Optimizing NetBoot server Performance (09/25/2008)
... Or if you want to use only a single IP address for your NetBoot server, Mac OS X Server v10.5 supports bonded Ethernet connections using IEEE 802.3ad link aggregation. This setup also requires network switches that support the IEEE 802.3ad standard, but it enables you to effectively multiply the bandwidth of your NetBoot server while maintaining a single IP address....

NetBoot Shadow Files and Diskless Mode (09/25/2008)
... The default location for the shadow files also presents a problem for NetBoot deployment scenarios. By default, to provide the best performance, the NetBoot shadow files are stored on the client computer’s local internal drive in the /private/var/netboot/.com. apple.NetBootX folder....

NetBoot Requirements and NetBoot Startup Process (09/25/2008)
... The NetBoot service relies heavily on your computer’s built-in firmware to facilitate network startup, so you must also make sure your Mac clients are updated to the latest firmware. The NetBoot service included with Mac OS X v10.5 Server supports older PowerPC-based computers as long as they have Macintosh firmware version 4.1.7 or later....

The NetBoot service explained in detail (09/25/2008)
... In this article you first will learn how the NetBoot technology works so that you can properly configure this service in your environment. You will then learn how to set up the NetBoot service from a Mac OS X Server and create a simple NetBoot system image. Finally, you will learn how to create a workflow-generated NetBoot system image. This new NetBoot feature, introduced with Mac OS X v10.5, allows you to create customized and automated deployment systems....

Using Apple Remote Desktop ADR to Deploy Items (09/25/2008)
...2.1. Setting Up ARD 3 There are two main processes for setting up the ARD system. First, you must enable the ARD remote management service on the Mac OS X system you intend to remotely administrate. Then, using the Remote Desktop administrator application, you must establish a connection to the remote systems....

Create ZIP Archives in Mac OS X (09/25/2008)
... - Multiple items or even entire file systems can be contained in a single file that is easily transferable using any mechanism. - File checksum helps verify content. - Optional compressed format saves storage space and bandwidth. - Optional encrypted format secures items from unauthorized access. - Optional read/write format allows easy modification and expansion of disk image contents....

Bundles and Packages in Mac OS X (09/25/2008)
... The contents of a package, on the other hand, are revealed only when you right-click (or Control-click) the package and choose Show Package Contents from the shortcut menu. From a deployment perspective, the use of bundles and packages in Mac OS X presents another dilemma. On the one hand, bundles and packages simplify deployment because otherwise complex items can be managed as single items. Thus, you can copy an entire application and all its accompanying resources by simply copying a single icon. On the other hand, bundles and packages are treated as normal folders by third-party systems and transfer mechanisms, which in many cases means that the bundle-bit attribute will be stripped away, and the once-opaque package will appear as a folder in the Finder....

Planning Hardware Logistics and Power Infrastructure (09/25/2008)
... Planning Usage Management You can spend weeks perfecting your deployment system configuration, but without a proper usage management plan all that work will be in vain. Unavoidably, users will attempt to make changes to your deployed computers, or they may unintentionally install software that can negatively affect your systems. To ensure the continued health of your deployed computers, you should develop usage policies and a plan to enforce those policies. Usage Policies Computer usage policies vary from nonexistent to draconian. The level of detail and restriction defined in a usage policy has more to do with the type and size of the organization than with technical details....

Mac OS X users manage their authorization rights (09/25/2008)
... In many fullsystem deployments, the contents of the users’ home folders are the only items that vary from system to system and the only items that the users are allowed to modify. Because of the inherent variability in the users’ home folders, a specific management strategy is needed. Mac OS X v10.5 supports home folders stored on the local system drive, on an external storage device, on a mounted network volume, and on a local system and network hybrid known as a synchronized mobile home folder. All these home folder storage options, except for storage on the local system drive, require you to use network-based user accounts and client management techniques....

Mac OS X File System and File Attributes (09/25/2008)
... File Attributes Every file and folder on a Mac OS Extended volume has additional file attributes that are not immediately visible to the user but are an essential part of the file system. These attributes include creation date, modification date, ownership, permissions, access control lists, Spotlight information, Finder labels, and legacy file type information. They also include file system flags, which are used to identify special file types such as aliases and locked files. Some of these attributes are accessed from the Get Info window of the Finder. Other file systems have similar file attributes and, in general, offer support for common attributes such as ownership and permissions....