Casper imaging, netboot and 10.8.2

[adroitboy]

Hello All.

I seem to be missing something simple. I have not been doing any clean installs of 10.8 or 10.7, but now need to start figuring it out. I started by creating a new netboot image that boots the newer hardware with auto login and launch casper imaging. That's working fine.

As far as laying down an image, I want to create a universal 10.8.X image that creates a clean install for all of our hardware. I downloaded the apple Mountain Lion installer, uploaded the InstallESD.dmg to casper, marked it as an OS installer from a machine running 10.8 and it shows fine in casper admin. Everything seems to look good. When I try to actually image it, it seems to work, but isn't able to startup off of the target disk.

Is there a better way?

Here's the install.log.

Feb 14 11:59:16 localhost installer[540]: ** IFDCustomizationController does not know the size of distant package at (null) Feb 14 11:59:17 --- last message repeated 14 times --- Feb 14 11:59:17 localhost installer[540]: Product archive /Volumes/Mac OS X Install ESD/Packages/OSInstall.mpkg trustLevel=100 Feb 14 11:59:17 localhost installer[540]: External component packages (16) trustLevel=100 Feb 14 11:59:17 localhost installer[540]: ** IFDCustomizationController does not know the size of distant package at (null) Feb 14 11:59:17 --- last message repeated 29 times --- Feb 14 11:59:17 localhost installer[540]: Dist disk is not root. Feb 14 11:59:17 localhost installer[540]: No imgsrc found, mounting system image for BaseSystem extraction. Feb 14 11:59:17 localhost installer[540]: mountDiskImageWithURLString: /Volumes/Mac OS X Install ESD/BaseSystem.dmg Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: Mounting disk image complete, results dict = { "system-entities" = ( { "content-hint" = "Apple_partition_map"; "dev-entry" = "/dev/disk4s1"; "potentially-mountable" = 0; "unmapped-content-hint" = "Apple_partition_map"; }, { "content-hint" = "Apple_HFS"; "dev-entry" = "/dev/disk4s2"; "mount-point" = "/Volumes/Mac OS X Base System"; "potentially-mountable" = 1; "unmapped-content-hint" = "Apple_HFS"; "volume-kind" = hfs; }, { "content-hint" = "Apple_partition_scheme"; "dev-entry" = "/dev/disk4"; "potentially-mountable" = 0; "unmapped-content-hint" = "Apple_partition_scheme"; } ); } Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: Set authorization level to root for session Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost runner[541]: Administrator authorization granted. Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: Recovery system image located at "/Volumes/Mac OS X Install ESD/BaseSystem.dmg" Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: PK will install package file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/BaseSystemBinaries.pkg (522134528 b) Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: PK will install package file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/BaseSystemResources.pkg (324225024 b) Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: IF will install package file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/OSInstall.mpkg (0 b) Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: PK will install package file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/Essentials.pkg (3977754624 b) Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: PK will install package file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/BSD.pkg (621676544 b) Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: PK will install package file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/JavaTools.pkg (8970240 b) Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: PK will install package file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/RemoteDesktop.pkg (67584 b) Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: IF will install package file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/OSInstall.mpkg (0 b) Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: PK will install package file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/AdditionalEssentials.pkg (138474496 b) Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: PK will install package file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/AdditionalSpeechVoices.pkg (293474304 b) Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: PK will install package file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/AsianLanguagesSupport.pkg (12865536 b) Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: PK will install package file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/MediaFiles.pkg (88344576 b) Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: PK will install package file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/JavaEssentials.pkg (17093632 b) Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: PK will install package file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/OxfordDictionaries.pkg (101970944 b) Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: PK will install package file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/X11redirect.pkg (3533824 b) Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: PK will install package file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/OSInstall.pkg (0 b) Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: Setting external root to: /Volumes/Mac OS X Base System Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: OSI: com.apple.pkg.BaseSystemResources remapped external root path to: /Volumes/Mac OS X Base System Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: Total install size including padding: 7184327680 b + 0 b non-OS collection items Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: PFPackage::packageWithURL - can't instantiate package: /Volumes/Mac OS X Install ESD/Packages/OSInstall.mpkg Feb 14 11:59:18 localhost installer[540]: Error opening package "OSInstall.mpkg". Feb 14 11:59:19 localhost installer[540]: Starting installation: Feb 14 11:59:19 localhost installer[540]: Performing volume consistency check on 'Untitled'. Feb 14 11:59:19 localhost installer[540]: Checking Volume Feb 14 11:59:19 localhost installer[540]: Checking file system Feb 14 11:59:19 localhost installer[540]: Checking Journaled HFS Plus volume. Feb 14 11:59:19 localhost installer[540]: Checking extents overflow file. Feb 14 11:59:19 localhost installer[540]: Checking catalog file. Feb 14 11:59:24 localhost installer[540]: Checking multi-linked files. Feb 14 11:59:24 localhost installer[540]: Checking catalog hierarchy. Feb 14 11:59:24 localhost installer[540]: Checking extended attributes file. Feb 14 11:59:30 localhost installer[540]: Checking volume bitmap. Feb 14 11:59:30 localhost installer[540]: Checking volume information. Feb 14 11:59:30 localhost installer[540]: The volume Untitled appears to be OK. Feb 14 11:59:30 localhost installer[540]: Volume repair complete. Feb 14 11:59:30 localhost installer[540]: Updating boot support partitions for the volume as required. Feb 14 11:59:31 localhost installer[540]: Volume passed consistency checks. Feb 14 11:59:31 localhost installer[540]: Calculating expected install size requirements Feb 14 11:59:31 localhost installer[540]: Reserved for install: 7767.3 MB (0.0 MB non-OS collection items, 583.0 MB recovery system) Feb 14 11:59:31 localhost installer[540]: Currently available: 499315.6 MB Feb 14 11:59:31 localhost installer[540]: SMSystem_DMDiskBased Warning : 4294897418 Feb 14 11:59:31 --- last message repeated 85 times --- Feb 14 11:59:31 localhost installer[540]: Reapable space: 0.0 MB Feb 14 11:59:31 localhost installer[540]: Creating recovery system for volume "Untitled". Feb 14 11:59:31 localhost installer[540]: Will bless Apple_Boot as recovery system. Feb 14 11:59:31 localhost installer[540]: Creating recovery volume. Feb 14 11:59:31 localhost diskmanagementd[257]: DM ..T-[DMToolRecoveryPartition ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: donor disk's storage system is simple so it itself will be the donor Feb 14 11:59:31 localhost diskmanagementd[257]: DM ..T-[DMToolRecoveryPartition ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: normalized donor: logical=0x7fdb6be084d8=disk1s2=Untitled=(iflvuuid=(null)) physical=0x10f7d0d10=disk1s2=Untitled=disk1s2 storage=(null) Feb 14 11:59:31 localhost installer[540]: Attaching disk image /Volumes/Mac OS X Install ESD/BaseSystem.dmg Feb 14 11:59:33 localhost diskmanagementd[257]: DM ..T-[DMToolRecoveryPartition ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: CALC result phase 1 (after adding up logical file sizes in dmg + expected to create ourselves) requiredFileSpaceForRecoveryFilesULL=464307964 =Sbydiv=906851 =Mbydiv=442 Feb 14 11:59:33 localhost diskmanagementd[257]: DM ..T-[DMToolRecoveryPartition ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: CALC result phase 2 (after considering ExistingIfAny booter volume files with physical on-disk rounded up to alloc block sizes) requiredFileSpaceForAllFilesULL=464307964 =Sbydiv=906851 =Mbydiv=442 Feb 14 11:59:33 localhost diskmanagementd[257]: DM ..T-[DMToolRecoveryPartition ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: CALC result phase 3 (converted to iomedia desired size) desiredMinRecoveryDiskIOMediaSizeULL=481085180 =Sbydiv=939619 =Mbydiv=458 Feb 14 11:59:33 localhost diskmanagementd[257]: DM ..T-[DMToolRecoveryPartition ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: CALC result phase 4 (after adding BootRoot iomedia allocation) desiredMinRecoveryDiskIOMediaSizeULL=581748476 =Sbydiv=1136227 =Mbydiv=554 Feb 14 11:59:33 localhost diskmanagementd[257]: DM ..T-[DMToolRecoveryPartition ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: CALC result phase 5 (after applying minimum) desiredMinRecoveryDiskIOMediaSizeULL=650000000 =Sbydiv=1269531 =Mbydiv=619 Feb 14 11:59:33 localhost diskmanagementd[257]: DM ..T-[DMToolRecoveryPartition getMakeBooterDisk:storage:phyUDS:logUDS:phyREF:logREF:recBSD:percentBegin:percentEnd:]: existing conditions right after PHY=disk1s2: usedOrNotSpaceB=134221312 hasBooter=0 booterPartID/disk=0/(null) booterLocB/SizeB=0/0 Feb 14 11:59:33 localhost diskmanagementd[257]: DM ..T-[DMToolRecoveryPartition getMakeBooterDisk:storage:phyUDS:logUDS:phyREF:logREF:recBSD:percentBegin:percentEnd:]: existing conditions of PHY: disk1s2 loc=S=409640=B=209735680 siz=S=976101344=B=499763888128=N=499763888128 Feb 14 11:59:33 localhost diskmanagementd[257]: DM ..T-[DMToolRecoveryPartition getMakeBooterDisk:storage:phyUDS:logUDS:phyREF:logREF:recBSD:percentBegin:percentEnd:]: existing conditions of LOG: disk1s2 (could be whole so no loc) siz=S=976101344=B=499763888128=N=499763888128 Feb 14 11:59:33 localhost diskmanagementd[257]: DM ..T-[DMToolRecoveryPartition getMakeBooterDisk:storage:phyUDS:logUDS:phyREF:logREF:recBSD:percentBegin:percentEnd:]: READY TO DO CASE: case=CreateNewBooterAfterShrinkingSimple spaceDeltaB=515778688 booterDeltaB=0 (adviceIfUnable=-69886) Feb 14 11:59:33 localhost installer[540]: Shrinking host partition and creating new recovery partition Feb 14 11:59:33 localhost installer[540]: Checking file system Feb 14 11:59:33 localhost installer[540]: Checking Journaled HFS Plus volume. Feb 14 11:59:33 localhost installer[540]: Checking extents overflow file. Feb 14 11:59:33 localhost installer[540]: Checking catalog file. Feb 14 11:59:38 localhost installer[540]: Checking multi-linked files. Feb 14 11:59:38 localhost installer[540]: Checking catalog hierarchy. Feb 14 11:59:38 localhost installer[540]: Checking extended attributes file. Feb 14 11:59:44 localhost installer[540]: Checking volume bitmap. Feb 14 11:59:44 localhost installer[540]: Checking volume information. Feb 14 11:59:44 localhost installer[540]: The volume Untitled appears to be OK. Feb 14 11:59:44 localhost diskmanagementd[257]: DM ..T-[DMToolRecoveryPartition getMakeBooterDisk:storage:phyUDS:logUDS:phyREF:logREF:recBSD:percentBegin:percentEnd:]: done fsck of donor slice; err=0 Feb 14 11:59:44 localhost installer[540]: Shrinking target volume from 499763888128 to 499248103424 bytes Feb 14 11:59:44 localhost installer[540]: Shrinking file system Feb 14 11:59:44 localhost installer[540]: Shrinking partition and creating new recovery partition Feb 14 11:59:44 localhost installer[540]: Modifying partition map Feb 14 11:59:44 localhost installer[540]: Formatting recovery partition Feb 14 11:59:45 localhost installer[540]: Initialized /dev/rdisk1s3 as a 620 MB HFS Plus volume with a 8192k journal Feb 14 11:59:45 localhost installer[540]: Mounting disk Feb 14 11:59:56 localhost diskmanagementd[257]: DM ..T-[DMToolRecoveryPartition ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: final recoveryDisk=disk1s3=0x10f7d0bb0=disk1s3=Recovery HD Feb 14 11:59:56 localhost installer[540]: Mounting recovery partition Feb 14 11:59:56 localhost installer[540]: Creating boot loader directory Feb 14 11:59:56 localhost diskmanagementd[257]: DM ..T-[DMToolRecoveryPartition ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: successful creation or cleaning of RecoverySystem directory on booter volume Feb 14 11:59:56 localhost installer[540]: Copying boot loader Feb 14 11:59:56 localhost installer[540]: Copying kernel Feb 14 11:59:56 localhost installer[540]: Copying system image Feb 14 12:00:08 localhost installer[540]: Writing boot plist Feb 14 12:00:08 localhost installer[540]: Blessing boot file Feb 14 12:00:08 localhost installer[540]: Marking recovery partition Feb 14 12:00:08 localhost diskmanagementd[257]: DM ..T-[DMToolRecoveryPartition ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: at Exit; err=0 Feb 14 12:00:09 localhost diskmanagementd[257]: DM ..T-[DMToolRecoveryPartition ensureRecoveryPartitionForVolume:]: recoveryDiskBSD=disk1s3 physicalDonorBSD=disk1s2 Feb 14 12:00:09 localhost installer[540]: Detaching disk image Feb 14 12:00:09 localhost installer[540]: Done creating recovery volume. Feb 14 12:00:09 localhost installer[540]: Configuring volume "Untitled" Feb 14 12:00:09 localhost installer[540]: Preparing disk for local booted OS Install. Feb 14 12:00:09 localhost installer[540]: Preparing disk for local booted install. Feb 14 12:00:09 localhost installer[540]: Creating installation log on volume "Untitled" Feb 14 12:00:09 localhost installer[540]: Create temporary directory "/Volumes/Untitled/Install.540QHuAEs" Feb 14 12:00:09 localhost installer[540]: IFPKInstallElement (14 packages) Feb 14 12:00:09 localhost installer[540]: Using authorization level of root for IFPKInstallElement Feb 14 12:00:09 localhost installd[615]: installd: Starting Feb 14 12:00:09 localhost installd[615]: installd: uid=0, euid=0 Feb 14 12:00:09 localhost installd[615]: PackageKit: ----- Begin install ----- Feb 14 12:00:09 localhost installd[615]: PackageKit: request=PKInstallRequest <14 packages, destination=/Volumes/Untitled> Feb 14 12:00:10 localhost installd[615]: PackageKit: packages=( "PKLeopardPackage <file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/BaseSystemBinaries.pkg>", "PKLeopardPackage <file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/BaseSystemResources.pkg>", "PKLeopardPackage <file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/Essentials.pkg>", "PKLeopardPackage <file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/BSD.pkg>", "PKLeopardPackage <file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/JavaTools.pkg>", "PKLeopardPackage <file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/RemoteDesktop.pkg>", "PKLeopardPackage <file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/AdditionalEssentials.pkg>", "PKLeopardPackage <file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/AdditionalSpeechVoices.pkg>", "PKLeopardPackage <file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/AsianLanguagesSupport.pkg>", "PKLeopardPackage <file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/MediaFiles.pkg>", "PKLeopardPackage <file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/JavaEssentials.pkg>", "PKLeopardPackage <file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/OxfordDictionaries.pkg>", "PKLeopardPackage <file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/X11redirect.pkg>", "PKLeopardPackage <file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/OSInstall.pkg>" ) Feb 14 12:00:15 localhost installd[615]: PackageKit: Extracting file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/BaseSystemBinaries.pkg (destination=/Volumes/Untitled/.OSInstallSandbox-tmp/Root, uid=0) Feb 14 12:00:43 localhost installd[615]: PackageKit: External payload root /Volumes/Mac OS X Base System for package com.apple.pkg.BaseSystemResources does not exist! Feb 14 12:00:45 localhost installd[615]: PackageKit: Install Failed: Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=110 "An error occurred while extracting files from the package “BaseSystemResources.pkg”." UserInfo=0x7f9e22a82ae0 {NSUnderlyingError=0x7f9e22b7eb00 "The file “Mac OS X Base System” doesn’t exist.", NSFilePath=/Volumes/Untitled/.OSInstallSandbox-tmp/Root, NSURL=file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/BaseSystemResources.pkg, PKInstallPackageIdentifier=com.apple.pkg.BaseSystemResources, NSLocalizedDescription=An error occurred while extracting files from the package “BaseSystemResources.pkg”.} { NSFilePath = "/Volumes/Untitled/.OSInstallSandbox-tmp/Root"; NSLocalizedDescription = "An error occurred while extracting files from the package U201cBaseSystemResources.pkgU201d."; NSURL = "file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/BaseSystemResources.pkg"; NSUnderlyingError = "Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4 "The file U201cMac OS X Base SystemU201d doesnU2019t exist." UserInfo=0x7f9e22b2d6d0 {NSFilePath=/Volumes/Mac OS X Base System}"; PKInstallPackageIdentifier = "com.apple.pkg.BaseSystemResources"; } Feb 14 12:00:45 localhost installer[540]: install:didFailWithError:Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=110 "An error occurred while extracting files from the package “BaseSystemResources.pkg”." UserInfo=0x7fc8b520f680 {NSLocalizedDescription=An error occurred while extracting files from the package “BaseSystemResources.pkg”., NSFilePath=/Volumes/Untitled/.OSInstallSandbox-tmp/Root, NSURL=file://localhost/Volumes/Mac%20OS%20X%20Install%20ESD/Packages/BaseSystemResources.pkg, PKInstallPackageIdentifier=com.apple.pkg.BaseSystemResources, NSUnderlyingError=0x7fc8b23e43a0 "The file “Mac OS X Base System” doesn’t exist."} Feb 14 12:00:46 localhost installer[540]: Install failed: The Installer encountered an error that caused the installation to fail. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance. Feb 14 12:00:59 localhost installd[615]: installd: Exiting.

[johnklimeck]

"As far as laying down an image, I want to create a universal 10.8.X image that creates a clean install for all of our hardware."

I have a few Mac Minis 2011 and (2012, Ivy Bridge) model, that have a bunch of partitions on it. I download the image that shipped with the Mini, Command-R. If it is 2011-12 model it will be Mac OS 10.8.2, usually 12C60. Get it setup just the way you want it.

Then I use Composer or Super Duper and create an OS image, this becomes my base 10.8.2 image for Casper Imaging.

The latest Ivy Bridge Mac Minis, shipped with 12C2304, or later... that is the only 10.8.2 that will boot these Macs.

10.8.3 of course boots the new Mac Minis (the latest being 12D68). Totally boots the IB Mac Minis.

I created a very small / slimmed down 12C2034 image, with Casper Imaging app, auto login, etc, and cloned it to a FW partition, and then updated that to 12D68.

Booting up off that FW, USB or TB drive, It successfully boots the IB Mac Mini, and opens Casper Imaging and can login to the JSS and have an image pushed down. Here's the catch:

Until Apple releases the GM (Golden Master) of 10.8.3, we really can't make a universal boot OS 10.8x, that includes the latest Macs. (I am using 12D68).

Then there is the little issue with NetBoot. Once Apple releases the GM of 10.8.3, we will see if NetBoot is working as it did in 10.8.2.

I still could not successfully create a NetBoot of 10.8.3 (12D65) with System Image Utility. It begins the boot process, but you just get the spinning wheel, and never boots.

I posted something similar to this a little while back, and someone suggested this method of using an external drive to get to the JSS / Casper Imaging. It's a cool and effective workaround for now until we see what is going on with NetBoot and 10.8.3.

[jcurrin]

I have actually been using FileWave Lighting to create my base. It's free and allows me to combine installer packages and custom packages. I want my base to contains iLife and various other packages. To compile everything doesn't take very long ~20 minutes. And then I just drop it in Casper Admin as the first dmg to install.

As for a universal image johnklimeck is right. You will need to wait until 10.8.3 goes GM. The 2012 iMac's and Mini's run a different flavor 10.8.2 from every other machine. 10.8.3 should be nearing a final version... I hope that helps!