Jamf recommends updating operating systems on computers using managed software updates. For more information, see Managed Software Updates in the Jamf Pro Documentation.
You can use a macOS installer application (i.e., Install Assistant application) with Jamf Pro to install major macOS versions. When the macOS installer application is staged on a target computer, it contains a startosinstall framework that allows for programmatic installations of macOS. You can instruct target computers to download a macOS installer directly from Apple or you can prepare the macOS installer application as a DMG built in Composer and upload it to your Jamf Pro distribution point.
After a macOS installer application is staged on a target computer, you can then create a smart computer group to identify target computers and use a policy to install macOS when triggered by certain events, including user-driven methods like Self Service. Additionally, you can use a script to customize the install experience.
On target computers with Intel processors, after a macOS installer is available, Jamf Pro uses the startosinstall command to initiate the installation. For target computers with Apple silicon (i.e., M1 chip), a volume owner must authorize software upgrades by including their username and password in the command's arguments.
Jamf recommends using a Download and Install command to install major macOS versions on target computers with Apple silicon.