Enabling the NetBoot Service

Enabling the NetBoot server service requires a variety of server configuration changes. The Server Admin tool performs most of these changes for you, but you must enable a few related services in order for NetBoot to function properly. For example, the Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) and Network File System (NFS) services must be running in order for you to share your NetBoot images. The NFS service automatically starts when you configure NetBoot via the Server Admin utility, but you must enable the AFP service manually. (Refer to Chapter 5, "File Sharing," for instructions on how to enable the AFP service.)

A properly configured Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server must also be available on your network in order for the NetBoot service to work. For many installations, the Mac OS X Server will act as the DHCP server. (Refer to Chapter 6, "Additional Network Configuration Options," for instructions on how to configure the DHCP service.)

What If I Already Have Another DHCP Server?

Many networks have another device that provides the DHCP service. You can still use the NetBoot service in these types of network environments. The DHCP service must be running on your NetBoot server because it's responsible for providing the Boot Service Discovery Protocol (BSDP), which allows client computers to automatically find it over the network. However, the DHCP service doesn't have to provide DHCP addresses. To prevent the DHCP service from providing configuration information to the network, unselect the Enable check box in the DHCP subnet settings (Figure 11.39).

Figure 11.39. Unselect the DHCP settings Enable check box.

To enable the NetBoot service:

1.	Choose /Applications/Server/Server Admin (Figure 11.40). Figure 11.40. Choose /Applications/Server/Server Admin. The Server Admin utility opens.
2.	Connect and authenticate to the server you intend to configure (Figure 11.41). Figure 11.41. Authenticate as your server administrator.
3.	Select NetBoot from the service list, click the Settings button, and then click the General tab (Figure 11.42). Figure 11.42. Select NetBoot from the service list, click the Settings tab, and then click the General tab.
4.	From the network port list, select the check box(es) next to the network interface(s) on which you want to enable the NetBoot service (Figure 11.43). Figure 11.43. Make your network interface selection(s).
5.	From the volume list, select the check box(es) next to the volume(s) where you want to store the images and the client data (Figure 11.44). Figure 11.44. Select the volume storage options check box(es). You must choose at least one volume for each column. The more volumes you enable, the more responsive your server will be.
6.	Click the Save button.
7.	Click the Start Service button in the Server Admin Toolbar (Figure 11.45). Figure 11.45. Click the Start Service button. The Server Admin utility will configure the NetBoot server, share points, and user accounts.
8.	Populate any NetBoot share points you have with .nbi image files. Refer to the earlier tasks on image creation and image management for more details.
9.	Click the Images button (Figure 11.46). Figure 11.46. Click the Images button.
10.	In the Enable column, select the check boxes next to the images you want to make available to NetBoot (Figure 11.47). Figure 11.47. In the Enable column, select the check boxes next to the images you want to make available to NetBoot.
11.	Click the Save button.

Tips

• You may have to restart the Mac OS X Server in order for NetBoot to function properly.

• If you're experiencing problems with the NetBoot service, then check the log file for error messages. You can view the NetBoot log file in the Server Admin utility by selecting NetBoot from the service list and then clicking the Logs button (Figure 11.48).

  Figure 11.48. To view the NetBoot log file, select NetBoot from the service list and then click the Logs button.

  

  
  

• To NetBoot across network subnets, check out the NetBoot Across Subnets utility created by Mike Bombich (http://www.bombich.com).