MacBook Pro EFI 2.6 Update Breaks Netboot

I have a number of MacBook Pro Mid 2010 models that are used for staff, checkouts and training. This requires that I re-image them on a semi-regular basis. I am using DeployStudio in conjunction with NetInstall on a Mini (Mid 2010) running Mountain Lion Server. I started noticing that I couldn't get them to netboot. It would start with one, then two. Now, its almost the whole bunch. I knew it wasn't my netboot images or the server itself because I could boot other machines to them.

I found one that had a couple of updates for it. One of them was the 'MacBook Pro EFI 2.6 Update'. Supposedly, this update enables the ability for the MacBook Pro to have the ability to restore itself over a network. It also added the WiFi dropdown in you are in EFI's boot manager. I tested the MacBook Pro to see if would be booted by netboot. It worked just like it should. I then applied the update, and tried again. It was now broken.

The issue is that after I have applied the update, the MacBook Pros can't boot to netboot can't anymore. It just sits there at a light gray screen for about a minute, then after another minute, it flashes the globe icon, and then it gives up and boots to the local OS. I have reset the SMC/PRAM, reinstalled 10.8.2, tried re-installing the EFI update, tried re-installing the SMC update, tried creating a boot set on the MacBookPro itself. Nothing is working.

Looking at the Logs, I can see that the MacBooks are may be trying to contact the server, but are not giving it there requests. Here is an example from my netboot log:

(first it gives the MacBook Pro the list of available netboot images)

Mar 5 14:37:36 bootpd[2342]: BSDP INFORM [en0] 1,10:9a:dd:59:52:e3 NetBoot007 arch=i386 sysid=MacBookPro6,2

Mar 5 14:37:36 bootpd[2342]: NetBoot: [1,10:9a:dd:59:52:e3] BSDP ACK[LIST] sent xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx pktsize 315

Mar 5 14:37:36 bootpd[2342]: service time 0.041497 seconds

Mar 5 14:37:39 bootpd[2342]: BSDP INFORM [en0] 1,10:9a:dd:59:52:e3 NetBoot007 arch=i386 sysid=MacBookPro6,2

Mar 5 14:37:39 bootpd[2342]: NetBoot: [1,10:9a:dd:59:52:e3] BSDP ACK[LIST] sent xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx pktsize 315

Mar 5 14:37:39 bootpd[2342]: service time 0.000727 seconds

(this is where the acknodegement is sent to the MacBookPro of what netboot set was chosen and where to find the booter)

Mar 5 14:37:48 bootpd[2342]: BSDP INFORM [en0] 1,10:9a:dd:59:52:e3 NetBoot007 arch=i386 sysid=MacBookPro6,2

Mar 5 14:37:48 bootpd[2342]: replyfile /private/tftpboot/NetBoot/NetBootSP0/Lion-1082.nbi/i386/booter

Mar 5 14:37:48 bootpd[2342]: NetBoot: [1,10:9a:dd:59:52:e3] BSDP ACK[SELECT] sent xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx pktsize 360

(I am not sure exactly what these are, but I am guessing they are responses to the MacBookPro, as they show up every time the MacBook Pros just sit there at the light gray screen)

Mar 5 14:37:48 bootpd[2342]: service time 0.001471 seconds

Mar 5 14:38:01 bootpd[2342]: service time 0.000011 seconds

Mar 5 14:38:02 bootpd[2342]: service time 0.000028 seconds

Mar 5 14:40:40 bootpd[2342]: service time 0.000290 seconds

I am wondering if anybody else has had this issue and if they have, what their solution is?

I have created a bootable USB flash drive that works with these machines. I really don't want to do that, but if this is the only way I can mass image machines, then I may not have any choice.