Hello-IT integration with FileWave (macOS)

Description

Hello-IT is a third-party macOS menu bar app that gives users a configurable self-service menu for information, links, and scripts. This article shows how FileWave can deploy Hello-IT, its configuration, and supporting scripts. Menu items can include:

• Reporting on server status
• Links to Websites
• Reporting information in the Menu Item
• Additional Scripting for Self Service (Including Integration with Slack)

The Hello-IT project documentation and current releases are available from its GitHub repository:

https://github.com/ygini/Hello-IT

Third-party software
Hello-IT and Slack are third-party products. FileWave provides these examples for reference but does not support those products.

Requirements

• Hello-IT installer
• Hello-IT configuration file

Self-Signed Certificates
Although many features of Hello-IT will work fine, the option to report on server status relies upon the ability to pull data from a server. If the server is not trusted, then this will fail. As such, servers with self-signed certificates will always report a failure when using public.test.http (see below)

Some examples below implement Slack, based upon our KB:

Slack integration with FileWave

Directions

Deliver the Hello-IT configuration to devices with a Custom Settings profile payload in FileWave. The project's basic example plist can be uploaded into that payload: com.github.ygini.Hello-IT.plist.

The Menu Items are linked to functions, below are some examples of Public functions.

public.open.resource

This function provides URLs that will launch in the default browser.  Editing the provided Fileset, can allow for important websites, e.g. Intranet pages.  In this example, FileWave Foundry and Website are offered:

public.open.resource

Dict {
     settings = Dict {
          title = FileWave Website
          URL = https://www.filewave.com
     }
     functionIdentifier = public.open.resource
}
Dict {
     settings = Dict {
          title = FileWave Foundry
          URL = https://foundry.filewave.com
     }
     functionIdentifier = public.open.resource
}

public.test.http

This function tests for access to a Web server by running a download command and checking the output of the download.  If successful all will be well, but if failed, the Menu Item text will become red and a red dot will be highlighted next to the text in the Drop Down.

An md5 checksum is required for the resource, and may be obtained using a curl command.  For example, if using the URL: https://custom.filewave.com, the following would be run

Web Resource md5

curl https://custom.filewave.com | md5
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
100  1406  100  1406    0     0  11051      0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:-- 11070
63e398fd52c3dc883d13401531339f51

The payload would then be amended thus:

public.test.http

Dict {
    settings = Dict {
        repeat = 60
        ignoreSystemState = true
        mode = md5
        originalString = 63e398fd52c3dc883d13401531339f51
        title = FileWave Server
        URL = https://custom.filewave.com
    }
    functionIdentifier = public.test.http
}

Configuration could be set to point to your FileWave server for example, so users can see that a connection is established.

public.script.item

This function provides the ability to run scripts.  In this example, consider the KB article that uses Slack as an IT reporting tool and further utilising this for the following requests:

• Printer ink replacement
• Call the user back

The format of this section of the file could look like:

public.script.item

Dict {
    settings = Dict {
        content = Array {
            Dict {
                settings = Dict {
                    script = slack_printer_ink.sh
                    title = Dict {
                        fr = Demander l'encre d'imprimante
                        en = Request Printer Ink
                    }
                }
                functionIdentifier = public.script.item
            }
            Dict {
                settings = Dict {
                    script = slack_request_callback.sh
                    title = Dict {
                        fr = Demander un rappel
                        en = Request IT Callback
                    }
                }
            functionIdentifier = public.script.item
            }
        }
        title = Dict {
            fr = Libre-service
            en = Self-Service
        }
    }
    functionIdentifier = public.submenu
}

First thing to note is that these have been wrapped in their own 'Self-Service' sub Menu Item 'public.submenu'.  In the example two scripts have been referenced:

• slack_printer_ink.sh
• slack_request_callback.sh

Scripts should be located in the following directory:

CustomScripts

/Library/Application Support/com.github.ygini.hello-it/CustomScripts/

The user may then use the drop down menu to trigger these items, where IT would then receive a Slack message.

Example Filesets

Based upon the above, the following example Filesets include not only the configuration file, but the example scripts that implement the Slack integration.  Consider placing these along with the Hello-IT installer in a Fileset Group and associate the group with devices:

Please see the KB on FileWave and Slack with regards to creating the required Slack Webhook.  Configuration of the scripts to set the Webhook are the same here, editing the Filesets, selecting the pre-installation script and then editing the 'Environment Variables' such that the 'slack_webhook' is set to the generated Webhook from Slack; replacing 'PLACE WEBHOOK HERE'.  

Similarly, if using Legacy Webhooks, the slack_channel variable needs to be edited to match the name of the created channel; for App Webhooks it will be ignored.  In the example, this channel is called 'fw_messages'

Profile - Hello-IT

Profile - Hello-IT.fileset.zip

Hello-IT Slack Request Callback

Hello-IT Slack Request Callback.fileset.zip

This script attempts to read the telephone number of the user based upon a directory service entry.  If device is not bound or user is not a directory user, no number will be supplied.

Hello-IT Slack Printer Ink

Hello-IT Slack Printer Ink.fileset.zip

Example messages in Slack:

Conclusion

This pattern uses FileWave to deploy Hello-IT and its configuration, giving users a menu bar path to request resources or contact IT. It is especially useful when remote users need a simple support option outside the usual office workflow.