Device Hardware Baseline Specification: Apple Desktop and Laptop Devices - November 22
Apple hardware lifecycle management:
The compliance capability of an Apple device is defined by its age, architecture and by the version of macOS that it can support.
Apple hardware product support is principally “age” (manufacturing date). The current categories are:
- Supported (2018 – to-date),
- Vintage (2017)
- End of Life (2016 and older).
Devices manufactured in 2017 or earlier need to be refreshed as part of a lifecycle management schedule by the owning stakeholders.
If required, Digital Services can advise in greater detail on Apple Lifecycle Management queries.
Baseline Specification
- Device registration: At procurement time, Apple macOS devices (desktops and laptops) must be registered in Apple Schools Manager (ASM) by the NDNA supplier.
Devices must be subsequently registered in the University’s Jamf Cloud Management platform by the stakeholder (or directly by arrangement with Digital Services). - Chassis: The device type (desktop /laptop) and screen size will be an individual selection based upon affordability, user requirement /specification, the hardware portfolio currently offered within the NDNA framework and the affordability.
- Processor: For new Apple procurements, an Apple M1, M1 Ultra or M2 device architecture is mandatory.
- Memory: 16Gb (minimum).
- Local storage: 500Gb Solid State or M.2 storage device (minimum).
- Networking: Wireless network and Bluetooth support to be standard. Gigabit Wired Ethernet support ought to be included in a desktop specification.
- Interface Support: To include USB Type-A 3.0 support (via adaptors if needed), USB Type-C, Thunderbolt. Gigabit Wired Ethernet services should be specified for desktop devices.
- Legacy Apple devices: Legacy Apple devices that can run macOS 11 are supported and can be Apple Schools Manager and Jamf Cloud enrolled so that a standards-based configuration can be applied.
- Unsupported Apple devices: Apple devices that cannot support macOS 11 as a minimum are considered to be unsupported /end-of-life and a hardware refresh should be arranged by the owning stakeholders.
The device offboarded/retired in line with University governance requirements.