Apple Maintenance Program (AMP) for Mac OS X
RIT intends to purchase another three years of software maintenance with Apple in FY2009 to provide faculty and staff the ability to keep their work computers up to date with Apple system software. The Apple Maintenance Program, or AMP, for Mac OS X is software maintenance that applies to the operating systems used on Apple desktop and laptop computers. It does not cover server software or other applications.
Our most recent AMP maintenance expired at the end of FY2008 on June 30, 2008. Existing AMP maintenance converted to perpetual Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard licenses at that time.
The AMP software maintenance is a stay current license. You must have a current Mac OS version in order to be covered by the maintenance. AMP essentially extends the traditional perpetual licenses (as you typically find in shrinkwrapped retail software) to provide up to three years of updates.
Covered software
The AMP software maintenance provides licenses (the right to install and use) for any current and past Macintosh operating system:
- Apple Mac OS operating system
- Apple Mac OS X operating system.
Products not covered by this campus-wide operating system software maintenance purchase include:
- Apple iWork: Keynote, Pages, and Numbers
- Apple QuickTime Pro and related products
- Apple iLife (iDVD, iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, iWeb), except as installed with the operating system itself
- Apple Remote Desktop (ARD)
- Mac OS X Server and related products
- Apple Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro, and other professional applications
- Any other Apple software not listed explicitly above.
Features
The AMP maintenance features:
- Choice to select the appropriate operating system version for your hardware or specific deployment needs, up to and including the latest
- Ability to cover RIT-owned Macintosh computers used by individuals or found in computer labs
- A low, predictable yearly fee — and one that is much less than the cost Apple’s educational price for multiple versions of new system software
- Flexible license coverage for individual faculty/staff, whole departments, and labs
The AMP maintenance does not include:
- Installation media for versions of Mac OS X or classic Mac OS (which must be purchased separately)
- Home use by faculty and staff members who already have covered office computers.
Ordering licenses
The software maintenance must be purchased through ITS to achieve the benefits of RIT’s volume buying power. AMP maintenance currently requires or departmental participation, and is voluntary.
We recommend covering all Macintosh computers in your department. AMP is transferable between computers and has a three-year coverage period.
Details on ordering AMP for the upcoming FY2009 purchase will be announced shortly. ITS is currently not taking orders for AMP, but we will update this page when we are.
Ordering installation media
Media sets can be purchased through the RIT Digital Den store. Please contact the ITS HelpDesk for more details.
You cannot order media sets or obtain additional media from ITS. The part numbers for media sets you can order for contract fulfillment only are listed below. Older versions are subject to availability from Apple, and the part numbers may serve as a historical reference only.
- Leopard: MB432ZM/A
- Tiger: unknown
- Panther: M9233ZM/A
- Jaguar: M8715ZM/A
- Mac OS 9: M8532LL/A
RIT will seek to have a campus-wide order for media kits when major new versions of the operating ship to get the best pricing for the university.
Duplicating installation media
According to our Apple sales team, RIT does not have the right to duplicate installation media for Mac OS X. Therefore, ITS cannot and will not provide disk images or duplicated media for Mac OS X for AMP fulfillment.
Installing updated Mac OS versions
As always, to arrange for a software upgrades, please contact your system administrator or the ITS HelpDesk at 5-4357, TTY at 5-2810, or send an email to helpdesk@rit.edu.
If you are a system administrator or technical support provider, we encourage you to discuss upgrade plans for new major versions of Mac OS X on the RIT Mactech mailing list.
Home use
Home use rights are not available for RIT students, faculty, or staff as part of the university-wide AMP purchase. Those who wish to get the latest version of Mac OS X for use at home should strongly consider purchasing it at an educational discount from the RIT Digital Den store.
Maintenance expiration
AMP maintenance will expire three years from its date of purchase. Once the FY2009 purchase has been concluded, we will announce the new campus-wide start, anniversary, and end dates.
The previous maintenance expired at the end of FY2008 on June 30, 2008. That AMP coverage has converted to the same number of perpetual licenses. Although that maintenance has not yet been replaced or renewed, there is currently no pressing need based on Apple’s anticipated operating system release cycle.
At the end of the AMP maintenance’s three year duration, coverage converts to the same number of perpetual licenses.