Create NetRestore images in System Image Utility on Mac
A NetRestore network image allows you start up a Mac and quickly replace the entire contents of the internal startup volume. This type of network image can be based on a Mac that’s already configured with preferences, settings, and apps, and is ready to use, or one that starts up into macOS Setup Assistant.
Workflows that create custom NetRestore network images can use a bootable volume, a disk image (of a bootable volume), or a macOS install app as their source. For example, if you create a NetRestore network image of a Mac and at some point the internal storage device on the Mac fails, you can use the image you created to restore the volume on a new internal storage device.
Create a NetRestore image from a mounted volume or disk image
In the System Image Utility app
on your Mac, click the Source pop-up menu, choose a configured Mac volume, then click Next.Select NetRestore Image, then click Next.
Read the macOS License Agreement. If you agree, click Agree to continue.
(Optional) Click the Add button
to add configuration profiles, packages, or scripts to your NetInstall image, then click Next.Click the Remove button
to remove any items.(Optional) Specify system configuration options, then click Next.
To learn more about computer naming and ByHost preferences, see System Configuration settings.
(Optional) Click the Add button
to bind the recipients of this image to a directory server, then click Next.To learn more about binding to a directory server using System Image Utility, see Bind to a directory service.
(Optional) Choose to automatically install on a specific volume and whether to erase the volume, and set the system language.
To learn more about automating installations, see Configure automation settings.
Enter a network disk name and description, select how the image number is to be assigned, then click Next.
To learn more about defining image settings, see Define image settings.
(Optional) Select the computer models that can start up using this image, then click Next.
To learn more about restricting computer models, see Manage supported computer models.
(Optional) Click the Add button
or click Import to add MAC addresses to an allow or deny list, then click Next.In the Save As dialog, choose where to save the image (you can move it later), then click Save.
If NetInstall service is configured on an Ethernet network port and the Server app is set to serve images from a volume, the NetInstall service share point folder NetBootSPn appears in the pop-up menu.
Important: Do not attempt to edit content in the image destination folder while the image is being created.
Create a NetRestore image from a macOS install app
In the System Image Utility app
on your Mac, click the Source pop-up menu, choose a macOS install app, then click Next.Select NetRestore Image, then click Next.
Read the macOS License Agreement. If you agree, click Agree to continue.
Create an administrator or user account, select the language and whether to log the user in automatically, then click Next.
To learn more about user account creation, see Create a user account.
(Optional) Click the Add button
to add configuration profiles, packages, or scripts to your NetInstall image, then click Next.Click the Remove button
to remove any items.(Optional) Specify system configuration options, then click Next.
To learn more about computer naming and ByHost preferences, see System Configuration settings.
(Optional) Click the Add button
to bind the recipients of this image to a directory server, then click Next.To learn more about binding to a directory server using System Image Utility, see Bind to a directory service.
(Optional) Choose to automatically install on a specific volume and whether to erase the volume, and set the system language.
To learn more about automating installations, see Configure automation settings.
Enter a network disk name and description, select how the image number is to be assigned, determine whether a macOS Recovery partition is applied, enter the volume name, then click Next.
To learn more about defining image settings, see Define image settings.
(Optional) Select the computer models that can start up using this image, then click Next.
To learn more about restricting computer models, see Manage supported computer models.
(Optional) Click the Add button
or click Import to add MAC addresses to an allow or deny list, then click Next.In the Save As dialog, choose where to save the image (you can move it later), then click Save.
If NetInstall service is configured on an Ethernet network port and the Server app is set to serve images from a volume, the NetInstall service share point folder NetBootSPn appears in the pop-up menu.
Important: Do not attempt to edit content in the image destination folder while the image is being created.
Create a NetRestore image from a defined NetRestore source
In the System Image Utility app
on your Mac, click the Source pop-up menu, choose Define NetRestore Source(s), then click Next.Read the macOS License Agreement. If you agree, click Agree to continue.
Click the Add button
to define your NetRestore sources, select any NetRestore options, then click Next.For more information on NetRestore source information and options, see Set NetRestore source information.
(Optional) Click the Add button
to add configuration profiles, packages, or scripts to your NetInstall image, then click Next.Click the Remove button
to remove any items.(Optional) Specify system configuration options, then click Next.
To learn more about computer naming and ByHost preferences, see System Configuration settings.
(Optional) Click the Add button
to bind the recipients of this image to a directory server, then click Next.To learn more about binding to a directory server using System Image Utility, see Bind to a directory service.
(Optional) Choose to automatically install on a specific volume and whether to erase the volume, and set the system language.
To learn more about automating installations, see Configure automation settings.
Enter a network disk name and description, select how the image number is to be assigned, determine whether a macOS Recovery partition is applied, enter the volume name, then click Next.
To learn more about defining image settings, see Define image settings.
(Optional) Select the computer models that can start up using this image, then click Next.
To learn more about restricting computer models, see Manage supported computer models.
(Optional) Click the Add button
or click Import to add MAC addresses to an allow or deny list, then click Next.In the Save As dialog, choose where to save the image (you can move it later), then click Save.
If NetInstall service is configured on an Ethernet network port and the Server app is set to serve images from a volume, the NetInstall service share point folder NetBootSPn appears in the pop-up menu.
Important: Do not attempt to edit content in the image destination folder while the image is being created.