Download System Imaging and Software Update Administration

Security
You can restrict access to NetBoot service on a case-by-case basis by listing the
hardware (also called the Ethernet or MAC) addresses of computers that you want to
allow or deny access. A client computer’s hardware address is automatically added to
the NetBoot Filtering list when the client starts up using NetBoot and is, by default,
enabled to use NetBoot. You can specify others. See “Restricting NetBoot Clients by
Filtering Addresses” on page 49.
Network Install Images
An install image is a special boot image that boots the client long enough to install
software from the image, after which the client can boot from its own hard drive.
Just as a boot image replaces the role of a hard drive, an install image is a replacement
for an installation CD.
Like a bootable CD-ROM disc, Network Install is a convenient way to reinstall the
operating system, applications, or other software onto the local hard drive. For system
administrators deploying large numbers of computers with the same version of
Mac OS X, Network Install can be very useful. Network Install does not require the
insertion of a CD-ROM disk into each NetBoot client, because all startup and installation
information is delivered over the network.
While creating an install image with System Image Utility, you have the option to
automate the installation process by limiting the amount of interaction from anyone at
the client computer. Because an automatic network installation can be configured to
erase the contents of the local hard drive before installation, data loss can occur. You
must control access to this type of Network Install disk image and must communicate
to those using these images the implications of using them. It is always wise to inform
users to back up critical data before using automatic network installations.
Software installations using Network Install can be performed using a collection of
packages or an entire disk image (depending on the source used to create the image).
For more information on preparing install images to install software over the network
see “Creating Mac OS X Install Images” on page 35.
Before You Set Up NetBoot
Before you set up a NetBoot server, review the following considerations and
requirements.
Chapter 1 About System Imaging Administration
21