OS X Server: Diskless NetBoot troubleshooting
This article includes steps you can use if your Diskless NetBoot server isn't working as expected.
OS X Server (Lion and later)
Use these steps in OS X Lion and later if your client computers aren't able to start up from a diskless NetBoot image, or the client's shadow image is stored locally rather than on the server.
Verify settings
Verify the settings are configured correctly in the Server.app:
Under the Settings tab, click the "Edit Storage Settings" button. Make sure that "Client Data" is enabled for at least one volume.
In the list of Images, double-click a NetBoot image. Make sure that the "Make this image available for diskless booting" option is enabled for at least one image.
Check Service Access Control Lists (SACLs)
Add the NetBoot users to the File Sharing SACL:
Enable the "Show system accounts" option under the View menu in Server app.
Select Users in the list on the left side of the window.
Select the NetBoot users (NetBoot100 - NetBoot149 by default) then use the Action menu (gear icon) to select the "Edit Access to Services" option.
Select the checkbox next to File Sharing to enable it. Click OK to save the changes.
Check mount output
When booted from a diskless NetBoot image you can use the mount command to verify whether the shadow image is stored on the server or on a local disk.
The following output is an example of a successful diskless NetBoot on OS X Mountain Lion and later:
//netboot103@192.168.1.8/NetBootClients1 on /private/var/netboot (afpfs, nobrowse)
The following output is an example of a successful diskless NetBoot on OS X Lion and earlier:
afp_4xUL9i1euMC70wEzPj1lSG9w-1.2c000002 on /private/var/netboot (afpfs, nobrowse)
The following output is an example of an unsuccessful diskless NetBoot (the shadow file is stored on the client).
/dev/disk0s2 on /private/var/netboot
Reset NetBoot Service
If the previous steps don't help you resolve your issue, you can reset the NetBoot service.
In Server, stop the NetInstall service.
In the list of images, disable the "Make this image available for diskless booting" option for the diskless image and save your changes. Do this for each diskless NetBoot image.
Under the Settings tab, click the "Edit Storage Settings" button. Change the Stored Data option for each volume to "Images Only".
In the Finder, delete the NetBootClientsX directory from each volume (for example, /Library/NetBoot/NetBootClients0).
In Server app in the Settings tab, click the "Edit Storage Settings" button. Make sure that "Client Data" is enabled for at least one volume and save your changes.
Under the Images tab, enable the "Make this image available for diskless booting" option for the diskless image(s) and save your changes.
Start the NetInstall service.
