docs(macos): add CLI-only binary install and MDM deployment guide (#713)

* docs(macos): add CLI-only binary install and MDM deployment guide

Document the previously undocumented binary-only install path for macOS
using USE_BIN_INSTALL and SKIP_UI_APP flags. Add a new guide for
building custom CLI-only .pkg packages for MDM fleet deployment,
covering pkgbuild workflow, pre/postinstall scripts, setup key
enrollment, and update strategies.

* docs(macos): add warnings about unsigned binaries in tarballs

The darwin tarballs from GitHub releases contain unsigned binaries —
only the official .pkg goes through the sign pipeline. Add warnings
to both the install page and MDM guide, and document the full signing
workflow: codesign for the binary, pkgbuild --sign for the package,
and optional notarization via notarytool.
This commit is contained in:
shuuri-labs
2026-05-04 10:07:39 +02:00
committed by GitHub
parent a4888e5bdd
commit a293b8a17b
3 changed files with 441 additions and 22 deletions

View File

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
import {Note} from "@/components/mdx";
import {Note, Warning} from "@/components/mdx";
# MacOS Installation
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ The NetBird client (agent) allows a peer to join a pre-existing NetBird deployme
curl -fsSL https://pkgs.netbird.io/install.sh | sh
```
This installs the full NetBird application, including the desktop UI and the daemon service.
### Package install
1. Download the latest MacOS release installer for your [processor](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211814 ):
@@ -47,41 +49,66 @@ brew unlink netbird
sudo netbird service start
```
### Binary Install
**Installation from binary (CLI only)**
### CLI-only install (binary)
If you need only the CLI client without the desktop UI — for example, on headless servers or for MDM/fleet deployments — you can install the standalone binary directly.
#### One-command binary install
<Warning>
The macOS binary tarballs from GitHub releases are **not Apple code-signed or notarized**. Only the official `.pkg` installer from [pkgs.netbird.io](https://pkgs.netbird.io) contains signed binaries. The unsigned binary will trigger Gatekeeper warnings and may be blocked by MDM policies. For managed fleet deployments, see [Building a CLI-Only .pkg for MDM Deployment](/manage/integrations/mdm-deployment/macos-cli-pkg-deployment) which includes steps for signing the binary with your own Developer ID.
</Warning>
The install script supports a binary-only mode that downloads the tarball, extracts the `netbird` binary to `/usr/local/bin/`, and registers the launchd daemon:
```bash
curl -fsSL https://pkgs.netbird.io/install.sh | USE_BIN_INSTALL=true SKIP_UI_APP=true sh
```
To update an existing binary install, add the `UPDATE_NETBIRD` flag:
```bash
curl -fsSL https://pkgs.netbird.io/install.sh | USE_BIN_INSTALL=true SKIP_UI_APP=true UPDATE_NETBIRD=true sh
```
#### Manual binary install
1. Checkout NetBird [releases](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/releases/latest)
2. Download the latest release:
2. Download the latest release for macOS:
```bash
curl -L -o ./netbird_<VERSION>.tar.gz https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/releases/download/v<VERSION>/netbird_<VERSION>_<OS>_<Arch>.tar.gz
# For Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4):
curl -L -o ./netbird.tar.gz https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/releases/download/v<VERSION>/netbird_<VERSION>_darwin_arm64.tar.gz
# For Intel:
curl -L -o ./netbird.tar.gz https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/releases/download/v<VERSION>/netbird_<VERSION>_darwin_amd64.tar.gz
# Universal binary (works on both architectures):
curl -L -o ./netbird.tar.gz https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/releases/download/v<VERSION>/netbird_<VERSION>_darwin_all.tar.gz
```
<Note>
You need to replace some variables from the URL above:
- Replace **VERSION** with the latest released version.
- Replace **OS** with "linux", "darwin" for MacOS or "windows"
- Replace **Arch** with your target system CPU architecture
Replace **VERSION** with the latest released version (e.g., `0.36.5`). You can find version numbers on the [releases page](https://github.com/netbirdio/netbird/releases/latest).
</Note>
3. Decompress
3. Extract and install the binary:
```bash
tar xzf ./netbird_<VERSION>.tar.gz
sudo mv netbird /usr/bin/netbird
sudo chown root:root /usr/bin/netbird
sudo chmod +x /usr/bin/netbird
tar xzf ./netbird.tar.gz
sudo mv netbird /usr/local/bin/netbird
sudo chown root:wheel /usr/local/bin/netbird
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/netbird
```
After that you may need to add /usr/bin in your PATH environment variable:
````bash
export PATH=$PATH:/usr/bin
````
4. Install and run the service
4. Install and start the daemon service:
```bash
sudo netbird service install
sudo netbird service start
```
This creates a launchd daemon at `/Library/LaunchDaemons/netbird.plist` that runs as root (required for managing the WireGuard network interface).
<Warning>
Automatic updates via the NetBird dashboard do **not** work for binary-only installs. The auto-updater requires the official `.pkg` installer (it checks for the `io.netbird.client` package receipt). For binary installs, you must update manually or push updates through your MDM solution. See [Building a CLI-Only .pkg for MDM Deployment](/manage/integrations/mdm-deployment/macos-cli-pkg-deployment) for a managed approach.
</Warning>
## Running NetBird with SSO Login
### Desktop UI Application
If you installed the Desktop UI client, you can launch it and click on Connect.