Managed Software Center

This is an optional software service that makes it easy for students in the High School Bring Your Own Device (HS BYOD) program to install relevant ASL-licensed and “tricky-to-install” software on their personal Apple Macbooks. The Managed Software Center (MSC) interacts with a software repository that is maintained by the ASL TILM (Technology, Information Literacy and Media) department. The goal is to make it easier for HS students to obtain this software and profile configurations without having to request it from the Helpdesk or having to go through long sets of installation instructions. Some required profile configurations such as PaperCut printing and ASL’s Smoothwall web filter certificate will be automatically installed as part of MSC installation. Some paid-for, user-licensed software such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Office 365 will also be available.

The underlying technology is called “Munki”, an open-source system used to deploy Apple Mac software. MSC periodically checks in with ASL servers to see if there are any updates available to the ASL-provided software you have installed. When updates are available, you will be notified similar to the Apple Software Update on the Mac App Store. You can access MSC both on and off ASL campus. 

All software applications are checked for viruses and compatibility (Note: This can lead to a delay between an application updated in the MSC and directly from the developers). A data log of MSC activities (i.e. details of what was installed, updated, removed, and when) is stored on your personal device only. This data log is not accessible to ASL’s technology staff and can never be accessed remotely. No personally identifiable data is ever collected or sent to ASL servers. 

ASL distributes publicly available software via MSC “as-is from the developers.” ASL also installs two required profile configurations which are non-intrusive and required for printing to ASL devices (PaperCut); and to safely browse the internet while at ASL (Smoothwall certificate).

Yes, this is an optional service and the alternative is to manually to download the available apps and required configuration profiles manually. This webpage does not have the full ASL software repository as is available from MSC. You will have to source some software and applications directly from the developers. 

When you leave ASL, you agree to uninstall MSC by going to the “Uninstall MSC and Remove MSC” within the MSC app right-hand menu. After you graduate or withdraw from ASL, your school accounts and email will be suspended and you will no longer have access to user-licensed software such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Office 365. It is recommended to uninstall applications via the MSC prior to finally uninstalling MSC.