Apple Mac OS X Server (Administrator’s Guide) - Manual (Page 506)

506 Chapter 12
Setting Up “System-Less” Clients
NetBoot makes it possible to configure client computers without locally installed operating
systems. “System-less” clients can start up from a NetBoot server using the N key method.
(See “Starting Up Using the N Key” on page 507.)
After the client computer has started up, you can use the Startup Disk control panel
(Mac OS 9) or preference pane (Mac OS X) to select the NetBoot disk images as the default
startup disk for the client. That way you no longer need to use the N key method to start up
the client from the server.
Removing the system software from client computers gives you additional control over users’
environments. By forcing the client to boot from the server and using client management to
deny access to the client computer’s local hard disk, you can prevent users from saving files
to the local hard disk.
Selecting a NetBoot Startup Image (from Mac OS X)
If your computer is running Mac OS X version 10.2 or later, you use the Startup Disk System
Preferences pane to select a NetBoot startup disk image.
To select a NetBoot startup image from Mac OS X:
1 In System Preferences select the Startup Disk pane.
2 Select the network disk image you want to use to start up the computer.
3 Click Restart.
The NetBoot icon appears, and then the computer starts up from the selected NetBoot disk
image.
Selecting a NetBoot Startup Image (from Mac OS 9)
If your computer is running Mac OS 9, you use the Startup Disk control panel to select a
NetBoot startup disk image.
Note: You must update the Startup Disk control panel on client computers running
Mac OS 9 from their local hard disks in order to be able to view NetBoot disk images in the
control panel. See “Updating the Startup Disk Control Panel” on page 505.
To select a NetBoot startup image from Mac OS 9:
1 Open the Startup Disk control panel.
2 Select the network disk image you want to use to start up the computer.
3 Click Restart in the warning dialog box that appears.
The NetBoot icon appears, and then the computer starts up from the selected NetBoot disk
image.