Create network disk images
To create a NetBoot, NetInstall, or NetRestore network image, you must have valid macOS image sources or volumes and be logged in as an administrator. If you download the Install macOS app from the Mac App Store, a valid macOS image source appears in the source pop-up menu.
Important: You must have a valid macOS license for each Mac that starts from a NetBoot, NetInstall, or NetRestore network image. You must also have all the necessary license agreements to install apps, books, and fonts on multiple Mac computers.
Open System Image Utility for me
You can't create a network image of the startup disk the Mac is currently using or from a volume over the network. You must start up from a volume other than the one you want to use as the image source. For example, you could start up from an external storage device or a second volume on the Mac computer’s internal storage device.
You can also build a workflow to create a NetBoot, NetInstall, or NetRestore network image that permits advanced customization of your images. For more information, see Build a custom workflow.
If you create a NetRestore network image of a macOS volume, you can use it to restore Mac computers over an Ethernet network using the NetInstall service. When you create a NetRestore network image, you are creating a clone of a volume.
To create an image, choose an image source from the source pop-up menu, then follow the steps in the task for the type of image you’re creating. If you have no image sources, mount a valid macOS image or bootable volume.
Create a NetBoot image
Click the Source pop-up menu, choose a configured Mac volume or macOS install app, then click Next.
Select NetBoot 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 NetBoot 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.
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 NetInstall image
Click the Source pop-up menu, choose the macOS install app, then click Next.
You need a valid macOS install app to create a NetInstall image.
Select NetInstall 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.Select one of the following security settings, then click Next:
Use existing security settings
Allow kernel extensions from specified Team Identifiers
Disable Secure Kernel Extension Loading (SKEL)
Disable System Integrity Protection (SIP)
(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 package-only image
Click the Source pop-up menu, choose the Package-only (no OS) installation, then click Next.
Read the macOS License Agreement. If you agree, click Agree to continue.
Click the Add button
to add configuration profiles, packages, or scripts to your 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.
Create a NetRestore image from a mounted volume or disk image
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
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
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.
Deploy images
After you create images, you can deploy them over an Ethernet network using the NetInstall service in the Server app.
You can also provide copies of the same network image on multiple instances of the Server app running NetInstall service. This distributes the load when many identical computers require the image at the same time.
Tip: NetInstall service in the Server app can use NetBoot, NetInstall, and NetRestore images along with a macOS enrollment profile to provide a personalized work environment for each user. For more information on profiles, see About profiles and payloads in Profile Manager Help.