Apple MC171Z/A Administration Guide - Page 16

For example, you can use Apple Software Update to download an iCal update or an operating system update to a test computer. If the update works as expected and introduces no compatibility issues, copy the installer package to the administrator computer to distribute to computers that need upgrading. Note that this approach conserves Internet bandwidth, because only one copy of the package needs to be downloaded. You can also use Apple Remote Desktop to deploy new versions of computational software to Xserve computers in a cluster node. You can use the PackageMaker tool (included on the Apple Remote Desktop installation CD and with Apple's developer tools) to create your own installer packages, such as when you want to:  Distribute school project materials or business forms and templates  Automate the installation of multiple installer packages  Deploy custom applications Before performing remote installations, you can send an Apple Remote Desktop text message to notify users, perhaps letting them know that you'll be using Apple Remote Desktop to lock their screens at a particular time before you start the installation. Using Network Install Images You can also distribute and install software, including the Mac OS X operating system, by using Network Install images. On Mac OS X Server, use the Network Image Utility to create a Network Install image. You can create the image by cloning a system that's already installed and set up, or by using an installation disc or an image downloaded using Apple Software Update. If you choose to auto-install, you won't have to interact with each computer. On the Apple Remote Desktop administrator computer, set the startup disk of remote client systems to point to the Network Install image, and then remotely reboot the clients to initiate installation. Before initiating installations that require computers to be restarted afterwards, send an Apple Remote Desktop text message to client users to notify them of a pending installation. For example, tell users you'll log them off at 5:00 p.m. to install an operating system update. Using NetBoot Images Another kind of system image you can create using Mac OS X Server is a NetBoot image. Like a Network Install image, a client computer uses NetBoot images to start up. Unlike a Network Install image, the boot software is not installed on the client system. Instead, it resides on a remote server. It is recommended you use a NetBoot image that has Apple Remote Desktop installed and configured. Otherwise, administering the computer using Apple Remote Desktop after starting up from NetBoot is impossible. 16 Chapter 1 Using Apple Remote Desktop