Catholic Education Ministries

Install NetRestore on Server

Warning: These steps are processor-dependent. If the school's computers have a mixture of PowerPC and Intel pocessors, this procedure needs performed twice (once on each processor).

Notice: When new batches of computers are purchased, the NetInstall Set will likely need recreated for compatibility with the new hardware.

1. Sit at a computer with the newest version of Mac OS.
2. Within the "Go" menu, select "Connect to Server".
3. Type the server's domain name (or IP address).
4. Enter the server's administrative username and password.
5. Mount the volume "NetBootSP0".
6. Download NetRestore from Bombich Software. Within the Bombich web site, you will need to select "NetRestore" from the "Software" menu and then find the download link.
7. Place the "NetRestore" folder in the "Utilities" folder.
8. Launch "NetRestore Helper".
9. Click "Create NetInstall Set" tab.
10. Type any name for the NetInstall set. (Recommendation: Type "NetRestore" followed by the version number of NetRestore).
11. Type any image ID number (just don't duplicate a previously used number).
12. Optionally, leave the description field blank.
13. If necessary, click the lock icon and enter the password.
14. Click the "Save NetInstall-Restore set" button.
    
15. When presented with a save dialog, save into the volume "NetBootSP0".
16. Wait a few brief minutes while it works.
17. When prompted to edit preferences, click "Yes".
    
18. Since this is a new "NetInstall Set", skip to step #12 in the next section.

NetRestore Preferences and Configurations

Actions in this section can be changed at any time in the future.

1. Log into the server as an administrator. (This can be done either by sitting at the server or using Apple Remote Desktop.)
2. Open the startup hard drive (possibly named "ServerHD").
3. Open the "Library" folder.
4. Open the "NetBoot" folder.
5. Open the "NetBootSP0" folder.
6. Open the "NetRestore.nbi" folder (or similar name).
7. Double-click to open the disk image.
8. Now that the disk image is open, prepare to dig further into folders.
9. Open the "Applications" folder.
10. Open the "Utilities" folder.
11. Launch the program "NetRestore".
12. Select "Configuations..." from the "NetRestore" menu. This is where you create lists of disk images (one for each ideal computer). You will likely have one or two images, perhaps "IdealClassroom" and "IdealCompLab".
13. Assuming you plan to add a new disk image to your list...
    1. Config Name: Type a disk image name (ie: IdealClassroom).
    2. Protocol: Select "AFP".
    3. Sharepoint: Type a sharepoint name (probably "images").
    4. Username: Leave blank.
    5. Password: Leave blank.
    6. Hostname/IP: (eg: 192.168.1.3)
    7. Relative path to image from sharepoint: Same as "config name," plus ".dmg" (ie: IdealClassroom.dmg).
    8. Descripton: Optionally give the disk image a description.
    9. Click "Save".
    10. Repeat steps a-h for each disk image (ideal computer).
14. If the example configurations still exist, you may want to remove them now.
15. If desiring to edit a configuration, select it from the list at right, edit information as desired, and click "Save".
16. Close the window.
    
17. Select "Preferences..." from the "NetRestore" menu.
18. Optionally select a default configuration. (Basically, select the disk image you will be most frequently using. If you only have one disk image, then select that configuration.)
19. Check all items in the "Default Target options" section.
20. Click "Save".
    
21. Quit NetRestore.

Default NetBoot set/image on server

Whenever a new NetBoot set/image is created and saved to the server's "NetBootSP0" folder, the server's NetBoot settings should be updated to reflect which NetBoot set/image should be utilized.

1. Launch "Server Admin". This program is probably in the "Servers" folder within "Applications". It not already installed, please do so using the "Admin Tools" CD that came with your server software.
2. You will be prompted to log into the server. This involves the server's domain name (eg: server.myschool.org), an administrative username for your server, and associated password.
   
3. In the left column (the list of services), select "NetBoot".
4. Click the "Settings" button near the bottom of the window.
5. Click the "Images" tab near the top of the window.
6. In the "Default" column, select the NetBoot set/image that should be utilized (probably the most recent NetBoot set created). There can be two defaults (one each for Intel- and PowerPC-based computers.
7. Click Save.
8. Quit Server Admin.

Now that the server has the system software (NetInstall Set) needed to bootup the latest computer in the school, proceed to the imaging procedure.