TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prepare your Mac for installation

1 - Apple Silicon-based Macs

By default M1/2/3-based (a.k.a. Apple Silicon) Macs ship with a Security Policy which blocks Third Party Kernel Extensions. Follow the steps below to enable your Mac to be able to communicate with your SymplyPRO LTO drive by changing this Security Policy.

 

Start up your computer in macOS Recovery and set the Security Policy

  • Save all open work and shutdown your Mac
  • Press and hold the power button and the screen will show Macintosh HD and Options icons.
  • Choose Options and then click Continue.
  • Click Utilities and then Startup Security Utility in the drop-down menu
  • Choose your OS Volume and click Security Policy
  • Choose Reduced Security and Allow user management of kernel extensions from identified developers, and then click OK
  • Restart your Mac and follow the instructions to install [SymplyATOM] using the combined installer


2 - Intel-based Macs with a T2 Security Chip

Starting in 2018 Apple introduced the T2 controller chip which besides a slew of other functions is also responsible for key security tasks. In order to install Third Party Kernel Extensions it's necessary to disable the default Security Policy. This is done by booting the Mac in to Recovery Mode and altering the Security Policy using the Startup Security Utility.

Macs with the Apple T2 Security Chip:

  • iMac Pro
  • iMac Pro (introduced 2019)
  • Mac mini (introduced 2018)
  • MacBook Air (introduced 2018)
  • MacBook Pro (introduced 2018)

You can check if your Mac has a T2 Security Chip by following the steps below:

  • Open System Information from the Utilities folder
  • In the left-hand sidebar select Controller (or iBridge if using a version of macOS prior to macOS xxxxx)
  • If you see Apple T2 chip on the right, then follow the next set of instructions
    • Otherwise please go to 2c - Intel-based Macs without T2 Security Chip
  • With your Mac shutdown, power it on, then press and hold Command (⌘)-R immediately after you see the Apple logo
  • When asked to select a user you know the password for, select the user from the list and click Next, then enter their administrator password
  • Choose Utilities > Startup Security Utility from the menu bar when you see the macOS utilities window
  • Enter the administrator password again when asked to authenticate, choosing macOS Password


3 - Intel-based Macs without T2 Security Chip

Pre-T2 Security Chip Macs require no pre-installation preparation.

 

If you have any questions please submit a [support ticket]