UPDATE: DeploySrv-Doble is running v1.0rc19 (stable)!!!

So I just did a major upgrade to my deploy server in Doble.

FYI: "DeploySrv-x" is the general nomenclature that I have given to machines that are used to copy/clone workstations in various computer areas.

DeploySrv-Doble will serve the entire doble campus by allowing dual-boot imac machines to boot remotely via NetBoot services (a built-in feature of MacOSX-Server) and then invoke Apple System Restore (ASR) processes to copy the hard-drives from lab workstations to a network storage unit (as 'images')....
Then, the same ASR processes can be used to restore the hard-drive images back onto workstations else-where.... it's all quite simple.
And it saves TONS on leg-work.
The traditional methods would have included taking an external hard-drive to each computer and copying the workstation one at a time... with ASR & NetBoot, I can do 20+ at a time (in the same amount of time).... And I can do them remotely (from another office or computer elsewhere) making it much more convenient for me.

When I worked at the Art Institute of Boston, I had set-up DeployStudio, but back in the day, we used a tool called NetRestore... similar ideas.

At any rate..
I'm celebrating because I restored the NetBoot services and rebuilt a NetInstall Set using DeployStudio v1.0rc19.... and I'm creating the Doble Image as we speak.

More development notes to come!

DeployStudio Server @ 601 Newbury St

Warning: The content on this post was written while Richard Phung, the Labs & Classrooms Coordinator, held the title of Computer Lab Technician at the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University.... the content expressed here is out of date, at best.

Configured DeployStudio Server on aibanimation (10.123.32.40).

DeployStudio Server @ 601 Newbury St

Warning: The content on this post was written while Richard Phung, the Labs & Classrooms Coordinator, held the title of Computer Lab Technician at the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University.... the content expressed here is out of date, at best.

Configured DeployStudio Server on aibanimation (10.123.32.40).
Reinstalled ServerDaemon
Configured netinstall set.

Recreated a netinstall set with VNC and a local admin user enabled.
This was pretty annoying.

Tested image restore:
Video image at 12:22 seconds on a single machine.

Creating Boot Environment

Warning: The content on this post was written while Richard Phung, the Labs & Classrooms Coordinator, held the title of Computer Lab Technician at the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University.... the content expressed here is out of date, at best.

I'm moving the video image sets over to the aibanimation server.
We should be able to multicast deploy from the other location as autonomously as we have in this building.

Last image is:
Digital_Video_09.06.23-localadminonly.ppc.hfs.dmg

others:
VideoMaster-BETA1-061909.ppc.hfs.dmg
media-presentations.dmg

~45GB or so.
these will be the seeds for subsequent images.
good stuff!

aibanimation server and DeployStudio!

Warning: The content on this post was written while Richard Phung, the Labs & Classrooms Coordinator, held the title of Computer Lab Technician at the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University.... the content expressed here is out of date, at best.

aibanimation (10.123.32.40) is getting an install of deploy studio.
the disk image repository will also be carried over...

universal netboot set will be created from the imacs in N330.

at the moment, we are using Netboot with ASR and the old xserve (formerly aibserver), but we're moving toward DeployStudio. Will keep you posted.
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Updates:
copied G4G5-netinstall.dmg image from afp://10.123.32.32 (videoserver)
ran updates on 10.123.32.40 (aibanimation)
--- upgrade 10.5.7
--- system stuff.

created netboot set from intel imac
--- DeployStudioRuntime-601N-090618-112016.nbi
--- installed NetBoot Set to aibanimation server NetBootSP0
--- updated NetBoot image list (ServerAdmin)

updated image repository (with old images nonetheless. lol)
-- added G4G5-netrestore.dmg
-- added video-anim-011209.dmg
-- added downshootroom.dmg

Adventures with DeployStudio

Warning: The content on this post was written while Richard Phung, the Labs & Classrooms Coordinator, held the title of Computer Lab Technician at the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University.... the content expressed here is out of date, at best.

Installed DeployStudioAdmin+Server onto XServe
Imported previous master images (HFS)... SUCCESS

---
Added Deploy Studio Runtime to my existing external bootables.



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Created a DeployStudioRuntime NetBoot Set (*.nbi) system... this should be able to replace the NetRestore ASR image that was also made by a similar assistant.

Deploy Studio > NetRestore?!?

Warning: The content on this post was written while Richard Phung, the Labs & Classrooms Coordinator, held the title of Computer Lab Technician at the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University.... the content expressed here is out of date, at best.

Well, it looks like I may be changing the deploy method once again.
Bombich is no longer supporting NetRestore, and Deploy Studio is taking the reigns as the all-mighty network deploy scenario... it also leverages ASR and makes/deploys multicast images. I think this will be the best solution.

I have installed the DeployStudio Admin component onto the XServe, and now I will try to configure a NetBoot set via macbook.

Good stuff.

Deploy Schematic

Here are a couple of deploy schematics that I created to demonstrate the power of NetRestore...
There are tons of other graphics out there that do the same, but here's my version:

Warning: The content on this post was written while Richard Phung, the Labs & Classrooms Coordinator, held the title of Computer Lab Technician at the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University.... the content expressed here is out of date, at best.

BEFORE NetRestore:

AFTER NetRestore:

We do this practice to this very day.