Using a NetBoot Client

Once the server is set up, you can then NetBoot client systems. In order for a client to NetBoot to the server, the client must have an IP address, subnet mask, and be on the same subnet as the server. If the client is not on the same subnet, then you can still connect using the bless command, or by setting up what is known as a NetBoot Helper.

But the easiest way to use a NetBoot client is to let the client system automatically find the NetBoot server. There are two ways to do so. The first is using the Startup Disk System Preference pane. When you click on Startup Disk from System Preferences (System Preferences is available under the Apple menu from any screen), any volumes that appear with a globe that has a green arrow below it indicate a network operating system. Clicking on it and clicking on Restart will reboot the system to that network volume.