NetBoot Error

[dmw3]

We have an issue on our 10.5.2 server.

Dark grey button for NetBoot in Sever Admin, wants to refresh with this error:

“Try to refresh the view (“our server”.local/NetBoot). Report the problem to the administrator if it persists. (NIL_RESPONSE_ERR (*** -NSCFDictionary setObject:forKey:: attempt to insert nil key))”

Using the command line:
sh-3.2# serveradmin status netboot
netboot:state = “RUNNING”
sh-3.2# serveradmin stop netboot
netboot:state = “STOPPED”
sh-3.2# serveradmin start netboot
NFS Active User Info:
/Library/NetBoot/NetBootClients0
NFS Requests Bytes Read Bytes Written Idle User IP Address
/Library/NetBoot/NetBootSP0
NFS Requests Bytes Read Bytes Written Idle User IP Address
netboot:state = “RUNNING”
sh-3.2# serveradmin stop netboot
netboot:state = “STOPPED”
sh-3.2# serveradmin start netboot
NFS Active User Info:
/Library/NetBoot/NetBootClients0
NFS Requests Bytes Read Bytes Written Idle User IP Address
/Library/NetBoot/NetBootSP0
NFS Requests Bytes Read Bytes Written Idle User IP Address
netboot:state = “RUNNING”
sh-3.2# serveradmin fullstatus netboot
2008-09-01 11:15:19.138 serveradmin78231:10b Exception in doCommand: *** -NSCFDictionary setObject:forKey:: attempt to insert nil key
netboot:error = “NIL_RESPONSE_ERR (*** -NSCFDictionary setObject:forKey:: attempt to insert nil key)”
sh-3.2#

What is the fullstatus picking up that the normal status is not?

Even after restarting netboot from the cli the button is still grey in Server Admin. And we cvannot netinstall or netboot to the server.

It would be nice to know how to fix this without restarting the server if possible. 🙁

[blake]

Unfortunately this is a long standing known bug with server admin.

http://www.lsa.umich.edu/lsait/admin/mac/netboot-disabled.asp
http://lists.apple.com/archives/macos-x-server/2006/Nov/msg00814.html

Please report the issue on bugreporter.apple.com so apple will consider fixing the issue. I have servers that operate for months with server admin in this state. It’s not an issue unless you need to change the settings.

Blake

[paulsosbee]

I fixed it with a little help from this site and others.

1. Stopped Netboot service at command line:
% sudo serveradmin stop netboot

2. Moved the Netboot images from their home on /Library/Netboot to the root level of HD ( I actually just moved the whole NetBoot folder out of the library.

3. I deleted the last image I was trying to create, (I think this is what caused the problem, I had just created a new netboot image when this occured.)

4. Rebooted system

5. Moved NetBoot folder back inside of /Library

6. Fired up ServerAdmin, logged into server, saw that NetBoot no longer had “silver bullet” and when I selected it I saw that I could now “Start Netboot” at bottom of page.

7. Patted self on back.

-Paul

[blake]

A simple reboot has always fixed this for a few days to weeks. Currently we just avoid leaving server admin open.

[paulsosbee]

Repetitive rebooting, (along with cursing) did not change the behavior for me, I had to stop the service and move the images as I outlined above.

-Paul

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