Apple NetBoot User's Guide PDF

1 of 5
1 of 5

Summary of Content for Apple NetBoot User's Guide PDF

NetBoot Start up multiple Mac systems from a server-based image.

Features Standardized desktop configurations

Configure multiple clients with the same operating system and applications1

Define customized configurations for multiple workgroups, hosting up to 25 disk images per server

Replicate server configurations for deploy- ment in compute farms and data centers

Boot client systems disklessly, with no reliance on the local hard drive

Simplified client administration Deploy new systems in minutes with

automatic discovery of NetBoot images Update an entire workgroup by updating

a single disk image Modify startup disk images from the Finder Restore compromised systems instantly Deploy network-based diagnostic and

repair utilities

Integration with enterprise infrastructure Host startup disk images on Mac OS X Server

or other enterprise NFS or HTTP servers Deploy disk images across multiple subnets Deploy redundant NetBoot images on

multiple servers for maximum availability and performance

Technology Brief Mac OS X Server: NetBoot

The NetBoot service in Mac OS X Server makes managing a group of computers as easy as managing a single Mac. By enabling client systems to boot from a single server-based disk image, instead of from their internal hard drive, you can create a standard configuration and use it on all of the desktop systems in a department or classroomor host multiple images customized for different workgroups. You can even create server configurations and run all of your servers from one image. Updating the disk image on the NetBoot server updates all of these systems automatically the next time they are restarted.

Every time you restart a NetBoot-enabled computer, it is automatically restored to its original state. The system reads the startup disk image from the server, and all software and system settings return to the configuration in the NetBoot image. This enables you to deploy new systems or repurpose existing ones with unprecedented efficiency. It also means you can quickly recover from user alteration, tampering, and network- borne viruses, providing added protection for your network. At the same time, NetBoot improves usability by giving users a consistent computing experience across Mac systems anywhere on the network.

The administrator creates a startup disk image, which resides on the network server.

The images can also be stored on a remote NFS file server.

The image can be served via NFS or HTTP.

The local hard drive is not required to update the system image.

Multiple Mac OS X systems on your network can boot from the server-based image.2

NetBoot at a Glance

1

3

2

1

3

2

45

4

5

2Technology Brief Mac OS X Server: NetBoot

Why NetBoot? The NetBoot service in Mac OS X Server is a proven technology that enables businesses and institutions to streamline the support of Mac clients and reduce system administration costs. The ability to deploy a standard desktop configuration across multiple systems and to protect them from alteration makes NetBoot ideal for computing environments such as classrooms, computer labs, kiosks, and computational clusters.

Classrooms and computer labs. NetBoot makes it easy to configure multiple, identical desktop systems and repurpose them quickly. With NetBoot enabled on all desktop systems, students can log in on any computer and access their home directories from the network. NetBoot also allows you to reconfigure systems for a different class simply by rebooting from a different image.

Kiosks and libraries. NetBoot enables you to set up protected computing environ- ments for customers or visitors. For example, you can configure an information station with an Internet browser that connects only to your company website or a visitor kiosk that only runs a database for collecting feedback. If a system is altered, a simple restart restores it to its original condition.

Computational clusters. NetBoot is a powerful solution for data centers and computational clusters with identically configured web or application servers. Similarly purposed systems can boot from a single NetBoot image maintained on a network-based storage device. NetBoot is also useful for servers hosting scalable services, such as web and application servers or computational clusters, which can be scaled out by adding systems running identical copies of the service.

Customized software suites Since Mac OS X Server can host up to 25 NetBoot disk images, you can support multiple workgroups, each with its own custom software suite. You can also perform rolling upgrades, testing a new software update on select systems while maintaining current software on the rest of the network. Or use NetBoot to instantly repurpose a serverfor example, from a web server to an application serverby restarting from a different image.

Diskless NetBoot Mac computers can now boot disklesslyentirely from a network-based disk image without needing to read from or write to the computers hard drive. In combination with Workgroup Manager, Apples built-in client management tool, diskless NetBoot simplifies administration of controlled computing environments such as libraries, kiosks, and testing centers. You can use Workgroup Manager to manage system settings and even prevent users from viewing or modifying a computers hard drive, ensuring a tightly managed computing experience on NetBoot-enabled systems. This is useful, for example, in schools deploying digital bluebook solutions for student testing. Its also an ideal solution for environments, such as some government agencies, where security is a paramount concern. You can prevent data from being stored, even temporarily, on the computers local drive, so sensitive information cannot be compromised by subsequent users once a person logs off or the system is shut down.

System troubleshooting and repairs NetBoot can also be used to host hard drive diagnostic and repair utilities. When using diskless NetBoot, the client system runs independently of its hard drive, making it possible to diagnose and fix problems on client hard drives without needing to cart around a collection of CDs. This is also useful for supporting iBook and PowerBook systemsjust plug them into the network and boot them from the server-based diagnostic tools. Once repairs are complete, portable systems can be disconnected from the network.

Client management with Network Install Network Install is a complementary service thats especially useful for standardizing system configurations for laptop deploy- ments. It uses the same core technology as NetBoot, but instead of booting the client system from a server-based disk image, it installs the contents of the image on the client computers hard driveso the system no longer needs to be connected to the network.2

3Technology Brief Mac OS X Server: NetBoot

System Image Utility Creating a startup disk image With the new System Image Utility, you can create a NetBoot disk image simply by cloning a local volumeno configuration required. This gives you the opportunity to build a system, complete with user preferences, and to test and refine it locally before deploying it across the entire network.2

You can also use System Image Utility to build a new NetBoot image from a Mac OS X Install CD. This creates a disk image with a clean installation of the operating system, which you can then customize as you would any volume on your hard drive.

Updating existing images Mac OS X Server makes it easy to update and maintain disk images. For example, if you want to add a site-licensed application or upgrade the operating system on your NetBoot volume, you dont need to reconfigure the whole disk image. Simply mount the disk image in the Finder and drag new applications, folders, or files into itor delete obsolete applications and files.

For an operating system update or application upgrade that comes as a package installer, you can simply drag the package into the Contents pane of System Image Utility. The NetBoot volume automatically mounts and performs the installation.

Network-based home directories In addition to hosting server-based startup disks, you can host users entire home directories on the server. Network home directories give users the convenience of instant access to their personal computing environmentcomplete with their own documents, applications, and system prefer- encesfrom any Mac on the network.

4Technology Brief Mac OS X Server: NetBoot

Hosting a NetBoot Disk Image Once youve created a NetBoot disk image, use the Server Admin utility in Mac OS X Server to configure and turn on the NetBoot service. This makes the selected NetBoot disk image available as a startup disk to Mac systems on your network. A built-in filter- ing feature gives you the option to control access to a NetBoot disk based on client computer hardware addresses. Mac OS X Server can host up to 25 different disk images, enabling you to support multiple workgroups, each with its own configuration.

To provide responsive and reliable service, you can set up redundant NetBoot servers in your network infrastructure. If a server becomes unavailable, your NetBoot clients will automatically locate and associate themselves with another available server. A load-balancing feature enhances performance by starting up clients from the server with the fewest connected NetBoot clients.

Starting up client systems from the network Ordinarily, when a desktop computer starts up, it looks to its own hard drive for the required startup resources. With NetBoot enabled, a client computer looks to the server for a NetBoot startup disk. You can set computers to start up from a specific NetBoot image by changing the Startup Disk preference in Mac OS X or the Startup Disk control panel in Mac OS 9. You need to set the desktop preference only once; any subsequent changes you make to the disk image take effect the next time the computer starts up.

Apple Remote Desktop 2 By adding the remote control capabilities of Apple Remote Desktop 2 (sold separately), you can specify the NetBoot startup disk for multiple Mac systems on your networkand restart them remotely. With just a few clicks and without leaving your desk, you can set up or update computers for an entire classroom, lab, or office at once. There is no need to walk around and configure each system individually.

NFS or HTTP serving? With Mac OS X Server v10.4, you can define how NetBoot disk images are served. NFS continues to be the default and the preferred method. HTTP is an alternative that allows you to serve disk images without having to reconfigure your firewall to allow NFS traffic.

5Technology Brief Mac OS X Server: NetBoot

Setting Up New Computers Mac OS X systems can automatically discover boot images on the server using an extension to the BootP and DHCP protocols called Boot Server Discovery Protocol (BSDP). This enables you to take a new computer out of the box and configure it to your specifications in minutes. Just plug in the power cord and Ethernet cable and hold down the n key. NetBoot in Mac OS X Server takes care of the rest. The system boots, connects to the network, finds the default NetBoot disk image, and starts up fully configured.

In addition, the Open Directory architecture in Mac OS X supports automatic discovery of directory services using DHCP Option 95, so your newly deployed computer can find your LDAP server the first time you turn it on.1 This feature dramatically reduces the cost of large-scale system deployments, while providing you with sophisticated capabilities for directory-based management of users, groups, and computers.

Apple Server Solutions NetBoot is one of the innovative client management solutions built into Apples UNIX-based Mac OS X Server operating system. Combining the latest open source technologies with Mac ease of use, Mac OS X Server unleashes the power of Xserve G5, Apples rack-optimized server hardware. With phenomenal performance, massive storage capacity, high-bandwidth I/O, and integrated remote management tools, Xserve G5 running Mac OS X Server is an unparalleled server solution for businesses, schools, and research centers.

For More Information For more information about Mac OS X Server, Xserve, and other Apple server solutions, visit www.apple.com/server.

1NetBoot requires Mac systems released in October 1999 or later and a physical Ethernet connection; it does not support AirPort wireless technology. 2Licensing terms apply to Apple and third-party software deployments.

2005 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, AirPort, iBook, Mac, Mac OS, PowerBook, and Xserve are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Apple Remote Desktop and Finder are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. Product specifications are subject to change without notice. This

Manualsnet FAQs

If you want to find out how the NetBoot Apple works, you can view and download the Apple NetBoot User's Guide on the Manualsnet website.

Yes, we have the User's Guide for Apple NetBoot as well as other Apple manuals. All you need to do is to use our search bar and find the user manual that you are looking for.

The User's Guide should include all the details that are needed to use a Apple NetBoot. Full manuals and user guide PDFs can be downloaded from Manualsnet.com.

The best way to navigate the Apple NetBoot User's Guide is by checking the Table of Contents at the top of the page where available. This allows you to navigate a manual by jumping to the section you are looking for.

This Apple NetBoot User's Guide consists of sections like Table of Contents, to name a few. For easier navigation, use the Table of Contents in the upper left corner.

You can download Apple NetBoot User's Guide free of charge simply by clicking the “download” button in the upper right corner of any manuals page. This feature allows you to download any manual in a couple of seconds and is generally in PDF format. You can also save a manual for later by adding it to your saved documents in the user profile.

To be able to print Apple NetBoot User's Guide, simply download the document to your computer. Once downloaded, open the PDF file and print the Apple NetBoot User's Guide as you would any other document. This can usually be achieved by clicking on “File” and then “Print” from the menu bar.