Mac OS X Server 10.2: Cannot Start the NetBoot Server From Server Settings

Symptom

• Server Settings reports DHCP/NetBoot is not running, and it will not start.
• Server Status reports DHCP/NetBoot is running.

Solution

When the DHCP/NetBoot service will not start in Server Settings, yet Server Status reports the service is running, check the contents of /etc/xinetd.d/bootps to verify it looks like this:

service bootps
{
        disable = no
        socket_type     = dgram
        wait            = yes
        user            = root
        server          = /usr/libexec/bootpd
        groups          = yes
        flags           = REUSE
}

If the file is empty (or if the file size is 0), then edit the existing bootps file to look like the example above. Quit and reopen Server Settings, and it should now report the correct status.

Note: You may edit the bootps file in a text editor of your choice. If you are not familiar with editing such files, one method is described in technical document 106619, "Mac OS X Server: How to Locate and Edit Configuration Files".