Netboot Issues

I am having trouble with netboot. Clients show the image as the boot disk, but when i restart it flashes the globe, then a circle with a slash through it, then shut off. The following is the system log:
Jan 17 10:59:31 macserver bootpd[27142]: server name macserver.local
Jan 17 10:59:31 macserver bootpd[27142]: interface en0: ip 10.10.11.25 mask 255.255.254.0
Jan 17 10:59:31 macserver bootpd[27142]: subnets: net_range in '10.10.10/23 Ethernet 2' overlaps with subnet '10.10.10/23 Ethernet 1'
Jan 17 10:59:31 macserver bootpd[27142]: dhcp: re-reading lease list
Jan 17 10:59:31 macserver bootpd[27142]: bsdpd: re-reading configuration
Jan 17 10:59:31 macserver bootpd[27142]: bsdpd: shadow file size will be set to 48 megabytes
Jan 17 10:59:31 macserver bootpd[27142]: bsdpd: age time 00:15:00
Jan 17 10:59:31 macserver bootpd[27142]: BSDP DISCOVER [en0] 1,0:16:cb:86:c4:89 NetBoot001 arch=i386 sysid=iMac4,1
Jan 17 10:59:31 macserver bootpd[27142]: BSDP OFFER sent [1,0:16:cb:86:c4:89] pktsize 403
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I spoke with Apple Tech Support. They had me plug the test computer directly into the server's second ethernet port, enable dhcp for that port and try to boot. It still didn't work, however, the process seems to have gotten a little farther.
Jan 18 12:26:43 macserver bootpd[41217]: server name macserver.miamips.net
Jan 18 12:26:43 macserver bootpd[41217]: interface en0: ip 10.10.11.25 mask 255.255.254.0
Jan 18 12:26:43 macserver bootpd[41217]: dhcp: re-reading lease list
Jan 18 12:26:43 macserver bootpd[41217]: bsdpd: re-reading configuration
Jan 18 12:26:43 macserver bootpd[41217]: bsdpd: shadow file size will be set to 48 megabytes
Jan 18 12:26:43 macserver bootpd[41217]: bsdpd: age time 00:15:00
Jan 18 12:26:46 macserver bootpd[41217]: server name macserver.miamips.net
Jan 18 12:26:46 macserver bootpd[41217]: interface en0: ip 10.10.11.25 mask 255.255.254.0
Jan 18 12:26:46 macserver bootpd[41217]: interface en1: ip 192.168.2.2 mask 255.255.255.0
Jan 18 12:26:46 macserver bootpd[41217]: dhcp: re-reading lease list
Jan 18 12:26:46 macserver bootpd[41217]: bsdpd: re-reading configuration
Jan 18 12:26:46 macserver bootpd[41217]: bsdpd: shadow file size will be set to 48 megabytes
Jan 18 12:26:46 macserver bootpd[41217]: bsdpd: age time 00:15:00
Jan 18 12:26:46 macserver bootpd[41217]: BSDP DISCOVER [en1] 1,0:16:cb:86:c4:89 NetBoot001 arch=i386 sysid=iMac4,1
Jan 18 12:26:46 macserver bootpd[41217]: replyfile /private/tftpboot/NetBoot/NetBootSP0/NetBoot of Mac OS X Server Install Disc.nbi/i386/booter
Jan 18 12:26:46 macserver bootpd[41217]: replying to 0.0.0.0
Jan 18 12:26:46 macserver bootpd[41217]: BSDP OFFER sent [1,0:16:cb:86:c4:89] pktsize 456
Jan 18 12:26:46 macserver bootpd[41217]: DHCP DISCOVER [en1]: 1,0:16:cb:86:c4:89
Jan 18 12:26:46 macserver bootpd[41217]: replying to 192.168.2.3
Jan 18 12:26:46 macserver bootpd[41217]: OFFER sent <no hostname> 192.168.2.3 pktsize 300
Jan 18 12:26:46 macserver bootpd[41217]: service time 0.090113 seconds
Jan 18 12:26:50 macserver bootpd[41217]: DHCP REQUEST [en1]: 1,0:16:cb:86:c4:89
Jan 18 12:26:50 macserver bootpd[41217]: replying to 192.168.2.3
Jan 18 12:26:50 macserver bootpd[41217]: ACK sent <no hostname> 192.168.2.3 pktsize 300
Jan 18 12:26:50 macserver bootpd[41217]: service time 0.009636 seconds
Jan 18 12:27:21 macserver bootpd[41217]: server name macserver.miamips.net
Jan 18 12:27:21 macserver bootpd[41217]: interface en0: ip 10.10.11.25 mask 255.255.254.0
Jan 18 12:27:21 macserver bootpd[41217]: dhcp: re-reading lease list
Jan 18 12:27:21 macserver bootpd[41217]: bsdpd: re-reading configuration
Jan 18 12:27:21 macserver bootpd[41217]: bsdpd: shadow file size will be set to 48 megabytes
Jan 18 12:27:21 macserver bootpd[41217]: bsdpd: age time 00:15:00
Jan 18 12:27:23 macserver bootpd[41217]: server name macserver.miamips.net
Jan 18 12:27:23 macserver bootpd[41217]: interface en0: ip 10.10.11.25 mask 255.255.254.0
Jan 18 12:27:23 macserver bootpd[41217]: interface en1: ip 192.168.2.2 mask 255.255.255.0
Jan 18 12:27:23 macserver bootpd[41217]: dhcp: re-reading lease list
Jan 18 12:27:23 macserver bootpd[41217]: bsdpd: re-reading configuration
Jan 18 12:27:23 macserver bootpd[41217]: bsdpd: shadow file size will be set to 48 megabytes
Jan 18 12:27:23 macserver bootpd[41217]: bsdpd: age time 00:15:00
Jan 18 12:27:24 macserver bootpd[41217]: DHCP REQUEST [en1]: 1,0:16:cb:86:c4:89
Jan 18 12:27:24 macserver bootpd[41217]: replying to 192.168.2.3
Jan 18 12:27:24 macserver bootpd[41217]: ACK sent <no hostname> 192.168.2.3 pktsize 310
Jan 18 12:27:24 macserver bootpd[41217]: service time 0.002865 seconds

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NetBoot issue macbook pro 13" i5 2.3Ghz

Hi,
Actually i work on deployment for os x via netboot. (debian dhcp/pxe)
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Since last update EFI 2.6 my macbook(s) pro don't want to boot via netboot ...
i have macbook too and they correctly netboot via deploystudio !
The 2.7 update doesn't anything new ...
As anyone got the same issue ?
Second :
i use this config in my dhcpd.conf :
class "AppleNBI-i386" {
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#option root-path "nfs:192.168.1.1:/nbi:DeployStudioRuntime.sparseimage";
        option root-path "nfs:192.168.1.1:/nbi:NetInstall-Restore.dmg";
but it doesn't work and i don't understand why ...
i have to do this in order to make it work :
hostname toto {
hadware ethernet x:x:x:x;
fixed-address x:x:x:x;
filename "path/to/booter";
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The class definition doesn't match
THX
ps: i'm french and my english is a little bit rusty ...

There is a long thread on this problem over on the Lion forum, I think it was.
Most everyone on that other tread said the newer firmware fixed the NetBoot issue.
If you have installed the most recent firmware and it still isn't working try Re-Intsalling that firmware.
Then try a re-Set of the SMC and PRAM. Not sure if that is needed but won't hurt.

Netboot Issue - White Imac to 2007 AL Imac

Hi
We have just purchased 20 Mid 2007 Aluminium iMac's to add to our existing network. - The one i have taken out of the box was pre-installed with 10.4.11 with a Leopard Upgrade Disk inside (said that Leopard is not installed on the machine but can be upgraded by use of this disc).
We have a 10.4.10 Netboot image (built on a 17" 2006 White Intel iMac) on our XServe that I have tried to restore onto one of the new Aluminium Imac's.
The actual netboot operation worked fine and the operating system booted up on the new Aluminium Imac - but then i have found;
a) the onboard LAN port is greyed out and cant be configured
b) the isight camera does not work
c) the sound does not work
I downloaded the 10.4.11 combo updater and ran that on the machine hoping that it would replace drivers, etc - no chance.
Is there a way i can get the specific drivers for this hardware, as I dont want to have to install all of the programs and settings that we have for our network. then have to clone it 20 times.
Or is there a way i can remove the settings for the missing items (network, isight, sound) from the computer prefs and get them rebuilt on system startup?
Frustrated that Apple support has been less than forthcomming, with the reply of
"upgrade to Leopard" - Upgrading to Leopard is not an option.
Not understanding the problem which i was facing.
I might have to return the 20 and just get hold of 20 of the White Imac's - which are on sale from our reseller.
Message was edited by: jszkud

Thank you so much for your information. I have been using a Seagate GoFlex portable drive as my back up disc with TimeMachine on my iMac. The AirPort Time Capsule is arriving tomorrow with my new iMac. My question to you is this: Will it be easier to wait till tomorrow, set up my AirPort Time Capsule and back up my old iMac to it and then use it with the Startup Assistant to transfer my stuff or will it be easier just to use my GoFlex back up disc? I have had some issues in the last year where Time Machine send me a message that the (daily) back up failed because the file got corrupted and I have been unable to fix it so that I have to reformat the disc and back up everything I have. Just an FYI, I don't have a huge amount of stuff on my iMac even if is almost 7 years old....I have 900 GB out of 1TB available. This is one of the reasons I felt it's time to replace my iMac.
Right now I have a clean encrypted back up on the GoFlex but I don't want to transfer anything I shouldn't to my new iMac. Please advice and thank you.

Cross Subnet Netboot Issues

Hello,
I've been working to set up a netboot and Open Directory server in school district. We have the network segmented into VLANs by campus with different subnets for each. The changes have been made to the router to allow bootp/bsdp (IPHelper address set and relay agent on) to communicate across subnets, but I am still unable to netboot/netinstall across subnets.
Watching the logs on the server when I attempt to, it seems to be communicating partially as seen here:
Jul 19 12:48:37 axposeidon bootpd[1822]: BSDP DISCOVER [en1] 1,0:16:cb:8e:50:a6 NetBoot035 arch=i386 sysid=MacBookPro1,1
Jul 19 12:48:37 axposeidon bootpd[1822]: BSDP OFFER sent [1,0:16:cb:8e:50:a6] pktsize 369
Jul 19 12:48:37 axposeidon bootpd[1822]: BSDP DISCOVER [en1] 1,0:16:cb:8e:50:a6 NetBoot035 arch=i386 sysid=MacBookPro1,1
Jul 19 12:48:37 axposeidon bootpd[1822]: BSDP OFFER sent [1,0:16:cb:8e:50:a6] pktsize 369
Unfortunately it fails to actually boot the machine. Im not positive what's going on but it seems like its sending a response back to the netbooting machine but the machine is not getting it and its resending?
The OS X Server is an Intel Xserve running 10.4.10 (though we've been experiencing this issue since as far back as I've been trying with 10.4.8), the image was created in 10.4.8, and works on the local subnet (including multicast ASR). The booting machine is, as noted above, a Macbook Pro.
As a side note, when booted into the OS, the machines can see the server in the Startup Disk preference pane.
Any suggestions or ideas? Let me know if there's more information I can give that will help.

In our district there are multiple public and private subnets. The public and private combination I have the server on currently just happen to be on this physical network, so they are sharing the same router.
I think Im getting a little lost on what you're asking so I'll explain our network structure a little further. The district runs a VLANed network with a different public and private subnet for each campus (the private subnets function mostly as IP address overflow when the public subnet IP limit is exceeded). The network is predominantly PC based and implements active directory servers. The Xserve simply operates as a standalone server currently just handling some web serving tasks and a netboot server.
The issue, regardless of the public and private subnet interfaces on the server, is that I am unable to get anything to boot from another subnet than the one the xserve is running on. If I run it on the public interface, local machines boot perfectly, but I a log like the one above if I try and boot from another campus (ie another VLAN or subnet). To test it locally I've been running it on the private subnet interface (on the same physical network segment) to boot machines on the local public subnet (which fails with the above log).
According to Apple and other sources, all that should need to be configured is our CISCO routers need to be set to pass BOOTP information across VLANs/Subnets, which we have configured (using the IP helper-address and DHCP relay agent), but as stated, the connection is still not succeeding.
I'm checking with our network engineer on a few specifics on how the routers are configured to make sure they are set properly for the forwarding, but he's not available at the moment.
I applogize if this doesnt address the information you're needing, but please let me know if it does not, and I will try my best to get you the needed information.

Netbooting issue with Netgear switches

Hi,
We’ve started having issues with Netbooting since we recently replaced our network hardware, going from very old (10 yrs +) 3Com switches running at 100MB to desktop / 1GB backbone to brand new Netgear switches at 1GB desktop / 10GB backbone.
On the old network hardware Netbooting would work fine, showing a list of Netboot images that we are able to boot from with no issue (mainly used for DeployStudio). We have two Mac servers on our network, and now, rather than being able to get a list of Netboot images, it seemingly selects one of the two “Default” images (one for each server) at random. Whichever image is selected works correctly, but we now have no way of choosing at time of bootup.
Other than replacing the switches, nothing else has changed (that I am aware of) that could have caused this to stop working. However, some relevant info:
The new Netgear switches are generally M5300-52G-POE+ with a small number of XSM7224S.
Spanning Tree is enabled on the switches (set to Rapid Spanning Tree – 802.1w). Have also tried with STP turned off totally as I understand this may make a difference – however it did not.
The infrastructure is a mixed network, with both Windows PC’s/Servers sitting on the same network as the Macs. DHCP is supplied by one of the Windows servers.
No VLAN’s are set up – all running on same network.
Both Mac servers are sitting in different physical locations on the network. One is running 10.9.4 and the other on 10.6.8
If I boot holding down Option then I only see the local hard disk.
If I boot holding down either N or Option N then the Mac boots using one of the two Default Netboot images, seemingly at random, from one of the two Mac servers. This is as expected for Option N, but N alone used to bring up a list of images (including those not selected as the default on either server).
All the netboot images show up correctly within the Startup Disk option within System Preferences. I can then boot successfully from any of them in this manner, and am therefore able to get round my problem in the short term, but of course this isn’t ideal.
I have tried setting the netinstall images to be available both over HTTP and NFS, but this has no effect. Also there are no access restrictions in place for any of the images.
I’m not 100% convinced that the issue is related to swapping to Netgear switches. Particularly as no specific configuration was ever done on the old 3Com switches to get netboot working (it just worked from the start). Also, the new switches are so much quicker than the old ones. That said it seems far too coincidental that this started happening when the switches were swapped over, and that as I said before, nothing else has changed.
If there’s anything anyone can suggest that I can check, both with the switch configuration or otherwise, I’d be really grateful.
Finally, just to say I’m more a Windows person than a Mac man, so treat me gently J
Cheers,
LSDWho

NetBoot uses DHCP to look for available NetBoot servers so when you hold down just N at boot time it sends a DHCP query asking NetBoot servers to advertise themselves. This might therefore suggest the issue is DHCP related. (Strictly speaking NetBoot uses BSDP - Boot Service Discovery Protocol.)
Note: This use of DHCP by NetBoot does not normally conflict with a real full-blown DHCP server which would ignore this type of query. So it should not cause an issue with your Windows DHCP server.
Since it might be DHCP related I would look at the following -
http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/21984/~/what-is-a-dhcp-l2-relay-an d-how-does-it-work-with-my-manged-switch%3F
http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/21990/~/how-do-i-configure-a-dhcp- l3-relay-using-the-web-interface-on-my-managed-switch%3F
I would then see if you can disable DHCP relay functionality and also any other related features like DHCP filtering. If you have not already done so it might be worth checking for any firmware updates and installing those as often 'new' switches out of the box will have shipped with older firmware.

NetBoot issue

Hi everybody,
I have some trouble using NetBoot, to boot a computer with a minimal deploystudio netboot image.
When doing a network boot, the client display the netbootserver address. When choosing the netbootserver, the system freeze for a while and then start booting on the local HD.
I've read http://www.bombich.com/mactips/netboot.html and http://www.macgeekery.com/hacks/hardware/makeany_mac_a_netbootserver,
the tftp server is running and the ./private/tftpboot/NetBoot/NetBootSP0/PPMac-090729-174122.nbi/i386/booter is easily downloadable with a tftp client.
the nfs mount point are also accessible:
showmount -e 172.17.33.22
Exports list on 172.17.33.22:
/Library/NetBoot/NetBootSP0 Everyone
/Library/NetBoot/NetBootClients0 Everyone
/Volumes/XserveOD-Data/referentielimagedeploystudio Everyone
The rights seems also be ok:
xserveod:i386 equipro$ ls -l
total 38936
-rw-rw-r-- 1 root admin 297256 May 31 2008 booter
-rw-rw-r-- 1 root admin 5075232 Jul 29 17:45 mach.macosx
-rw-rw-r-- 1 root admin 14554067 Jul 24 10:42 mach.macosx.mkext
How can I solve my problem????
Here are the server logs of a netboot process:
Jul 29 19:04:10 xserveod bootpd[2800]: BSDP DISCOVER [en0] 1,0:23:df:83:a:66 NetBoot003 arch=i386 sysid=MacBookPro5,1
Jul 29 19:04:10 xserveod bootpd[2800]: replyfile /private/tftpboot/NetBoot/NetBootSP0/PPMac-090729-174122.nbi/i386/booter
Jul 29 19:04:10 xserveod bootpd[2800]: replying to 0.0.0.0
Jul 29 19:04:10 xserveod bootpd[2800]: BSDP OFFER sent [1,0:23:df:83:a:66] pktsize 383
Jul 29 19:04:10 xserveod bootpd[2800]: DHCP DISCOVER [en0]: 1,0:23:df:83:a:66
Jul 29 19:04:10 xserveod bootpd[2800]: replying to 172.17.33.202
Jul 29 19:04:10 xserveod bootpd[2800]: OFFER sent mbpsb01 172.17.33.202 pktsize 300
Jul 29 19:04:10 xserveod bootpd[2800]: service time 0.002309 seconds
Jul 29 19:04:12 xserveod bootpd[2800]: DHCP REQUEST [en0]: 1,0:23:df:83:a:66
Jul 29 19:04:12 xserveod bootpd[2800]: replying to 172.17.33.202
Jul 29 19:04:12 xserveod bootpd[2800]: ACK sent mbpsb01 172.17.33.202 pktsize 300
Jul 29 19:04:12 xserveod bootpd[2800]: service time 0.001034 seconds
Jul 29 19:04:13 xserveod tftpd[2803]: adding RRQ to cache: 172.17.33.202,/private/tftpboot/NetBoot/NetBootSP0/PPMac-090729-174122.nbi/i386 /booter
Jul 29 19:04:13 xserveod com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.tftpd[2803]): Stray process with PGID equal to this dead job: PID 2804 PPID 1 tftpd+
Jul 29 19:04:32 xserveod tftpd[2805]: adding RRQ to cache: 172.17.33.202,/private/tftpboot/NetBoot/NetBootSP0/PPMac-090729-174122.nbi/i386 /booter
Jul 29 19:04:32 xserveod com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.tftpd[2805]): Stray process with PGID equal to this dead job: PID 2806 PPID 1 tftpd+
Jul 29 19:04:32 xserveod tftpd[2807]: adding RRQ to cache: 172.17.33.202,/private/tftpboot/NetBoot/NetBootSP0/PPMac-090729-174122.nbi/i386 /booter
Jul 29 19:04:32 xserveod com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.tftpd[2807]): Stray process with PGID equal to this dead job: PID 2808 PPID 1 tftpd+
Jul 29 19:05:15 xserveod bootpd[2800]: DHCP REQUEST [en0]: 1,0:23:df:83:a:66 <mbpsb01>
Jul 29 19:05:15 xserveod bootpd[2800]: domain search added
Jul 29 19:05:15 xserveod bootpd[2800]: replying to 172.17.33.202
Jul 29 19:05:15 xserveod bootpd[2800]: ACK sent mbpsb01 172.17.33.202 pktsize 361
Jul 29 19:05:15 xserveod bootpd[2800]: service time 0.002421 seconds
This makes me crazy as I've installed a deploystudio on a previous server 10 days ago ;-O
JC

Did you ever find a solution to this problem? I have near the same issue.
I can netboot find from all subnets except one, and this one subnet will just not allow ppc machines to boot, yet allow intel machines to boot.
I even setup a brand new server running 10.5.0 (to go back versions) on the same subnet and got rid of the helper IP and still cannot boot from ppc... this is very odd.

Netboot issues in snow leopard

I have been fighting this all day, I have osx server 10.6.7 and many snow machines. i have images can see them from the client machines in startup disk but i can not seem to get them to boot from these images.
the last 2 log say
BSDP OFFER sent [1,10:9a:dd:44:66:60] pktsize 360
service time 0.000007 seconds
i can not see whats wrong
I do not use server DHCP i have been testing with both my network DHCP and static
also when i check the mounts for netboot folders they say everyone
please help before I go insane

i have been looking over that site here are the logs to the fullest
m-002 bootpd[5945]: BSDP INFORM [en0] 1,10:9a:dd:44:66:60 NetBoot002 arch=i386 sysid=iMac11,3
m-002 bootpd[5945]: NetBoot: [1,10:9a:dd:44:66:60] BSDP ACK[LIST] sent 10.10.0.45 pktsize 369
m-002 bootpd[5945]: service time 0.000384 seconds
m-002 bootpd[5945]: BSDP INFORM [en0] 1,10:9a:dd:44:66:60 NetBoot002 arch=i386 sysid=iMac11,3
m-002 bootpd[5945]: NetBoot: [1,10:9a:dd:44:66:60] BSDP ACK[SELECT] sent 10.10.0.45 pktsize 363
m-002 bootpd[5945]: service time 0.001220 seconds
m-002 bootpd[5945]: BSDP DISCOVER [en0] 1,10:9a:dd:44:66:60 NetBoot002 arch=i386 sysid=iMac11,3
m-002 bootpd[5945]: replyfile /private/tftpboot/NetBoot/NetBootSP0/IMAC INSTALL 5-16.nbi/i386/booter
m-002 bootpd[5945]: replying to 0.0.0.0
m-002 bootpd[5945]: BSDP OFFER sent [1,10:9a:dd:44:66:60] pktsize 360
m-002 bootpd[5945]: service time 0.000013 seconds
m-002 bootpd[5945]: service time 0.000015 seconds
as far as subnets same sub i have also tried the direct connect method to eliminate all nerwork gear no luck
Thanks in advance

Intervlan netboot issue

Cisco 6500 switch does the intervlan routing. MS Windows Server 2003 is the DHCP server for all subnets and works just fine handing out addresses to normal DHCP clients. IP helper address on vlan interfaces point to the W2K3 server. We can ping the OSX server from all subnets. The problem is that we can only image clients when they are in the same vlan as the OSX server. I've seen several other posts, but no resolution other than calling Apple support.
Do we need to add anything else other than the ip helper address on the vlan interfaces of the 6500? Or does something need to change on the OSX server?
Thanks!
Kevin

If someone has put another DHCP server out on your network it can (and will) intercept the packets returned from the client, thus convincing the server that the client did not respond to its offer of service.
If you can get the server and client on a closed network, this is easy enough to rule out.
Another thing you can do is to completely tear down and reset the NetBoot server. Stop AFP, NFS, and NetBoot, and restart them. Sometimes, if something is stuck on the server, this will reset it.

Netboot Error Code: Mac OS X Server 10.4

Hello,
I have been working on a two-fold Netboot issue when trying to pull an image off of a 10.2.8 iMac and distribute it via Netboot from a 10.4 server. First off, image creation worked just fine. I copied the System Image tool from the server to my 10.4 G4 Powerbook in target mode. The image created OK, and I was able to share it off the server, but after the spinning globe, I got screen corruption that looked like frozen static in the middle of the screen. At this point I pursued troubleshooting the image. I did some reading on various web pages, and got a lead that suggested the image creation machine needs to be the same OS version as the image. (Didn't make much sense, but it was 3PM and I was getting tired of working on it) The System Image utility doesn't work from 10.4 to 10.2.8 apparently as it wouldn't start. I removed the images from the server and unchecked all the images in Server Admin under Netboot. At this point Netboot crashed and gave me this error when trying a "serveradmin start netboot", which persisted even after a reboot: serveradmin[12660] Exception in doCommand: * -[NSCFArray addObject:]: attempt to insert nil
netboot:error = "NILRESPONSEERR (* -[NSCFArray addObject:]: attempt to insert nil)"
Wierd. Our main Mac guy that handles this stuff is overseas for Christmas, so I'm stuck with making this work. I picked up quite a bit and I'm a fast learner, but I'm just not very adept with the Mac imaging stuff yet. Maybe I'm missing something basic, but that's why I'm asking. Any ideas?
TIA
Charlie
G4 Server Mac OS X (10.4.3)
G4 Server Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Hello,
I have been working on a two-fold Netboot issue when trying to pull an image off of a 10.2.8 iMac and distribute it via Netboot from a 10.4 server. First off, image creation worked just fine. I copied the System Image tool from the server to my 10.4 G4 Powerbook in target mode. The image created OK, and I was able to share it off the server, but after the spinning globe, I got screen corruption that looked like frozen static in the middle of the screen. At this point I pursued troubleshooting the image. I did some reading on various web pages, and got a lead that suggested the image creation machine needs to be the same OS version as the image. (Didn't make much sense, but it was 3PM and I was getting tired of working on it) The System Image utility doesn't work from 10.4 to 10.2.8 apparently as it wouldn't start. I removed the images from the server and unchecked all the images in Server Admin under Netboot. At this point Netboot crashed and gave me this error when trying a "serveradmin start netboot", which persisted even after a reboot: serveradmin[12660] Exception in doCommand: * -[NSCFArray addObject:]: attempt to insert nil
netboot:error = "NILRESPONSEERR (* -[NSCFArray addObject:]: attempt to insert nil)"
Wierd. Our main Mac guy that handles this stuff is overseas for Christmas, so I'm stuck with making this work. I picked up quite a bit and I'm a fast learner, but I'm just not very adept with the Mac imaging stuff yet. Maybe I'm missing something basic, but that's why I'm asking. Any ideas?
TIA
Charlie
G4 Server Mac OS X (10.4.3)
G4 Server Mac OS X (10.4.3)

NetBoot Older Systems

Have a Mac Pro set up as an AST & Reimaging server via Netboot/Install, and am having difficulties getting it to work with older Macs (all Intel based). I deal with the full range of x86 Macs, and even the odd PPC system. Running Mac OS X Server 10.6.6, using only the built-in tools for the moment. Nothing like DeployStudio. The one and only thing is I can't remember if I made this retail disc image before or after installing the 10.6.6 update (the disc was 10.6.3). I don't see why that would be an issue, but will mention it anyway.
Replaced the HDD in a Mid-07 iMac the other day, and went to boot my copy of the 10.6 Retail disc from the netboot server to install an OS on it. The iMac flatly refuses to show any netboot images from the EFI boot selector. At one point it showed a generic netboot image icon, which was strobing and couldn't be selected. That lasted for maybe 30-60 seconds and then it disappeared.
While testing to make sure it wasn't something with my server, I grabbed a mid-2010 MBP, which picked up on the images immediately. So I booted off an external HDD on the iMac, and found that the startup disk preference pane recognized the netboot image almost immediately as well, but if I tried to reboot using that image, it just sat there until it timed out.
I don't have the exact logs from the server at the moment, but from the looks of it, the server was trying to send the EFI image to the iMac, but the iMac was refusing to accept it.
I know the mid-2007 line of everything tended to be crap, but I had a similar problem with a Late 2008 MBP earlier in the day. It also refused to show any netboot images, even after I let it sit for probably 30 minutes while I did something else. Apple's documentation has been found severely wanting on these kinds of subjects. Is there some known issue with older Macs and netboot/install? Is it possibly that the drive has yet to be partitioned? That would be a huge oversight, but I can work around that. Looking for any suggestions and/or solutions that may help me to resolve this issue.

AST related issues should technically be redirected to AASP chat...
But I've had issues with using other NetBoot images on an AST server. As a result, I host that image by itself on a separate NetBoot server. As for one machine seeing the server in EFI and one not, there probably isn't an explanation for that. When my NetBoot server does that, I just start and stop the NetBoot service and cross my fingers. Auto discovery just plain out stops working sometimes and doesn't work at all for some machines unless the logic board is replaced. Also, the disk being formatted is irrelevant to the machine booting so I wouldn't be too worried about that.
On the note of the Mid2007 iMac, check the optical drive cable. If faulty (in my experience) it can cause NetBoot issues.
At the boot picker, only Mid2010 and newer machines (with the exception of the older Air) should show the available images on a server. Machines older than Mid2010 will show the IP of the NetBoot server and that would be it (though I realize you weren't getting anything on the iMac). Are you always option-booting or holding "N"?

Aggregate (trunked) link and NetBoot

The previous thread on link aggregation was archived without a solution last year. OS X 10.4.2 was the last version tested in that thread.
I have an xserve with an aggregate link. Everything works well except netboot. Half the time the computer will boot from it's local hard drive and half the time it will netboot. So it seems Apple 'sorta' fixed this problem.
Is anybody out there doing the same thing? How is it working for you?

v10.4.3 is the first version of Server to support the NetBoot service running on a link aggregate.
I have it up and running on v10.4.7. I had to remember to reconfigure my DHCP service too, so that it was going out on bond0 instead of en0.
Admittedly, I haven't pushed this yet to find to verify its reliability. We have netboot issues even with a single port. Ocassionally clients will fail to netboot some of the time. No apparent rhyme nor reason to it.
Xserve G5 Dual 2.3GHz Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Netboot doesn't work; DHCP issue?

I'm setting up NetBoot for the first time on my Leopard Xserve, trying to do NetInstall on some G4 clients.
Imaging seemed to work fine and the client boots as far as the grey apple screen - but then the client crashes with "You need to restart your computer now".
The log looks like this:
May 19 03:42:29 blue bootpd[64401]: can't open /etc/bootptab
May 19 03:42:29 blue bootpd[64401]: server name blue.pvpa.com
May 19 03:42:29 blue bootpd[64401]: interface en0: ip 192.168.1.15 mask 255.255.255.0
May 19 03:42:29 blue bootpd[64401]: subnets: Failed to convert 'router': Invalid IP address
May 19 03:42:29 blue bootpd[64401]: bsdpd: re-reading configuration
May 19 03:42:29 blue bootpd[64401]: bsdpd: shadow file size will be set to 48 megabytes
May 19 03:42:29 blue bootpd[64401]: bsdpd: age time 00:15:00
I'm not running DHCP service on my Xserve - DHCP is coming from the router. The client does seem to be getting an IP address, according to Server Admin --> NetBoot --> Clients. Do I need to do something different with DHCP on the Xserve, and if so what?
Also, I tried creating /etc/bootptab by hand but that didn't make a difference either.

May 19 03:42:29 blue bootpd64401: subnets: Failed to convert 'router': Invalid IP address
This might be an issue... I've never seen this log before. Is your server on a different subnet then the clients you are attempting to boot? NetBoot doesn't work across subnets without some extra work.

Netboot and DHCP Issue - Setting up AST Diagnostic Gateway

Hi everyone,
I recently set up a new Mac Mini as a stand-alone server for the Apple Service Toolkit Diagnostic Gateway. Here are the specs of the Mini, if needed by anyone:
Mac OS X 10.6 Server (patched to 10.6.8)
2.66GHz Core 2 Duo
8 GB DDR3 RAM
I have followed Apple's instructions on how to install/configure AST Diagnostic Gateway from the Service Source page to the T. Installation was no problem and everything went smoothly.
In Server Admin, I turned on only NFS and NetBoot services (as per the instructions) and configured NetBoot to work via Ethernet with the AST image as the default. Both services are running. I DO NOT have DHCP turned on on this machine, namely because:
a.) We have a district DHCP server supplying IPs to all our machines, and
b.) The instructions from Apple actually say to avoid running any services on the AST Gateway machine besides NFS and NetBoot.
I gave the server a static IP and reserved it in our DHCP server. I also registered my Gateway Manager with my Apple ID and ASP location, etc. so it can connect to the repositories.
However, when I plug in a remote host on the same network segment (same subnet), it will not netboot. I get the flashing globe for about 20 - 30 seconds and then the system boots normally into the OS. When going into System Preferences > Startup Disk, it does not see the AST server.
If I turn AFP on, I can connect to it that way and view the image files, etc. The permissions are set so that everyone can read the image files.
What am I missing? The only thing I have been able to find so far are these entires in the NetBoot log within Server Admin:
Jul 6 13:06:48 localhost servermgrd[58]: servermgr_dhcp:bootp config:Error:Failed to create default subnet records
Jul 6 11:47:43 localhost configd[32]: bootp_session_transmit: bpf_write(en1) failed: Network is down (50)
It appears that the remote host is not getting a proper DHCP address and therefore cannot see the netboot server..?
Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated!

The NetBoot service does not need to run on a server also running DHCP so you are ok on that front, you will only need AFP if you are going to use diskless NetBoot. Can you however provide more details as to your NetBoot configuration, e.g. what Interfaces have you enabled it to serve on, what archictectures are supported, have you configured any restrictions as to models that can connect, have you configured a filter for MAC addresses, etc.?
The first thing to do is to get things so the NetBoot image does show up in Startup Disks, then worry later about actually trying to NetBoot.
The error you listed of "Jul 6 11:47:43 localhost configd[32]: bootp_session_transmit: bpf_write(en1) failed: Network is down (50)" might be suggesting you have enabled the NetBoot service on a network interface which is not in use. Some models of Mac such as the Mac Pro and XServe have two Ethernet interfaces. Even on the Mac mini you are using the built-in Ethernet and built-in AirPort (WiFi) still count as two interfaces. On the Mac mini normally en0 is the built-in Ethernet and en1 is the AirPort.

Issues with graphics ... force 'safe mode' graphics in normal mode?

Hi,
I have a late 2007 MBP with the ATI graphics chipset. Everything was working fine other than a few distorted screens at the very start... now I can only get in to safemode.
I can not get into the login window on normal and sometimes it flicks to a screwed up display with beachball (display b/w beachball is coloured) everything appears to work fine in safemode other than the obvious fact none of the other extensions are enabled (sound, wifi etc)
Is it possible to force the OS to load normally but without the accelerated graphics? When I turn on the computer it usually shows distored at the apple screen and then clears up to a grey screen and usually goes blue before failing at screwed screen + visible beachball.
I've reset the pram,
fixed permissions and everything else using applejack
removed refit
fsck -fy
I would try to do an archive and install but unfortunately the drive has died on this laptop. I did try to boot from a mac server using netboot / netinstall however I get the same issues as normal mode.
I just find it really frustrating that I can type here with net access in safeboot and use almost all I use this for anyway...
I also bought a external dvd drive with my mac mini server however the laptop does not seem to detect that.
Anyone with any thoughts? thanks

Is it possible to force the OS to load normally but without the accelerated graphics?
Not with this model. Some newer MBPs had both integrated graphics and a discreet graphics chipset, but not those having the NVIDEA 8600M GT chipset, which I suspect yours does.
There are defective NVIDEA 8600 chipsets in the Late 2007/Early 2008 MBPs and, if that it the source of your problems, there is no home remedy--the logic board must be replaced.
Fortunately, Apple has a program that covers this at no charge to you:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377
I suggest you print out that page and take it with you; it seems some Apple Store employees and AASPs are not aware of the program. The techs have a special tester that quickly determines if the NVIDEA chipset has failed and the computer qualifies for the free logic board replacement. If that test fails to detect a bad graphics chipset, then something else is afoot.
The point is that, with your model, you need to eliminate the NVIDEA curse first before trying further diagnosis.
I would try to do an archive and install but unfortunately the drive has died on this laptop.
Try a cleaning disk. It's amazing how meay people here report being told by a tech teht the optical drive was dead but resurrected it with a simple cleaning
Message was edited by: Allan Jones

I am trying to set up netboot

I am trying to set up netboot on a server running 10.4.11. Everything seems to be set up right but it will not work. I checked the logs and can see that the client is sending a request but the server never sends an offer. I upgraded to 10.4 from 10.3 so I tried the fix that was given when you did this but it didn't seem to make a difference. It did however raise a question for me the xinetd.d folder that I copied to the desktop as they said to do is empty. I than went in and found the xinetd.d folder and it to is empty. Should it be empty if not what should be in it.
Dave

I've never done a 10.3 to 10.4 upgrade, but common problem areas tend to be:
- DNS
- DHCP
- NFS sharepoints
- bootp sync issues
Tearing down the NetBoot service, and setting it back up again may address the NFS and bootp issues.

Netboot Issues

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