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Question

Netboot Upgrade, fails to netboot


ImAMacGuy
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Rather than redo the work on the netboot, I figured I would just use the 10.9.1 build that i used to create the NBI, run the combo update, and re-run it through SIU. That completes as expected, however when I try to netboot a machine I just get a Circle with a line through it.

I can reboot off the (now 10.9.2) partition just fine though, so it seems like it's failing due to the SIU.

Any ideas?

157 replies

Forum|alt.badge.img+23
  • Esteemed Contributor
  • 850 replies
  • February 26, 2014

None at the moment. I'm getting the same with a fresh build of the OS.


ImAMacGuy
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  • February 26, 2014

that's encouraging.


Forum|alt.badge.img+23
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  • February 26, 2014

I assumed it was to do with my attempts to modify rc.netboot file. I'm building a totally vanilla one now.


ImAMacGuy
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  • February 26, 2014

ohh that could be, I was replacing the rc.netboot also..
i do have the unmodified file, I will delete the modified one and restore the original and see if that helps.

I'm also trying a different piece of hardwa... oh it failed too.


ImAMacGuy
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  • February 26, 2014

original rc.netboot failed too.


Forum|alt.badge.img+23
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  • February 26, 2014

Are you HTTP or NFS booting these images?


ImAMacGuy
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  • February 26, 2014

nfs.


Forum|alt.badge.img+23
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  • February 26, 2014

I just tried HTTP. It failed but I wasn't surprised at that because our servers have never liked that setting.

Trying NFS now ...


Forum|alt.badge.img+23
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  • February 26, 2014

Nada. I've now ripped an older version of SIU from a 10.9.1 mac and i'm going to try that instead.


ImAMacGuy
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  • 1310 replies
  • February 26, 2014

hmm found this on the apple kb for 10.9.2

Improves the reliability of diskless NetBoot service in OS X Server

Forum|alt.badge.img+26
  • Honored Contributor
  • 457 replies
  • February 26, 2014

Just a point of reference, as of Feb 26, 2014, the latest versions are:
OS X 10.9.2 (13C64) with Server 3.0.3 (13S3007) and System Image Utility 2 (10.9.2 675)

Do those versions match what your using? SIU 10.9.2 675 and the NetBoot .nbi hosted on a server running Sever 3.0.3?

I recall there has been a pattern that Server updates get released within a few days after a OS X 10.9 update are released. Maybe another update to Server is coming?


ImAMacGuy
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  • February 26, 2014

<edit> sorry apparently my inner Yoda leaked in to my response... let me rephrase it.

I spent yesterday afternoon and this morning upgrading everything :)


Forum|alt.badge.img+23
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  • 850 replies
  • February 26, 2014

@jhalvorson Yes they match.


Forum|alt.badge.img+23
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  • February 26, 2014

I've wasted all day on this. As far as i'm concerned, SIU on 10.9.2 is totally broken.


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  • February 26, 2014

I bet that this is an older mac, say 2011 and that the kernelcache file inside the .nbi/i386/x86_64 folder is larger than 32 MB ???


ImAMacGuy
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  • February 26, 2014

Franton, did teh 10.9.1 SIU work?


Forum|alt.badge.img+23
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  • February 26, 2014

Nope. I'm about to try processing the same captured OS DMG through 10.8.5 SIU instead.


Forum|alt.badge.img+15
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  • 719 replies
  • February 26, 2014

Seeing the same thing this morning. Updated NetBoot image to 10.9.2. After using 10.9.2 SIU and adding it to my NetBoot server, the image is unbootable. I've tried modified and unmodified rc.netboot files. I've also tried diskless and not diskless, http and nfs. My NetBoot servers were running 10.9.1 and the problem remains after upgrading to 10.9.2.


Forum|alt.badge.img+15
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  • 719 replies
  • February 26, 2014

@Lotusshaney is onto something. My kernelcache file is 35.5MB and I was able to boot my 10.9.2 NBI from a 2013 MacBook Pro Retina. However, my 2011 MacBook Pro would not boot it.


Forum|alt.badge.img+5
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  • 96 replies
  • February 26, 2014

Here is my blog post

Keep getting no-entry signs booting from a net boot image made on a mac that boots fine from the same image when its on a HDD ? New Macs Netboot fine but old ones don’t ? Check the kernalcache in the .nbi folder.

TFTP original file limits is 32MB. I think new models have removed this limit in there firmware. All my old NB images kernalcache files are under that size.

10.9.x ones are 35MB so won’t TFTP to the older macs. If I remove unused kexts and build the image the kernalcache is under 32MB and EVERYTHING boots !!!!

I think Apple needs to look at system image utility and make it more selective on needed kexts


Forum|alt.badge.img+5
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  • 96 replies
  • February 26, 2014

TFTP is used to copy the kernalcache file over to the client regardless of NFS or HTTP. version 1 had a limit of 32MB file transfers. New version of TFTP supports 4GB file transfers so Im guessing apple has update the firmware in some models and not others


ImAMacGuy
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  • February 26, 2014

i've opened a ticket with apple enterprise support on this.

Thank you for your findings, I will get teh ticket update with the info and report back.


ImAMacGuy
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  • February 26, 2014

double post


Forum|alt.badge.img+23
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  • February 26, 2014

I need to now have words with my bosses over the Xserve replacement order. I've got 1,1 Xserves and I'm betting there's no way to make them work.


Forum|alt.badge.img+23
  • Esteemed Contributor
  • 850 replies
  • February 26, 2014

@Lotusshaney Which kexts are you removing from your image?


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