Netboot Problems :(

So in my mad netboot/deploy craze, I find that there are a few machines in the Mollye Lichter Block 24-hour computer lab that won't netboot proper...

This has halted the imaging process and has thrown me into RAGE@#!&...
So we are circumventing this issue with other methods.




I would like to take this time to say "kudos" to Bombich's Carbon Copy Cloner...
It's a godsend.

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!

DPL - 01 Problems booting

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 the content expressed here is out of date, at best.

Repeated problems booting on DPL workstation #1...
safeboot with single-user mode and a fcsk scan revealed nothing.
Netboot with utility scan revealed nothing.

Restoring image:
Digital-Pringing-051809.dmg

Estimated image time: 4:53 minutes.

Post-install procedure to follow:
Temporary Storage permissions
Scratch Disk for Photoshop
Power Management/Energy save settings

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.
-----
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

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.