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Level 1

15 points

10.7.2 NetRestore hangs on 10.7.2 server

Hi all,

I have a 10.7.2 server with a restore image of 10.7.2 client that I would like to deploy to a bunch of machienes.

I created the NetRestore image using the latest System Image Utility off of a disk image of the ideal image I'd like to deploy.

Everything goes well, until you try to boot the image.

It will start to boot, show the spinning globe under the apple, then change to a gear, as is normal.

But there is where it stops.

No errors in the NetBoot server's logs, everything seems to be fine.

When booting into verbose mode, the boot process goes all the way to the point of booting the kernel, but seems to stop just at the point when launchd is supposed to start.

The last line printed to the console when in verbose mode is "Kernel is LP64"

Booting from a good OS usually starts launchd after that and it takes over from there, but no such luck on NetRestore.

Quick word on my source image, If I use that to image a hard drive through Disk Utility, it works just fine, so I'm rather sure it's not the image.

Thanks.

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Nov 9, 2011 5:27 PM

Best reply

Brian Nesse

Level 4

3,049 points

Posted on Nov 10, 2011 8:06 AM

Do the source and imaging systems have *exactly* the same OS (i.e. 10.7.2, build 11C74)? If not, this is a known issue.

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22 replies

Nabeel_co Author

Level 1

15 points

Dec 7, 2011 11:54 AM in response to Brian Nesse

Yeah, but either way, that's not the point more does it really matter.

The issue still remains that a Net Restore image won't boot, and just hangs.

I will try the solution of reinstalling the Combo 10.7.2 update and trying to image that.

mbresink

Level 1

54 points

Dec 7, 2011 2:15 PM in response to Nabeel_co

I fully agree. Not to forget that "booting the recovery partition to re-install the OS" does not really make sense if you have a NetRestore server.

Dec 8, 2011 8:17 AM in response to mbresink

I understand that this is not the point. I was speaking to the point of "I would say people using NetInstall or NetRestore never care about recovery partitions and they shouldn't." which is a very one sided point of view that doesn't take into account the use case of anyone but the poster.

Additionally, I'm not saying you have to install the recovery partition on the NetRestore. That's why there's an option in the Create Image action to install or not install it.

What I am saying is that if your source volume doesn't have the recovery partition, you can't make a valid image because there is data on the recovery partition that is absolutely required to create a functional image.

Nabeel_co Author

Level 1

15 points

Dec 8, 2011 10:34 AM in response to Brian Nesse

I wouldn't say it's onesided, usually you make a netrestore to bypass the whole instal, configure, install other software, etc process. Why would you want the recovery process, you already have your own? Fine there may be an odd situation where that may be needed, but on the whole it's kinda pointlessly redudnant to keep the recovery partition considering that it only downloads the os off of the net which is a lot slower then doing it locally if you have a full restore sitting on a server in the next room.

Anyways, that aside: Are you saying that your source computer/drive MUST have an up to date Recovery HD partiton on it for the restore to work? Can you confirm this or cite any sources? Doing this sets me back quite a bit, so if I have to I will, but I don't want to spend hours doing it to be stuck at the same place.

If this Is required, I plan for my point of action to be:

1. Whipe the drive of a spare Mac, let Lion recovery in the firmware rebuild the recovery partition, and install.

2. Replace the fresh Macintosh HD with my image.

3. Install the 10.7.2 combo update on the machiene, and any nessisary updates.

4. Image Macintosh HD only.

Will this work?

If you are telling me that this will render a positive result, I'll try it. But that's a lot of hours out of my day in a project that has alreay taken too many. Also, if you have any sources, I would be glad to read them myself as well.

A side point: I do appreceate your help Bryan, although, initally it seemed more of a canned answer spairing on details (eg."make sure everythings up to date!"), I now see what your point may have been. I wasn't trying to be dismissive, I just had issues understanding how your comment was relevent. Thanks for the help.

Dec 8, 2011 3:09 PM in response to Nabeel_co

Nabeel_co wrote:

Why would you want the recovery process, you already have your own? Fine there may be an odd situation where that may be needed, but on the whole it's kinda pointlessly redudnant to keep the recovery partition considering that it only downloads the os off of the net which is a lot slower then doing it locally if you have a full restore sitting on a server in the next room.

Many organizations create a "default image" to get a new employee started. Once that system is in place, it may never see the NetBoot server again. If the employee needs to recover the system while on the road, or worse or remote wipe the system because it was stolen, they will need the recovery partition.

Anyways, that aside: Are you saying that your source computer/drive MUST have an up to date Recovery HD partiton on it for the restore to work? Can you confirm this or cite any sources?

I have been told that this is exactly the process that the Consulting Engineers are laying out as the "best practice" for imaging Lion systems.

If this Is required, I plan for my point of action to be:

1. Whipe the drive of a spare Mac, let Lion recovery in the firmware rebuild the recovery partition, and install.

2. Replace the fresh Macintosh HD with my image.

3. Install the 10.7.2 combo update on the machiene, and any nessisary updates.

4. Image Macintosh HD only.

Will this work?

Probably, but there's no point in doing all that. All you should have to do is download the 10.7.2 Install Assistant from the App Store and do an in place upgrade on the volume you've already created. This will upgrade the system to 10.7.2 AND add the recovery partition to it. Then apply any needed updates, and proceed to step 4.

mbresink

Level 1

54 points

Dec 9, 2011 1:53 AM in response to Brian Nesse

All you should have to do is download the 10.7.2 Install Assistant from the App Store and do an in place upgrade on the volume you've already created.

I have tried this with a configuration similar to Nabeel_co's and it didn't work, tested with 10.7.1 and 10.7.2: In both cases, the App Store tells me an "install is not possible because a newer version of this App is already installed". There are no Lion Installer Apps on the test system.

mbresink

Level 1

54 points

Dec 9, 2011 3:38 AM in response to mbresink

mbresink wrote:

an "install is not possible because a newer version of this App is already installed".

To follow-up on myself: It is necessary to override a second protection mechanism in the App Store application to make this work.

10.7.2 NetRestore hangs on 10.7.2 server