NetBoot/SUS Appliance now available

[eric_krause]

We are excited to share a NetBoot and Software Update appliance that we have found useful at JAMF. We have provided a document along with the appliance that describes how to use it with the Casper Suite.

Here is the description from the product PDF:

The Appliance creates an Ubuntu virtual machine (VM) that acts as a NetBoot server and/or SUS. This allows you to host a NetBoot server and/or internal SUS using any system that supports virtualization. The Appliance also installs a web application that can be used to easily manage your NetBoot server and/or SUS.

You can find the appliance's page on JAMF Nation here: NetBoot/SUS Appliance.

[rockpapergoat]

@treydock it should be pretty easy to port to centos if you need to. throw together a kickstart file or use puppet to configure the server. i don't think there's any licensing issues to prevent this.

[eric_krause]

First of all I would like to thank everyone for the incredible response and contribution to the community about the appliance. The interest was more than we expected and we are excited to help seed the community with resources to help with Macs in the enterprise.

On another note we have noticed a few items that needed to be addressed in the NetBoot/SUS appliance and have put out a new release. The product download link has been updated.

The following issued were addressed in the 1.01 appliance:

SUS - fixed the Apache Document Root to support mirrored updates

SUS - changing base url now also updates the preferences.plist if the "Store software updates on this SUS" option is checked

SUS - updates the root branch on any SUS sync if one is set. This is done in case the download URL has been changed.

SUS - fixed the initial copy of the catalogs on the creation of a root branch

Network - fixed nameserver writes, it now writes DNS if using Static settings otherwise DNS comes from DHCP

[martin]

Eric,

Thank you for giving us a new version on this short notice! Is there a possibility to update the current VM?

Thanks!

[rtrouton]

Eric,

Thanks for the updated appliance. Is there an apt repo or other source where the updates can be downloaded from? Right now, I don't see an upgrade path beyond "download new appliance, rebuild settings."

[agerson]

Amazing tool! I have been wanting something like this for a long time. Thanks.

[eric_krause]

In response to the backup and restore question -

This is something that we are thinking about for future updates but was not implemented in this release. In both releases we do have a simple backup page at https://<server_name>/webadmin/backup.php that creates a compressed backup that downloads to your machine. The backup includes all NetBoot images, NetBoot subnet settings, dhcpd settings, webadmin settings, Reposado metadata, and all SUS packages that were synced local to the appliance. This may not be ideal depending on what would all get backed up as this can result in an incredibly large backup file. Restoring that backup on a new appliance would require shell access and an extraction of the backup. Another option we are considering is posting a KB on how to store the data on a drive external to the appliance to allow for easier upgrading.

We are also looking to get the source of this project out so the community can contribute along with JAMF. We will keep everyone posted as we continue on with this project.

[jarednichols]

We are also looking to get the source of this project out so the community can contribute along with JAMF. We will keep everyone posted as we continue on with this project.

GitHub please!

[rtrouton]

Thanks, Eric. I appreciate the effort that's going into this VM appliance, as it's filling a need that a number of Mac admins have.

The fact that beginners can easily just use the appliance as-is, while more advanced folks can just as easily dive under the hood and start modifying it for their own needs, is extremely welcome.

[rockpapergoat]

if the base configs and source for all the php/shell stuff is stored on github (for example), you could probably do a git pull with hooks on the vm side to update/install the components. updating just what's required would allow the vas to keep running without producing and making available a whole new vm image every time. likewise, a puppet module to manage the vm is a good idea. ;)

[whitverj]

Is it still necessary to hack it a bit to get it to recognize DeployStudio's .sparseimage files, or is that baked in now?

[Kumarasinghe]

What is the correct command line for NetBoot from command line. We use the command line below to boot from OS X NetBoot servers;

/usr/sbin/bless --netboot --booter "tftp://192.168.1.118/NetBoot/NetBootSP0/Casper-NetBoot-10.7.2.nbi/i386/booter" --kernelcache "tftp://192.168.1.118/NetBoot/NetBootSP0/Casper-NetBoot-10.7.2.nbi/i386/kernelcache" --options "rp=nfs:192.168.1.118:/private/tftpboot/NetBoot/$NetBootSP0:Casper-Netboot-10.7.2.nbi/NetBoot.dmg" --nextonly

what path changes would we have to do in order to get this command to work?

[Cem]

WOW hats off guys... this is just brilliant and very easy to setup. I am thinking of running this within Linux RH VM or Win2008 VM. You think this should work without any performance issues?

Cem

[jarednichols]

I was running the beta (that didn't have Reposado) in VirtualBox on RHEL 6.1 without issue. Though, this was on a Dell R710... it has some nuts to it.

[msardes]

Does this work with VMSphere Hypervisor EsxI 4.1 .

[rtrouton]

msardes,

You'll need to convert it to a .vmdk first. I've got a walkthrough on how to do that posted here:

http://derflounder.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/converting-jamfs-netbootsus-appliance-to-vmware/

[stevewood]

Actually, you shouldn't need to convert the OVA file at all to use in ESXi 4.1. You simply need to use the Import OVF function in VMWare.

In vSphere Client, simply go under the File menu and choose Deploy OVF Template and follow the prompts. You'll simply need to point to the downloaded OVA file.

[Cem]

My TPOC VM servers will be ready soon. I will test it and report back...

[msardes]

Is there a root account, I need to set the ip manually before I can access the web console.

[gregneagle]

Use sudo from the shelluser account.

[Kumarasinghe]

I have tested this on a VirtualBox VM and found clients netboot fine when you run the command manually to netboot from this server. Can't netboot a client from Option+boot or pressing "N" from the keyboard.Also image is not visible in Startup Disk preference.

I have a Mac server in the same subnet and the netboot image is visible in Startup Disk preference.

This is a corporate network and netboot servers and clients are on different subnets. ip-helpers are already in place.

Does anyone have an experience on a multi vlan network?

[Curtis]

I'm having a similar issue to the previous post (Kumarasinghe). Unable to NetBoot to appliance using option boot or N key in work environment. Image also not visible in Startup Disk. Helper address in place. CLI NetBoot working fine. I've had no issues using the appliance as expected on on my home/flat network. VMware ESXi 4.1 used for testing. We'll try some packet captures, but any quick thoughts on this? Thanks much.

[Kumarasinghe]

I just checked a machine on the same subnet and it shows the "Faux Netboot" set but not go across subnet.ip helpers already in place and working fine with Apple NetBoot servers.

[greatkemo]

Hey guys great job, I was just in the process of compiling all the above plus jss on RedHat VM as my xserves are coming to end-of-life, but this helps a lot. I do have wonder though?

Is there a JSS/NetBoot/SUS Appliance in the pipe-works?
How about a windows installed for those how would prefer using installing it on a Windows Server?

Great Job Guys