Most updates for your CMU Mac are managed by OIT, but users have some control over when updates will be installed. Your Mac will notify you when there are updates to install. Some software updates, such as those for Safari, security patches, and malware definitions can be installed by users without administrative credentials. Operating System version upgrades (such as installing macOS 12 Monterey or macOS 13 Ventura) require administrative credentials. The following process aims to make updating the Operating System an easier process for staff at CMU.
Before you upgrade your Mac
Before installing any macOS upgrades, be aware that your computer will be unavailable during installation, and will likely reboot as part of the installation process. Be sure to save any work and close other applications before starting an upgrade. Plan for a version upgrade to take roughly 1 hour to complete.
Before the Operating System is made available for you to utilize, you will need to submit a ticket to request the upgrade. This way, the right upgrade can be offered to you based on what your computer is capable of running. Once approved, you will be contacted and directed back to this article for the instructions on running the upgrade.
Running the upgrade for your Mac
Open the CMU Self Service app which can be found either in your Dock, in the Applications folder in Finder, in your Launchpad, or can be found via a Spotlight Search. The icon for this app is the CMU Flying C. Once inside the CMU Self Service App, search for Upgrade in the search bar in the upper left corner of the window. On the right side, you should see a macOS Upgrade policy available to run. Click the "Install" button and wait for the process to complete (NOTE: Computers with Apple Silicon processors will see a box pop up asking for Volume Ownership credentials. These users only need to put in their Global ID password).
While the computer is downloading and applying the upgrade, a box will pop up on your screen notifying you of the progress. Once the computer finishes downloading the upgrade, the computer will reboot and finish the upgrade.