Mac OSx Image Management.md

Set up Mac OSx Image Management

Some notes for creating and managing Mac OSx images and then distributing them onto client machines via NetRestore

Tested and working on

• Mac mini (Late 2012)
• macOS Sierra Version 10.12.6
• Mac Server Version 5.3.1
• iMac 21.5" Desktop Intel 3.06 GHz, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 500GB HDD - MB950LL/A

Server Setup

• Assign server static ip address
• Set up DNS server
• Assign server a FQDN and add as DNS entry (may not be needed)
• Add server's local domain name as DNS entry (may not be needed)
• Modify network settings to use 127.0.0.1 as DNS. Test via ping in terminal
• Set up File Sharing to host Open Directory user home folders. Share home folders over NFS
• Select appropriate volume in NetInstall to hold images
• Set up Open Directory

Create Initial Client Image

• Create a partition to hold the image. We'll call it Image
• Create bootable USB drive: https://gist.github.com/awei01/7ed444ab6a85b2eaecf29c122bbaadaf
• Reboot machine and boot from the USB
• Install OSx onto the Image partition
• Make whatever customizations needed
• Modify /etc/hosts to resolve domain names to the ip address for server

Creating NetRestore Image

• Reboot machine into the main System where Mac OSx Server is running
• Click Tools > System Image Utility
• Select Image as the source
• Select NetRestore
• In System Configuration set a name for Generate Names. We'll use Client
• Add the Directory Server
• Automatically install to Local HD