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macOS Host Cleaning Checklist (Before Customer Handover)

This document describes the minimum cleanup steps required before handing a macOS VM to a customer (e.g., after a datacenter becomes available).

Goal

  • Remove customer-internal files, credentials, and environment-specific network settings
  • Ensure the Guest VM is safely stopped and ready to be picked up by the datacenter team

Preconditions

  • You have console/SSH access to the Host (or equivalent)
  • You have confirmed the Host will be transferred outside of our internal environment

Cleanup Steps

1) Stop the VM safely

  • Stop build agent processes
  • Shut down the Guest VM gracefully (do not force shutdown unless required)

Tip: Avoid leaving the Guest VM in a suspended state. Prefer a clean shutdown.

2) Remove unnecessary files from user directories

Delete non-required files, especially:

  • ~/Downloads/*
  • ~/Desktop/* (if applicable)
  • ~/Documents/* (if applicable)
  • Any temporary archives, logs, installers, or test outputs

3) Remove local VM images (if present)

If there are VM image files stored on the machine, remove them:

  • Any local images used only for internal testing

Customer will not use these images; they must not be shipped with the VM.

4) Delete agent credentials (mandatory)

Remove the file below without exception:

  • /etc/agent/cred.json

If multiple agent credential files exist under /etc/agent, remove all that should not be shared with the customer.

5) Empty Trash (if needed)

  • Empty the Trash to ensure deleted files are not recoverable via UI

6) Remove static IP configuration

Static IP settings can break connectivity in the customer’s network.

  • Remove/disable any static IP configuration
  • Ensure the VM is set to use DHCP (or customer-provided networking setup)

If static IP remains, the customer may be unable to connect to their network.

Final Checks

  • Guest VM shuts down cleanly
  • ~/Downloads and ~/Home contain no unnecessary files
  • No local images remain on disk
  • /etc/agent/cred.json is deleted
  • Trash is empty (if applicable)
  • Static IP configuration removed (DHCP enabled)

Datacenter Handover

Once cleaning is complete, open a ticket to indicate:

  • The host is cleaned and ready
  • The host identifier (name/ID)
  • Any special notes (e.g., known issues, required access method)