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Q: Lion NetBoot and NetInstall causing kernel panic

I'm trying to get NetBoot and NetInstall working on a recently set up a new Mac Mini with OS X Lion Server.

We previously had Snow Leopard server and moved the existing images onto the Lion Server. However, when trying to boot off either image the machines kernel panic.

 

Have tried creating new images, but with the same result.

 

Anyone with similar issues who have managed to fix it?

Posted on Mar 22, 2012 10:39 PM

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Q: Lion NetBoot and NetInstall causing kernel panic

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  • by Brian Nesse,

    Brian Nesse Brian Nesse Mar 23, 2012 8:03 AM in response to eject
    Level 4 (3,007 points)
    Mar 23, 2012 8:03 AM in response to eject

    It sounds like you have a server configuration issue. Probably either your sharepoints aren't shared properly or tftp is failing to transfer the booter (though that usually results in a hang, not a panic.)

     

    Assuming you are sharing images over NFS, 'showmount -e' in the terminal will tell you what mounts the server thinks are available. Make sure they agree with what Server Admin belives. You can find some useful troubleshooting tips at: http://www.afp548.com/netboot/mactips/netboot.html

  • by eject,

    eject eject Mar 23, 2012 10:18 PM in response to Brian Nesse
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 23, 2012 10:18 PM in response to Brian Nesse

    Thanks for your reply. I will try what you suggest and also read through the troubleshooting tips you linked to. Cheers!

     

    I do have have some furher information about the problem.

    Definitely some strange behaviour here - I'll try to explain is as well as I can.

     

    Started out activating one NetInstall image of Lion 10.7.2 (did not have 10.7.3 on hand). When testing with my MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009) currently runing Lion (came with Snow Leopard), I got a kernel panic. However, when choosing the NetInstall image as startup disk via System Prefrences, it boots up fine via this image.

     

    After a while I also added a Snow Leopard NetInstall image (newly created on one of our machines still running Snow Leopard). With the Lion set to be the default netboot image. When booting my machine into startup manager, then pressing 'N' to see netboot images, I only get one additional icon (despite there being two enabled images) with the server IP underneath. When selecting that icon, the machine boots up with the Snow Leopard installer (despite Lion being set as the default).

     

    Trying the same with an iMac without a hard drive, this iMac would have come with Snow Leopard preinstalled, shows me both NetInstall images in startup manager, but I get a kernel panic when trying to boot off the Snow Leopard image - not the Lion image. Selecting the Lion image as startup disk while booted from the SL image results in a successful boot from the Lion image.

     

    To recap:

     

    On MacBook Pro

    • Startup manager, Lion boot = kernel panic
    • Startup manager, SL boot = success
    • Startup disk chooser, Lion boot = success
    • Startup disk chooser, SL boot = success

     

    On iMac

    • Startup manager, Lion boot = success
    • Startup manager, SL boot = kernel panic
    • Startup disk chooser, Lion boot = success
    • Startup disk chooser, SL boot = success

     

    The above is true when sharing the images both over NFS and HTTP.

  • by Brian Nesse,

    Brian Nesse Brian Nesse Mar 26, 2012 8:20 AM in response to eject
    Level 4 (3,007 points)
    Mar 26, 2012 8:20 AM in response to eject

    There should be no appreciable difference between an option boot and a boot through the startup disk chooser.

     

    How did you create these NetInstall images?

     

    The last Snow Leopard DVD release was 10.6.3. That makes it pretty difficult to produce a Snow Leopard NetInstall image that will successfully boot a variety of machines. If you received DVD's with these systems that were post 10.6.3, they would be hardware specific releases which will only work on the intented hardware.

     

    There have also been some Lion specific hardware shipments but, if you downloaded the most recent 'Install Mac OS X Lion' application from the Store for your source you should be OK there.