Apple Mac OS X Server (version 10.2.3 or later) - Manual (Page 516)

516 Chapter 12
Inside NetBoot
This section describes how NetBoot is implemented on Mac OS X Server—including
information on the protocols, files, directory structures, and configuration details that
support the NetBoot functionality.
NetBoot Image Folder
The NetBoot image folder contains the startup disk image file, a boot file that the firmware
uses to begin the startup process, and other files required to start up a client computer over
the network. A NetBoot image folder (NBI folder) is something like a package file (a folder
compressed into a file), except that the folder and its contents are uncompressed so that the
contents are readily visible. The name of a NetBoot image folder includes the suffix “.nbi”.
An NBI folder for Mac OS 9 (MacOS 9.2.2.nbi) is slightly different from an NBI folder for
Mac OS X (MacOSX.nbi) since the components required for startup are different. The
following tables describe the contents of each.
Mac OS X NetBoot image folder (MacOSX.nbi)
You use Network Image Utility to create a Mac OS X NBI folder. The utility lets you
m name the image
m choose the image type (NetBoot or Network Install)
m provide an image ID (not visible to users)
m choose the default language
m specify a default user name and password
m enable automatic installation (Network Install only)
m add additional package or preinstalled applications (Network Install only)
Note: The size of the disk image is set automatically by Network Image Utility when you
choose the image type. NetBoot disk images are 2.0 GB and Network Install disk images are
1.4 GB.
See “Creating a Mac OS X Disk Image” on page 525.
File Description
booter Boot file
mach.macosx UNIX kernel
mach.macosx.mkext Drivers
MacOSX.dmg System startup image file (may include application software)
NBImageInfo.plist Property list file
LL0395.Book Page 516 Wednesday, November 20, 2002 11:44 AM