About NetBoot Server Software

This document contains late-breaking information that supplements the information in your installation manual.

Updating the firmware on NetBoot client computers

Before using an iMac as a NetBoot client computer, you should update its firmware to the latest version of the software using the iMac Firmware Updater included on the NetBoot installation CD. Updating the firmware is especially important if you use the NetBoot server for virtual memory storage. The iMac Firmware Updater fixes a known problem with using virtual memory over the network to the NetBoot server.

You can use the Power Macintosh G3 model released in 1999 (Blue and White) as a NetBoot client, but it also requires updating the firmware if the NetBoot server is used for virtual memory storage. A firmware updater will be available soon on the Apple Support Web site at http://www.apple.com/support . Until the firmware updater is available, you can use a Power Macintosh G3 1999 model as a NetBoot client if you set it to use its internal hard disk for virtual memory.


NetBoot server information

AppleTalk seed routers are required on all NetBoot server ports

If you use more than one port on your NetBoot server, you need to be sure AppleTalk is in routing mode. There must be a seed router for every port that's connected to a subnet. The seed router can be the NetBoot server or an AppleTalk router.

If the NetBoot server is the seed router for a subnet, you need to enter valid AppleTalk network numbers when you use the NetBoot Server Setup Assistant. It's important that you enter the correct numbers, as the NetBoot Server Setup Assistant can not check to see if the numbers are valid. If you enter the wrong values, AppleTalk won't start up.

If AppleTalk doesn't start up, which you can check by using the ProcessViewer, you can set up the NetBoot server so that only one port is used. Once you obtain the correct network numbers, you can set up other ports.

Turning off the Macintosh Manager client software

If you don't want to use Macintosh Manager client software, open the Extensions Manager control panel and turn off the Macintosh Manager extensions. You must do this at the same time you are making your changes to NetBoot HD image, otherwise the extension won't be disabled. If you disable Macintosh Manager client software, computers start up from the NetBoot server, but a login window doesn't appear and none of the Macintosh Manager options you set take effect.

Resetting PRAM disables starting up from a NetBoot server

Your computer stores information in an area of memory called parameter RAM (PRAM). Resetting the PRAM replaces the information stored there with the default (original) settings. If you reset PRAM, the computer will not start up from the NetBoot server. If PRAM is reset and your computer was previously a NetBoot client, hold down the N key while pressing the Power key to restart your computer from the NetBoot server.

Changing volume names

You can change the name of NetBoot server volumes by using HDNamer. However, if you do you must reinstall the NetBoot server software.

Moving the Macintosh Manager folder

The first time you use Macintosh Manager, it sets up a folder on the Apple file services volume of your Mac OS X Server. This folder, called Macintosh Manager, is set up as a share point and is used to store information about users, preferences, and options.

If the Apple file services volume on which the Macintosh Manager folder is located becomes full, you can move the folder to another volume on your Mac OS X Server computer.

To move the Macintosh Manager folder:

1. Make sure no client computers are logged in to Macintosh Manager.
2. Log in to Mac OS X Server and use the ProcessViewer to turn off Macintosh Manager.
3. On a local-startup computer, use the Chooser to mount the Apple file services volume that currently contains the Macintosh Manager folder and the volume where you want to move the folder. You must log in to each volume as administrator (or root).
4. Copy the Macintosh Manager folder from the root level of the current volume to the root level of the new volume.
5. Use a Web browser to log in to Remote Administration for Apple file services. Be sure to log in as an administrator.
6. In Disks & Share Points, locate the new Macintosh Manager folder and make it a share point. For more information about setting up a share point, see the onscreen help.
7. Change the owner of the new Macintosh Manager folder to Macintosh Manager User.
8. Select "Make all enclosed folders like this one," then click Save.
9. In Disks & Share Points, locate the folder that used to be the Macintosh Manager folder and remove the share point.
10. Delete the old Macintosh Manager folder.
11. Restart the server.