that machine. Download a App or two then delete them. Goto the MAS and to Purchases and dl them again. For instance try this. . . . . . You will notice that Lion says Installed. Now goto Categories for example and back to Purchases. BUT before you click Purchases hold down the 'Option' key and now you will notice Lion now says Install as long as you have the bandwidth you can download as many times as you want.
HTH

Cheers

[Anthony Caruana]

s2art, on 08 November 2011 - 11:56 AM, said:

I posted this originally in the wrong section.
I am gearing up for the annual re-imaging fest here at my educational institution, for about 30~40 machines.
I am now buying apps via the app store on a dedicated machine connected to the net, the other machines are not connected to the net, nor will they be for the foreseeable future.
Is there a way I can archive and backup these purchases?

Are you talking about iOS apps or Mac OS apps?

If its OS X apps then you can theoretically install apps to multiple machines but doing so wold probably be in breach of the licensing conditions. If you need to install software to multiple machines then go to the developer sites and purchase site licenses.

then you can use SuperDuper or CarbonCopy Cloner to take a snap shot of one machine and use that to reimage all the others.

If its iPads or some other iOS device there are charging trolleys (PCLocs make one from memory) that allow you simultaneously sync multiple iPads to one computer anditunes account. But, again, iOS apps are licensed per user. While it's possible to sync an app to multiple devices, it would be a breach of the license.

As well as being a contributor to Macworld, I'm also the IT manager at a school. Feel free to direct message me and we can chat offline.

Anthony

[Dylstra]

You don't even need to download them each time. If you have a copy of the app you can install it on each machine and then authorise each instance through the MAS. Which amounts to the same thing, but saves on the bandwidth.

(I've done it with iPhoto 11 but it might pay to give each app a test run before committing.)