Note: This article pertains to Mac OS X Server versions 1.x, which were released prior to May 2001.
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.
Quitting applications before using NetBoot Desktop Admin
Before you use NetBoot Desktop Admin, quit any applications you have open. If you have other applications open when you open NetBoot Desktop Admin, a message tells you to quit the other applications. If you click Continue, NetBoot Desktop Admin attempts to close all the applications. However, some applications may not close, so NetBoot Desktop Admin will wait indefinitely.
NetBoot client computer Iinformation
Changing the default home page in your Netscape browser
The default home
page in the Internet control panel is
http://livepage.apple.com. If you change the default home page in your Netscape browser, the setting is not saved when you log out of the computer. The next time you log in and open the browser, you'll see
http://livepage.apple.com. To reset the default home page for all users, change the default in the application in the NetBoot HD image.
Applications you install on the Applications HD image may not work properly
The Applications HD image is mounted by a NetBoot client computer as a read-only volume. The NetBoot HD, which contains the Mac OS system the NetBoot client computers use, is a read-write volume. Applications that store information in files kept in the Preferences folder should work correctly because changes can be saved. Those that save information in files in their own application folder may not work properly. As an alternative, you can install the application on the NetBoot HD image. This will work only if the information the application saves in a file does not need to be preserved when the client computer is restarted.
Memory control panel
The information in the Memory control panel for a NetBoot client computer may be incorrect. To view the actual memory settings, choose About This Computer from the Apple menu.