Former Apple employee Gerard Allen shared some of his favorite tools during JAMF Software’s user conference. Based in Ireland, Allen built his career helping companies integrate Macs into their IT environments. He worked for Apple for eight years during the 1990s, then started providing technical support and training to businesses. His consultancy, Stream Solutions, was recently acquired by Apple reseller iConnect. Today Allen is chief technologist and general manager at iConnect.
The Best Mac Performance Optimization Software in 2018. Obviously, IObit wants to position the app as a one-stop maintenance tool for a Mac. Once you install and run the app, the main interface shows 'System Status: Unknown'. All you need to do is clicking the 'Scan' button, within seconds or minutes you'll see an overview report detailing.
He's a big fan of JAMF Software's Casper Suite. 'All the little bits and pieces I’d been bolting together, this answers it in one place. It's a single pane of glass. It makes everything come alive in a way that I'd been hacking things together to do for so many years. Overnight it revolutionized how I operated,' Allen said of Casper Suite, which he’s been using for a few years. 'But I can’t use it in insolation.'
Allen supplements Casper with many sysadmin tools and utilities, some of which have been in his arsenal for years. Here are 14 of his favorites.
Benchmark Tool For Linux
| Mac | Score |
|---|---|
| iMac (27-inch Retina Early 2019) Intel Core i9-9900K @ 3.6 GHz (8 cores) | 1264 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Retina Early 2019) | 1196 |
| iMac (27-inch Retina Early 2019) Intel Core i5-9600K @ 3.7 GHz (6 cores) | 1160 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2019) | 1151 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2019) Intel Core i9-9980HK @ 2.4 GHz (8 cores) | 1151 |
| iMac (27-inch Retina Mid 2017) | 1141 |
| Mac mini (Late 2018) Intel Core i7-8700B @ 3.2 GHz (6 cores) | 1140 |
| iMac Pro (Late 2017) | 1129 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2019) Intel Core i9-9880H @ 2.3 GHz (8 cores) | 1116 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Retina Mid 2017) | 1106 |
| iMac Pro (Late 2017) Intel Xeon W-2191B @ 2.3 GHz (18 cores) | 1105 |
| iMac Pro (Late 2017) | 1095 |
| iMac (27-inch Retina Early 2019) Intel Core i5-8600 @ 3.1 GHz (6 cores) | 1089 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2018) | 1086 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2019) Intel Core i7-8569U @ 2.8 GHz (4 cores) | 1081 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Retina Early 2019) | 1074 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2019) Intel Core i7-9750H @ 2.6 GHz (6 cores) | 1059 |
| iMac (27-inch Retina Late 2015) | 1050 |
| iMac (27-inch Retina Mid 2017) Intel Core i5-7600K @ 3.8 GHz (4 cores) | 1049 |
| Mac mini (Late 2018) | 1044 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2018) Intel Core i7-8559U @ 2.7 GHz (4 cores) | 1042 |
| iMac (27-inch Retina Early 2019) | 1036 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2019) Intel Core i7-8557U @ 1.7 GHz (4 cores) | 1035 |
| iMac (27-inch Retina) | 1030 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2018) Intel Core i7-8850H @ 2.6 GHz (6 cores) | 1014 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2018) | 992 |
| iMac (27-inch Retina Mid 2017) Intel Core i5-7600 @ 3.5 GHz (4 cores) | 984 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Retina Late 2015) | 977 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2019) Intel Core i5-8279U @ 2.4 GHz (4 cores) | 971 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2019) | 948 |
| Mac mini (Late 2018) Intel Core i3-8100B @ 3.6 GHz (4 cores) | 945 |
| iMac (27-inch Retina Late 2015) | 943 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2017) Intel Core i7-7920HQ @ 3.1 GHz (4 cores) | 943 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2017) | 940 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina Mid 2014) Intel Core i7-4980HQ @ 2.8 GHz (4 cores) | 938 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Retina Mid 2017) | 935 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Retina Early 2019) Intel Core i3-8100 @ 3.6 GHz (4 cores) | 929 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Late 2013) | 928 |
| iMac (27-inch Retina Mid 2017) Intel Core i5-7500 @ 3.4 GHz (4 cores) | 925 |
| iMac (27-inch Retina) | 921 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2018) Intel Core i5-8259U @ 2.3 GHz (4 cores) | 904 |
| iMac (27-inch Late 2013) | 902 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2017) Intel Core i7-7820HQ @ 2.9 GHz (4 cores) | 900 |
| iMac (27-inch Late 2013) | 894 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2017) Intel Core i5-7360U @ 2.3 GHz (2 cores) | 892 |
| iMac (27-inch Retina Late 2015) | 891 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina Late 2013) Intel Core i7-4960HQ @ 2.6 GHz (4 cores) | 886 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Retina Mid 2017) | 880 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina Mid 2015) Intel Core i7-4980HQ @ 2.8 GHz (4 cores) | 875 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina Mid 2015) | 875 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2016) Intel Core i7-6920HQ @ 2.9 GHz (4 cores) | 871 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2017) | 864 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2017) Intel Core i7-7700HQ @ 2.8 GHz (4 cores) | 862 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Retina Late 2015) | 861 |
| iMac (27-inch Late 2013) Intel Core i5-4570 @ 3.2 GHz (4 cores) | 859 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina Mid 2014) | 853 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2017) Intel Core i5-7267U @ 3.1 GHz (2 cores) | 842 |
| Mac Pro (Late 2013) | 838 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Late 2015) Intel Core i5-5575R @ 2.8 GHz (4 cores) | 836 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina Late 2013) | 830 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2016) Intel Core i7-6820HQ @ 2.7 GHz (4 cores) | 827 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Late 2012) | 820 |
| Mac Pro (Late 2013) Intel Xeon E5-1650 v2 @ 3.5 GHz (6 cores) | 820 |
| iMac (27-inch Late 2012) | 817 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Late 2016) Intel Core i5-6287U @ 3.1 GHz (2 cores) | 817 |
| Mac Pro (Late 2013) | 813 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina Mid 2015) Intel Core i7-4870HQ @ 2.5 GHz (4 cores) | 812 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina Mid 2015) | 812 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina Mid 2014) Intel Core i7-4770HQ @ 2.2 GHz (4 cores) | 804 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Retina Early 2015) | 804 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina Mid 2015) Intel Core i7-4770HQ @ 2.2 GHz (4 cores) | 801 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Late 2016) | 793 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Retina Mid 2014) Intel Core i7-4578U @ 3.0 GHz (2 cores) | 789 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Late 2013) | 787 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2016) Intel Core i7-6700HQ @ 2.6 GHz (4 cores) | 786 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Late 2012) | 780 |
| iMac (27-inch Mid 2011) Intel Core i7-2600 @ 3.4 GHz (4 cores) | 778 |
| MacBook Air (Late 2018) | 778 |
| Mac mini (Late 2014) Intel Core i5-4308U @ 2.8 GHz (2 cores) | 776 |
| MacBook Air (13-inch Early 2015) | 775 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina Early 2013) Intel Core i7-3840QM @ 2.8 GHz (4 cores) | 769 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Retina Late 2013) | 768 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Late 2013) Intel Core i5-4570R @ 2.7 GHz (4 cores) | 766 |
| iMac (27-inch Late 2012) | 765 |
| iMac (27-inch Late 2012) Intel Core i5-3470S @ 2.9 GHz (4 cores) | 762 |
| Mac mini (Late 2014) | 762 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Retina Early 2015) Intel Core i5-5287U @ 2.9 GHz (2 cores) | 761 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Late 2016) | 756 |
| MacBook Pro (Retina) Intel Core i7-3820QM @ 2.7 GHz (4 cores) | 753 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2012) | 752 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Retina Mid 2014) Intel Core i5-4308U @ 2.8 GHz (2 cores) | 747 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina Late 2013) | 743 |
| MacBook (Mid 2017) Intel Core i7-7Y75 @ 1.4 GHz (2 cores) | 743 |
| MacBook (Mid 2017) | 740 |
| Mac mini (Late 2012) Intel Core i7-3720QM @ 2.6 GHz (4 cores) | 739 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Late 2016) | 739 |
| Mac Pro (Late 2013) Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2 @ 2.7 GHz (12 cores) | 738 |
| MacBook (Mid 2017) | 731 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2011) Intel Core i7-2600S @ 2.8 GHz (4 cores) | 730 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2011) | 729 |
| MacBook Pro (Retina) Intel Core i7-3720QM @ 2.6 GHz (4 cores) | 729 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Retina Early 2015) | 723 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2012) Intel Core i7-3720QM @ 2.6 GHz (4 cores) | 718 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Retina Late 2013) | 718 |
| Mac mini (Late 2014) Intel Core i5-4278U @ 2.6 GHz (2 cores) | 711 |
| MacBook Air (11-inch Mid 2013) | 708 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Retina Mid 2014) Intel Core i5-4278U @ 2.6 GHz (2 cores) | 705 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina Early 2013) | 704 |
| iMac (27-inch Mid 2011) Intel Core i5-2400 @ 3.1 GHz (4 cores) | 699 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Late 2012) | 685 |
| MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2013) Intel Core i7-4650U @ 1.7 GHz (2 cores) | 681 |
| MacBook Air (Mid 2017) | 675 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2012) Intel Core i7-3615QM @ 2.3 GHz (4 cores) | 674 |
| iMac (27-inch Mid 2011) | 673 |
| MacBook Pro (17-inch Late 2011) Intel Core i7-2760QM @ 2.4 GHz (4 cores) | 668 |
| Mac mini (Late 2012) | 666 |
| MacBook Pro (Retina) Intel Core i7-3615QM @ 2.3 GHz (4 cores) | 664 |
| MacBook (Early 2015) | 660 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Retina Late 2013) Intel Core i5-4258U @ 2.4 GHz (2 cores) | 655 |
| MacBook Air (11-inch Early 2015) | 648 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012) Intel Core i7-3520M @ 2.9 GHz (2 cores) | 645 |
| Mac Pro (Mid 2010) | 639 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2011) Intel Core i5-2400S @ 2.5 GHz (4 cores) | 635 |
| MacBook Air (13-inch Early 2015) | 627 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Late 2011) Intel Core i7-2640M @ 2.8 GHz (2 cores) | 626 |
| Mac mini (Late 2014) | 625 |
| MacBook Air (11-inch Early 2014) Intel Core i5-4260U @ 1.4 GHz (2 cores) | 619 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina Early 2013) | 610 |
| MacBook (Early 2016) Intel Core m7-6Y75 @ 1.3 GHz (2 cores) | 610 |
| Mac Pro (Mid 2012) | 609 |
| MacBook Air (11-inch Mid 2013) Intel Core i5-4250U @ 1.3 GHz (2 cores) | 604 |
| MacBook (Early 2016) | 602 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Late 2015) Intel Core i5-5250U @ 1.6 GHz (2 cores) | 602 |
| MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2012) | 602 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2011) Intel Core i7-2675QM @ 2.2 GHz (4 cores) | 596 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Early 2011) | 591 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012) Intel Core i5-3210M @ 2.5 GHz (2 cores) | 589 |
| Mac Pro (Mid 2010) | 585 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Retina) Intel Core i5-3210M @ 2.5 GHz (2 cores) | 585 |
| Mac mini (Mid 2011) | 579 |
| Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Intel Xeon W3565 @ 3.2 GHz (4 cores) | 575 |
| Mac mini (Late 2012) | 574 |
| iMac (27-inch Mid 2010) Intel Core i7-870 @ 2.9 GHz (4 cores) | 573 |
| MacBook Air (13-inch Early 2014) | 573 |
| MacBook (Early 2015) Intel Core M-5Y51 @ 1.2 GHz (2 cores) | 551 |
| MacBook (Early 2015) | 549 |
| Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Intel Xeon X5650 @ 2.7 GHz (12 cores) | 548 |
| Mac mini (Mid 2011) | 540 |
| iMac (27-inch Mid 2010) Intel Core i5-760 @ 2.8 GHz (4 cores) | 536 |
| MacBook (Early 2016) | 534 |
| MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2012) Intel Core i5-3427U @ 1.8 GHz (2 cores) | 530 |
| MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2013) | 527 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2011) Intel Core i7-2720QM @ 2.2 GHz (4 cores) | 521 |
| Mac Pro (Mid 2010) | 514 |
| iMac (27-inch Mid 2010) Intel Core i3-550 @ 3.2 GHz (2 cores) | 501 |
| Mac Pro (Mid 2012) | 498 |
| Mac mini (Mid 2011) Intel Core i5-2415M @ 2.3 GHz (2 cores) | 494 |
| MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2011) | 493 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2014) Intel Core i5-4260U @ 1.4 GHz (2 cores) | 492 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2011) | 491 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Early 2011) Intel Core i5-2415M @ 2.3 GHz (2 cores) | 488 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Late 2011) | 475 |
| Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Intel Xeon E5620 @ 2.4 GHz (8 cores) | 469 |
| Mac Pro (Early 2008) | 461 |
| MacBook Pro (17-inch Early 2010) Intel Core i5-540M @ 2.5 GHz (2 cores) | 458 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2010) | 458 |
| MacBook Pro (17-inch Early 2010) Intel Core i7-620M @ 2.7 GHz (2 cores) | 457 |
| iMac (27-inch Late 2009) | 445 |
| iMac (27-inch Late 2009) Intel Core i5-750 @ 2.7 GHz (4 cores) | 431 |
| MacBook Air (11-inch Mid 2011) | 410 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2010) Intel Core i5-520M @ 2.4 GHz (2 cores) | 408 |
| MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2011) | 401 |
| Mac Pro (Early 2008) Intel Xeon E5462 @ 2.8 GHz (8 cores) | 400 |
| iMac (Late 2009) | 398 |
| iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2010) Intel Core i3-540 @ 3.1 GHz (2 cores) | 393 |
| MacBook (Mid 2010) | 336 |
| MacBook Pro (15-inch Early 2010) Intel Core i5-540M @ 2.5 GHz (2 cores) | 336 |
| Mac mini (Early 2010) | 335 |
| MacBook (Late 2009) Intel Core 2 Duo P7550 @ 2.3 GHz (2 cores) | 308 |
| MacBook Pro (13-inch Early 2010) | 305 |
| MacBook Air (13-inch Late 2010) Intel Core 2 Duo L9600 @ 2.1 GHz (2 cores) | 291 |