User manual APPLE NETBOOT DATASHEET

[. . . ] 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 Technology Brief Mac OS X Server: NetBoot Technology Brief Mac OS X Server: NetBoot 2 Why NetBoot? Client management with Network Install Network Install is a complementary service that's especially useful for standardizing system configurations for laptop deployments. 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 computer's hard drive--so the system no longer needs to be connected to the network. 2 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. [. . . ] Diskless NetBoot Mac computers can now boot "disklessly"--entirely from a network-based disk image-- without needing to read from or write to the computer's hard drive. In combination with Workgroup Manager, Apple's 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 computer's 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. It's 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 computer's 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 systems--just 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. Technology Brief Mac OS X Server: NetBoot 3 System Image Utility 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 environment--complete with their own documents, applications, and system preferences--from any Mac on the network. Creating a startup disk image With the new System Image Utility, you can create a NetBoot disk image simply by cloning a local volume--no 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 don't need to reconfigure the whole disk image. Simply mount the disk image in the Finder and drag new applications, folders, or files into it--or 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. Technology Brief Mac OS X Server: NetBoot 4 Hosting a NetBoot Disk Image 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. [. . . ] 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. [. . . ]