Importing or Exporting Images

The Network Image Utility provides a unique function for moving images between Mac OS X Servers. The import and export functions can copy your NetBoot images among servers on the network. This copy service is facilitated through a Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) connection.

To import a NetBoot image:

1.	Choose /Applications/Server/Network Image Utility. (Figure 11.29). Figure 11.29. Choose /Applications/Server/Network Image Utility. The Network Image Utility opens.
2.	Click the Images button and then the Import button in the Toolbar (Figure 11.30). Figure 11.30. Click the Images button and then the Import button. A dialog box drops down.
3.	Enter the network address and the root user password of the server from which you're importing the image (Figure 11.31). Figure 11.31. Enter the network address and the root user password of the server from which you're importing an image, and click Connect. Click the Connect button. A dialog sheet appears, listing .nbi files.
4.	Select the .nbi files from the server (Figure 11.32). Figure 11.32. Select the .nbi files from the server. Typically, the images are stored in /Library/NetBoot/NetBootSP#.
5.	Click the Select button to continue. A Save dialog sheet appears.
6.	In the Save dialog box, choose the destination for the imported image (Figure 11.33). Figure 11.33. In the Save dialog, choose the destination for the imported image. If you're running the Network Image Utility on a server running the NetBoot service, it will automatically choose the NetBoot share point.
7.	Click the Save button, and take a break. NetBoot images are typically over 1 GB in size and can take quite some time to transfer over a network connection, depending on the speed of that connection.

To export a NetBoot image:

1.	Choose /Applications/Server/Network Image Utility (Figure 11.34). Figure 11.34. Choose /Applications/Server/Network Image Utility. The Network Image Utility opens.
2.	Click the Images button in the Toolbar. A list of images appears.
3.	From the image list, select the NetBoot image you wish to export (Figure 11.35). Figure 11.35. Select the image you want to export.
4.	Click the Export button in the Toolbar (Figure 11.36). Figure 11.36. Click the Export button. A dialog box drops down.
5.	Enter the network address and the root user password of the server to which you're exporting the image. Click the Connect button (Figure 11.37). A dialog sheet appears, showing volumes and folders. Figure 11.37. Enter the network address and root user password, and click Connect.
6.	Choose the destination location on the server to which you're exporting the image (Figure 11.38). Figure 11.38. In the export location dialog, choose the destination location on the server to which you're exporting the image. Typically, the images are stored in /Library/NetBoot/NetBootSP#.
7.	Click the Select button, and take a break. NetBoot images are typically over 1 GB in size and can take quite some time to transfer over a network connection, depending on the speed of that connection.

Tip

• The Network Image Utility can import and export images to any Mac OS X computer, not just servers. All you have to do is turn on Remote Login in the Sharing System Preference pane and enable the root user in the NetInfo Manager utility.