Thread by @tperfitt

So it looks like this happened on the way to the current macOS imaging state we are in:

(thread)

1. Firmware updates were bundle with OS updates

2. Monolithic imaging doesn’t run the OS installer, so firmware updates don’t get applied.

3. Monolithic imaging of the same OS version doesn’t require firmware updates (since that same installer would have applied the firmware updates previously). Hence the “reinstall macOS” caveat.

#macadmins #macimaging

4. The iMac Pro has a co-processor (the T2) that runs the iBridgeOS, which is a custom version of iOS. iBridgeOS can update itself over a network and boots the macOS, assuring the firmware is updated. Hence the network requirement.

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5. It is a good bet that future Macs will have the T2 as well so you will be able to use monolithic imaging on them.

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6. The new iMac Pro has bits of netboot in it, so it is an open question if NetBoot support will be added. If it is added, monolithic imaging for macOS upgrades could be a thing again.

/done

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