Silent Install (macOS)

SoftRAID for macOS now includes an --install option for managed environments. It lets IT teams deploy SoftRAID with tools like Jamf Pro without entering admin credentials on each Mac. Admin credentials are still required for actions that modify disks, like creating a RAID volume.

Requires SoftRAID 9.0.3 or later.

What does the –install option do?
It runs SoftRAID’s first-launch setup with no user interface. SoftRAID installs its background daemon, privileged helper and other components, then exits.

It’s the same setup that happens the first time someone opens SoftRAID. The only difference is that nobody has to be at the Mac to enter an admin password.

Who is it for?
IT administrators who deploy software to many Macs. If you install SoftRAID on a single Mac yourself, you don’t need it. Just open SoftRAID and follow the prompts.

Why would I use it?
Normally, SoftRAID asks for admin credentials on first launch. In a managed environment, most users don’t have admin rights, and IT can’t type a password on every Mac.

With --install, your deployment tool runs setup ahead of time. When the user opens SoftRAID, it’s ready to go.

How do I run it?
Copy SoftRAID to /Applications, then run the main binary with the –install option as root:

sudo /Applications/SoftRAID.app/Contents/MacOS/SoftRAID --install

How do I deploy it with Jamf Pro?
Add two steps to a policy:

• Package—install SoftRAID.app to /Applications
• Script or Files and Processes—run the command above after the package installs

Jamf runs policy scripts as root, so sudo isn’t needed there. Other MDM and deployment tools work the same way.

Will users still be asked for an admin password?
Not for setup. SoftRAID still asks for admin credentials when a user does something that changes a disk, like creating, converting or deleting a volume. Monitoring disks and viewing volume status don’t require credentials.

Does –install activate SoftRAID’s license?
No. It only performs setup and doesn’t touch licensing. Activate the license separately, the same way you normally would.

Do I need to approve anything else?
macOS may still ask users to allow SoftRAID’s background items or driver. Your MDM can pre-approve these with configuration profiles, so users don’t see those prompts either.

How do I check that it worked?
Open SoftRAID on the target Mac. If it opens without asking for an admin password, setup is complete.

What if something goes wrong?
Generate a Tech Support Report from the Utilities menu and contact OWC Support. You can also ask on the SoftRAID Community Forum.

Key Notes

• Version: SoftRAID 9.0.3 or later
• Run as root: Jamf and most MDM tools do this by default
• No UI: setup runs silently, then SoftRAID exits
• Credentials still required for actions that modify disks
• No activation: license SoftRAID separately