The number of NetBoot client computers you can connect to your server depends on how your server is set up, as well as a number of other factors.
A NetBoot server that has this configuration can easily support 25 NetBoot client computers:
- Macintosh G3 computer with a 400 MHz processor
- 256 MB of RAM
- Two 9 GB hard disks
- Four-port, 100Base-T Ethernet card
If you want to use a server that has a different configurationor if you want to have more than 25 client computers, consider these factors:
- Ethernet speed - For optimum performance, use 100Base-T connections for both clients and server.
- Hard disk capacity and number of NetBoot client computers - The NetBoot server requires a minimum amount of hard disk space for each client connected to it. The amount of space depends on the size and configuration of the system image.
- Hard disk capacity and number of users - Each user needs storage space on a server for documents and preferences. If you have a large number of users, consider adding a separate file server to your network to store user documents. By default, users' documents and preferences are stored on the NetBoot server, but any AppleShare server can store this information. (You can set up where documents and preferences are stored using Macintosh Manager.)
- Location of server and client -- The startup server program only works with NetBoot client computers on the same subnet, and only one NetBoot server can run on a subnet. A NetBoot client computer can't start up using a server on a different subnet.
- Number of Ethernet ports on the server -- Distributing NetBoot clients over multiple Ethernet ports on your server offers a performance advantage. You can add ports by adding Ethernet cards, or by using several ports on a multiport Ethernet card. Each port must serve a distinct segment.
Note: As a client starts up from a NetBoot server, it creates a shadow image on the server's hard disk. Each NetBoot client's shadow image takes up the full space of a system disk image for a short time. The size of the server's shadow disk image increases and decreases as needed.
For more information on the NetBoot client's shadow image, please see article 60080: "Mac OS X Server: NetBoot Theory of Operation."