AutoCasperNBI - open beta

0.20
--?Correct?an?issue?where?AutoCasperNBI?would?try?re-run (@fritz.schlapbach, @neil.martin83, @willpolley & @mfcfadmin)
--?Changed?what's?deleted?to?try?&?stop?the?hang?when?creating?a?reduced?NBI (@neil.martin83)

@bentoms][/url][/url another thing I have noticed in the last couple of versions is that the images that are created are all "access restricted" images. By default they have the "Image is visible to (only some Mac models)" pull down choice selected, whereas in earlier versions "(all Mac models)" was the default selection.

Also still seeing the "Authentication failed to "NetBoot..."" message.

Looks like version 20 took care of the "looping" or wanting to create a second set issue.

@bentoms][/url][/url

Another observation, if you are netbooted from an AutoCasperNBI netboot set, you are unable to select another netboot image to boot from. The resulting message is "You can't change the startup disk to the selected disk. Unable to launch the underlying task process"

Still seeing grey/blue screen hangs when Casper imaging is done imaging and is attempting to reboot the computer.

@mfcfadmin ok the restricted models i think i've fixed in next commit.

As to the hanging, are you reducing the NBI?

@bentoms "Reduce Image Size" is checked however I thought that was a default setting. I don't ever remember physically selecting that option. Should it be unchecked? Also you made no further mention of the ARD issue and not being able to authenticate to the netbooted client. Is there something that I should be doing differently there too?

Thanks for your quick response and helpfulness.

@mfcfadmin, sorry missed the ARD mention. That should've been fixed as of 0.19.

Can you try another image without reduce image ticked?

@bentoms][/url][/url][/url clicked "build" before I heard back from you I will let you know as soon as it finishes.

At this point I can't be entirely sure whether it was 18 or 19 that I was able to successfully connect using ARD but since the last version I have not been able to do that again.

So the reboot successfully took place after unchecking "Reduce Image Size". I will continue to test image to make sure it working reliably. I have seen in the past that it might work 4 out 5 times then hang on the fifth. I will continue to provide feedback.

Currently I am still getting the light blue icon in ARD telling me that I will not be able to authenticate to the client.

Don't know whether or not it helps but on the netbooted client I can see the local admin account and in the sharing panel I can see the account listed in the "Allow access for: (All users) radio button is checked. If I highlight the user and click the options button nothing is selected.

@mfcfadmin, i've just tested & ARD is working for me.. hmm.. maybe try removing the Mac from ARD & re-adding?

I think the size reduction is what's busting it

@bentoms][/url

Okay perfect I shall try and let you know.

That didn't seem to make a difference. Still seeing the local admin account in the "Sharing" pane however the radio button is still set to "All users" and when I highlight the local admin account and select options, nothing at all is checked.

I will try rebuilding a completely new image making sure the "Reduce Image Size" has been unchecked from the outset and see if that makes any difference.

Thanks again for all of your assistance.

0.21
-- Corrected logic when cancelling folder creation
-- Added deletion of /usr/standalone/bootcaches.plist to resolve hang on reboot (@neil.martin83)
-- Corrected NBImageInfo.plist, so it's not restricted by default (@mfcfadmin)

@bentoms - My sincere apologies for not posting sooner. Model filtering is now working. Thank you. I ran into some of the issues that others had outlined above, but I am starting out fresh this morning with 0.21 and hope to provide some useful feedback for you in a few hours.

Thanks again.

@evanmellichampe, please let me know.

I'm guessing from the lack of feedback on 0.21 that it's working.

I hope you find that to be true.

Hi @bentoms,

I'm sorry. It appears we've reached an impasse with creating any type of 10.9.5 .nbi that will effectively netboot a Macbook7,1 (2.4GHz Core 2 Duo).

As it stands, I was able to reimage one of these laptops with our 10.9.5 AutoDMG (netbooted from a 10.9.4 .nbi created using SIU). Afterward, I used the Macbook7,1 to build a new .nbi with AutoCasperNBI v0.21 and still doesn't netboot from it. Rather, it will attempt to netboot and then power off.

I honestly think it's the model of machine itself that presents the issue. Sadly, we have an enormous amount if them.

If I have time this week, I will use 0.21 to build a 10.9.4 .nbi and see if it yields better results for the Macbook7,1. Thanks again, Ben.

@evanmellichampe

We have a lot of those too.

I'll check tomorrow & will report back.

I'm guessing from the lack of feedback on 0.21 that it's working.

@bentoms I'm using two NetBoot images I created with 0.21 and everything works great so far. :)

@bentoms

I'm still seeing the "Authentication failed to "NetBoot..."." message when trying to connect remotely with ARD. The netbooted Mac presents itself and a blue dot appears by the computer name however the monitor icon in ARD is the pale blue colour instead of the darker blue that it should be to be able to take control.

DMG creation was done with AutoDMG using the latest download from Apple and CreateUserPkg. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Settings in AutoCasperNBI point to the DMG created above and to my instance of Casper Imaging. The url of my jss has been provided. NetSUS option has been unchecked, served from more than one server is checked and http selected.

The only options I have selected from the standard tab are Set NetBoot Description is checked. Reduce Image Size, and Expand by, are all unchecked. Enable ARD is checked and the username and password of the user created via CreateUserPkg is supplied in their respective fields.

A custom Desktop image is selected, and a timeserver is specified in the advanced tab, but that is it. No other configuration is done. Everything seems to work except for not being able to connect remotely to a netbooted mac via ARD.

With CreateUserPkg I have tried with a 499 and a 502 userid. I am about to try creating another DMG with 501. The curious thing is that the username appears correctly in the "Allow access for" pane of the Sharing preference window and the radio button shows as being "all users" selected, however if I go into the "Options" nothing whatsoever is selected.

Any thoughts as to what I might try next?

@mfcfadmin, hmm. Can you try without createuser.pkg involved?

There is no need for that with AutoCasperNBI FWIW.

Might be that, that is confusing the process.

@bentoms

Cleaned the slate went back to AutoDMG used ONLY the 10.9.5 installer and nothing else.
Same settings as above in AutoCasperNBI, however now I do not get a user populated at all in the "Allow access for" Sharing pane. The "All users" radio button is selected as it was previously. When I click the "Options" button there again are no checked boxes whatsoever.

The ARD result is the same blue dot beside computer name, light blue monitor icon instead of dark blue and trying to control the computer results in "Authentication failed to "NetBoot..."."

From what I've observed none of the Remote Management Sharing options are being invoked. Also without CreateUserPkg, in the DMG I do not see any user accounts at all.

Is there something I could possibly be missing?

@mfcfadmin, can you please send me the plist file ~/Library/Preferences/com.macmule.AutoCasperNBI.plist & the log file ~/Library/Logs/AutoCasperNBI/<todays date>,log via http://macmule.com/contact/?

I'll try with your details tomorrow.

@bentoms

Thanks for taking a look. log and plist sent.

HI @bentoms do you already have the updated version to support 10.10? :)

@Araneta, soon

Can't wait for the 10.10 version! I can't get Casper NetInstall Creator to create a NBI file that will work with Yosemite.

@bentoms
So you may have been onto something with your password theory. I re-did the entire thing createuserpkg, AutoDMG, and then AutoCasperNBI, using a very simple password. This time it worked. In my previous password there was an ampersand character and maybe it was not properly shielded when passed.

Enjoy JNUC and thanks again for all of your work and assistance with this.

Thanks @bentoms for this awesome tool!

On a side note, NetBoot'ing has never worked for me (even before this tool) with Casper Imaging. Casper Imaging will wipe the drive then skip all of the next steps and essentially crap out. Anyone else had this experience? Maybe it's a write issue?