System Image Utility 10.4 Help

To create an image that will install the OS software on a client computer, use the System Image Utility. You can find this application in the folder /Applications/Server/.

1. Log in to the server as an administrative user.
2. Open System Image Utility and click New Install.
3. In the General pane, type a name for the image you're creating.
4. Type an Image Index number.

   Choose a number in the range 1-4095 for an image that will be available on a single server, or 4096-65535 for an image that you plan to make available on multiple servers but want to list only once in the client computer Startup Disk preferences.

5. (CD source only) Choose the default language for the software. (Available only if you have already inserted the CD and chosen it as the source.)

   Note: This is the language used by the installed software only. The installer that runs always appears in English (if this is not an automated install).

6. To serve the image on the server creating the image, choose Local. This will place the image in the /Library/NetBoot/ folder on your server.
7. (optional) To store the image on a remote computer and offer it via NFS choose Remote.

   Note: NetInstall images can be served only via NFS.

8. (remote service only) To deliver the image to users via NFS on a remote server, complete the path pane with the IP address, image path where the file will be stored on the server, and the NFS export setting (client, world, or subnet).

   IMPORTANT:   System Image Utility will create the actual image on the local server. By completing the information requested in the path pane, an indirect NFS path will be created for your image. Once you create the image, the admin user of the remote server must copy the image to and serve it from the exact remote path you specified.

9. On the Contents pane, choose the source for the image.

   You can choose an install CD, a mounted boot volume, or an existing disk image.

10. (Optional) Click the Add (+) button below the list to add applications or post-install scripts to the image.
11. To have the software install with limited or no interaction at the client computer, select "Enable automated installation," then click Options. Here you can set a specific volume name to install the contents of the image, the option to erase the volume before installing, restart the client computer after installing, and whether you want the client user to confirm the installation actions.
12. In the Installation Options pane, enable "Checksum destination after installing" to have the installer verify the integrity of the image after it is transferred to the client but before it is installed. (For images from volume source only.)
13. To create a block-copy install image, select the "Install from image using block copy" checkbox in the Installation Options pane.

    Note: Once created, block-copy images cannot be edited. If you need to make modifications to a block-copy image, you will need to create an entirely new image.

14. (Optional) Click Model Filter, and select the radio button to allow only computers to boot that are enabled in the list of models. If you want to allow any Macintosh computer to boot, select Allow any Apple Computer.
15. (Optional) Click Directory Services. Click Apply Directory Services settings from this machine to all clients, if you are not using DHCP to provide NetBoot clients with Open Directory information. If you want each client that will boot from this image to get a unique set of directory service settings each time it boots, click Authenticate and authorize this selection.
16. Click Create Image.

    If the Create button is not enabled, make sure you have entered an image name and ID, and have chosen an image source.

17. In the Save As dialog, choose where to save the image.

    If you don't want to use the image name you typed earlier, you can change it now by typing a new name in the Save As field.

    If you're creating the image on the same server that will serve it, choose a volume from the "Serve from NetBoot share point on" pop-up menu.

    To save the image somewhere else, choose a location from the Where pop-up menu or click the triangle next to the Save As field and navigate to a folder.

18. Click Save.

To check progress, look in the lower-left corner of the window. If you need to insert another CD, you'll be prompted there. To create the image without including the contents of a subsequent CD, click Finish when you are prompted to insert it.