|  | Using ARD With Mac OS X Server's NetBoot and Network Install

You can't install Mac OS X on a client using only Apple Remote Desktop (ARD). However, when used in conjunction with Mac OS X Server's NetBoot and Network Install features, ARD can provide valuable, time-saving assistance. You can use it to set the startup volumes remotely, and then further customize the computers after installation.

The following example procedures assume a familiarity with Mac OS X Server's features, Network Image Utility, and the command-line operations in Mac OS X.

1. Install and configure Mac OS X on a client computer.

   The other client computers will be based on this computer. The client should be configured with all your desired software, your desired sharing preferences set, an ARD login, and ARD administrative privileges. It should have DHCP enabled as its network addressing method. See Setting Up Client Computers With Mac OS X 10.3 Installed for more information.

2. Use Disk Utility to create a disk image of the client computer's hard disk.

   You cannot create a disk image from the startup disk. You need to start up from some other partition before creating a disk image of the computer's hard disk.

3. Use Network Image Utility to create a Network Install image for Mac OS X Server using the disk image.

   You should have the following parameters set:

   Install automatically on the volume named "Macintosh HD".

   Don't prompt.

   The NetBoot image should be named Macintosh HD.

4. Use ARD to copy the AppleScript shown below to the client computers and then run it. It will set the hard disk name to the name "Macintosh HD" for use with the NetBoot image. If you have created a volume named "CloneMe," this script will name that volume "Macintosh HD."
   tell application "Finder"
   if (exists (disk "Macintosh HD")) then
   -- Nothing
   else if (exists (disks whose name contains "CloneMe")) then
   set the name of first disk whose name contains "CloneMe" to "Macintosh HD"
   else
   set the name of disk 1 to "Macintosh HD"
   end if
   end tell
5. Use ARD to set the startup disk of your client computers to the Network Install image.
6. Once the clients have started up from the local hard disk again, use ARD to configure and customize the client computers as desired.