NetBoot clients and DNS

[embee]

Hello all,

I’ve posted responses a few times here, but I think this is my first question. I’m looking into deploying NetBoot in a good sized network (about 500 Macs out of about 5000 computers). I know I have the subnet issue to deal with. I’m working with our networking group to get that straightened out. I do have three NICs on different subnets installed in a Tiger Server to get me up and running on the three main subnets that I support.

I’m using diskless NetBoot for remote troubleshooting and upgrades.

I have NetBoot working with multiple images, but only one works well in our DNS environment- a Panther image made from a firewire drive.

By working well, I mean that the client will boot and get assigned a hostame like NetBoot020. I can ping, ssh, connect with ARD, etc. by using NetBoot020 as the hostname. The next client that boots will automatically receive the hostname NetBoot021, the next NetBoot022 and so on. This is my desired behavior.

The new PowerBooks require 10.4.3 and will not boot from my working Panther NetBoot image. I have been successful in creating a new Tiger NetBoot image except this hostname/DNS issue. Clients booted from my Tiger image get kNotSet in the sharing System Preferences Pane, or maybe NetBootxxx.xxx.xxx.xxx where the x’s are the IP address assigned by our QIP DNS system.

How can I set up an image master so that images created from it have the desired hostname? I really like the serial numbering seen in the Panther image, how can I recreate that?

Thanks in advance, let me know if I can provide any additional info.

[Matt Wynne]

Have you tried using the Automatic naming function in System Image Utility? We’ve found it works well, especially if you already have a list of MAC addresses handy from an Asset List or similar.

[embee]

Thanks for the suggestion matwyn. Is the automatic naming function in SIU the same as choosing a file under the Sharing Prefs tab? There is no official information in Apple’s documentation about this. If I need a list of MAC addresses, it doesn’t seem like it would be practical here.

I’m just looking for predictable NetBoot client hostnames so I can find them remotley when needed.

Does anyone know of books or online resources that explain the intricacies of NetBoot and client boot images?

[embee]

Thanks again for the response. This is truly what makes the Mac support community so great.

I know you’re probably busy in MWSF right now, but when you get a chance, could you point me toward John D’s tips and tricks?

I have searched for afp548 users with names close (there’s a JonnyD), but didn’t find much. I have paged through the afp548 tips section without much success. I found Allen Marcus’ white paper, but it doesn’t seem to speak much to this. I even Googled a few terms to find it, to no avail.

Thanks again!

I’m also posting this question to the system-imaging Apple mailing list, just to give a head’s up.

[Anonymous]

http://homepage.mac.com/johnd

Curt

[Author]

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