AutoCasperNBI - open beta

[bentoms]

Update: AutoCaspeNBI has been released, for more information see: https://macmule.com/autocaspernbi/

Hi All,

Over the past couple of months I've been working on an app that with streamline NetBoot creation for use with Casper Imaging (as well as creation of Read-Only DMGs to restore to USB sticks.. if that's your thing).

The basic idea is that you start with an clean never booted OS.dmg either from AutoDMG https://github.com/MagerValp/AutoDMG, Casper Admin http://macmule.com/2014/03/06/how-to-create-an-never-booted-os-dmg-using-casper-admin/ or a Composer captured OS.dmg from a never booted Mac (as in with forked builds).

Then add a copy of Casper Imaging, from there you can click build or amend the options on the first window or click the options button for more.

All the options should have popovers that explain their functions in a bit more detail. Most of the options set will be written to a plist (~/Library/Preferences/com.macmule.AutoCasperNBI.plist) will allows for AutoCasperNBI to be re-run when needed with the settings you haves used before.

external image link

You should see some blanks in the GUI & parts i've not added yet (due to the fact that I'm not sure how yet). These should be added at some point.

Then there will be a full 1.0 release & include:

• Calculate space needed & alert if we do not have enough
• Enable the "Additionals" tab. This will allow you to install pkgs to customise the .nbi further as well as additional JSS certs
• Add some sort of sparkle updater
• Add .jamfTarget creation

[bpavlov]

@bentoms I think it definitely accomplishes that: super easy to make an NBI with it. I guess what I was asking for is to make it a bit more customizable since it looks like the checkboxes are already there. What you say is true that one could create a package to undo some of those options, but checking a box off would be even easier rather than trying to reverse code the option using a package. If you don't think its worth your time, that's cool too. Just figured I'd mention it is all. I haven't looked at the code so I'm sure there's a lot of stuff going on and it might be easier said than done. Either way, I appreciate the work with this app!

[bentoms]

@bpavlov no worries.. making each optional would greatly increase the chances of error &/or issues logged..

It's a free tool & I ain't got time for that! So hope that's makes sense couple with the scope of what was planned.

It's about 4800 lines of code, making each optional would massively increase that too!

So my get out was the additional packages as a way of letting people have at it.

BUT.. Pull Requests accepted!! :P

[bpavlov]

If I were more proficient in AppleScript, I would accept the challenge. But maybe looking at the code will allow for a good learning experience on AppleScript. Or better yet I'm trying to learn Python and perhaps converting it to that would be an even better learning experience.

[bentoms]

@bpavlov It was sure a learning experience for me!

[tatiang]

I'm also having a problem with the JSS URL not showing up when netbooting a 10.10.4 AutoCasperNBI image. I've tried entering the JSS URL as 10.100.12.9 (failed to retrieve Cert), 10.100.12.9:8443 (did not retain address after netbooting), and 10.100.12.9:9006 (did not retain address after netbooting). What is the correct format for the JSS URL?

I did notice that /var/root/Library/Preferences/com.jamfsoftware.jss.plist in the NBI image contains 10.100.12.9.8443.

[bpavlov]

https://casper.server.com:8443/

[tatiang]

Thank you @bpavlov! We were missing the https://

[Chris_Hafner]

We used AutoCasperNBI to create our production net boot images for our primary (high speed) student imaging this year with great results. Here's a small clicp of about 80 units being netbooted and imaged (timelapse). On the benches you'll see there are about 40 (19-21 second mark) at a time being netbooted and imaged. Next time I'll get a time lapse of all 365 being done (Again, somewhere between 40 and 80 at a time depending on setup). This is using only a single netboot server, more could be added of course.

YouTube link:
BA Student Imaging

If you watched it you will see that we could be doing far more units more quickly, especially if we used Pre-Stage imaging.

[Zvordauk]

@Chris_Hafner I'd like to see that but it looks like the link you sent is invalid :(

[Chris_Hafner]

Heh, whoops. I used the edit link. Fixed now.

[Zvordauk]

Nice!