First, yes I am using "--team id", just an annoying autocorrect that TextEdit does for some reason.
I've been able to submit my application add-on inside the DMG to Apple. The 1st time it failed because the add-on contained in the DMG didn't have "hardened-runtime" enabled. I found the answer in the following post: https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/129544
I resigned the app inside the product add-on, using the following command to enable hardened-runtime: codesign --options=runtime -s "Developer ID Application: Whoeveryouare" -v /path/to/executable
Once I did that, I resubmitted it to be notarized, and it came back successful. Once it was notarized successfully, and I was able to staple that to the DMG file.
However, when I copy the add-on from the DMG to a test computer, the file still fails to load because Apple says it's unrecognized. I then zipped the .app file and submitted it for notarization. I got a response that the notarization failed due to "Package has no signed executables or bundles. No tickets can be generated."
I did some research and found another post that seems to cover a similar scenario: https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/119801
I tried making the modifications to the .app contained in my .pvm bundle (these are Parallels Virtual Machines (.pvm) that contain a machine named .app, that inside of that is the info.plist file that I made the following recommended modifications:
set CFBundlePackageType to BNDL
deleted the CFBundleSignature key
I then re-zipped the whole .pvm file and submitted it for notarization, again I got the response: "Package has no signed executables or bundles. No tickets can be generated." If I submit the PVM inside the DMG, the DMG gets notarized but the PVM/App doesn't and won't run when I load it.
How can I get the .pvm bundle that contains the machine named .app bundle ( I may be using the wrong terminology using "bundle") so I can re-sign with hardened runtime, add to the DMG, and get BOTH the .pvm bundle for the virtual machine and the DMG that contains it to be notarized and allow me to staple the results so it can be distributed without Gatekeeper stopping them? Right now, when I launch the virtual machine I get the following error which is due to Gatekeeper not allowing the file to run: https://kb.parallels.com/en/111693
If you need additional details please let me know. I'm simply trying to distribute the PVM on the DMG to save space when distributing it across the network of machines I manage using JAMF. Gatekeeper has made what once was a simple "copy paste" function into an incredibly difficult process. My alternative is to run Parallels one-by-one, manually on each Mac, following a step-by-step process by hand, that is highly error-prone or results in varying configurations. I've built these PVMs and simply want to distribute the images uniformly.
Another thing I was looking at was whether when I run the "codesign --options=runtime ", is it possible to specify additional runtime exceptions like the ones specified here? https://developer.apple.com/documentation/security/hardened_runtime
Or are those only options via Xcode? I would assume there are methods via Terminal since everything in Xcode is just a GUI to what's possible via the command line, however, I can't find any documentation for that. I'm wondering if these exceptions or lack thereof is part of the problem.
Any help you can provide would be really helpful. I've banged my head against the wall for a week now and the headache (not to mention resulting headache this has caused) is becoming unbearable. Currently, my office is expecting me to roll out the new machines starting next week due to the office being closed starting Wednesday for the 4th of July holiday. Right now I'm very worried I'm not going to be able to meet that deadline and lose the argument of "Why are we using Macs in the office when PCs might be cheaper/easier to manage?" that my boss and I have been having since I proposed it. My view is "Macs are harder upfront, but easier long term and dual environment meet every possible user need". His view is "Macs are for people's homes, not the office. Windows are more work long-term, but that's your problem to manage as the administrator not mine as the IT Director."
Help me Eskimo1, you're my only hope (and everyone's since on every discussion link I've added you seem to be THE ONLY Apple expert who's able to provide answers. Question: are you the ONLY resource Apple has devoted to answering these "outside of the AppStore" distribution questions? Kind of seems like they need more of you).