Mac OS X | System / Utilities | Backup / Sync / Recover | NetRestore

NetRestore - 1.5

ASR mass deployment utility with NetBoot option

Download v 3.4.6

(File Size: 1.5M)

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All Time:	(4.9)
Version 1.5:	(5.0)
Selected Version:	1.5
Release Date:	2004-04-26
License:	Freeware
Downloads (version 1.5):	895
Downloads (all versions):	60,521

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Product Description:

Whether you're deploying five, five thousand, or 32,000 systems, NetRestore is the software deployment solution for you. Built on Apple's Apple Software Restore technology, NetRestore can be used to quickly and accurately restore a master disk image to a computer's hard disk while that disk image is hosted locally, on a network via AFP, or on the internet via HTTP. NetRestore can also be used in conjunction with NetBoot to fully automate the deployment of a lab full of machines. NetRestore was designed to be very easy to use, yet flexible, powerful, and extensible.

What's new in this version:

Added a "Create Master Image" tab to NetRestore Helper. Now you can use NetRestore Helper to create master images in one step as well as NetInstall image sets. CCC is no longer necessary for creating master images, and NRH follows the steps outlined in the asr man page. This option also allows you to save asr-ready disk images directly to your file server (all in one step!).
NetRestore will now scan a specific directory for disk images. You can simply drop disk images into NetRestore's "Resources/Disk Images" directory and access them immediately in NetRestore's source menu, with no additional configuration.
Post-action scripts no longer have to be specified in NetRestore's preferences. Simply drop them into NetRestore's "Resources/Post-Actions" directory and they will be run after the restore process.
NetRestore now installs any packages dropped in NetRestore's "Resources/Post-Actions" directory to the target disk after restoring.
NetInstall-Restore image sets now run pre-action scripts
NetRestore now reads its configurations and preferences from files outside of its package, making upgrading a lot easier
There is now a GUI for the remote.plist file
There is a new item in the Tools menu to allow you to set the startup disk
Error messages are more friendly
Syslog is now enabled on NetInstall-Restore image sets created with NRH to make debugging easier
Overhauled the documentation. There is now a thorough overview of "The Deployment Process" as well.

Bugs fixed:

Fixed a bug in which target disks sometimes did not appear on certain computer models when NetBooted
Fixed a bug in which NRH would copy the SystemConfigurations preferences.plist file from the source drive when creating a NetInstall-Restore image set. This could potentially cause IP address conflicts during restoring.
Restore errors caused by permissions problems are handled better; NetRestore now provides feedback to help the user correct the problem
NRH now copies the PowerManagement preference file (Panther only) to NetInstall-Restore image sets so the display sleep settings of your NetBooted machines matches what was set on the machine used to create the NetInstall-Restore image set (formerly displays would sleep after a few minutes by default)
Netrestore aborts automatic restarts if post-actions fail

Operating System Requirements:

This product is designed to run on the following operating systems:

Mac OS X 10.3
Mac OS X 10.2

Additional Requirements:

Mac OS 10.2.2 or higher with BSD subsystem

Feedback Summary:

Version 1.5:
Overall Rating:	(5.0)	Features:	(5.0)	Support:	(5.0)
Ease of Use:	(5.0)	Quality / Stability:	(5.0)	Price:	(5.0)

Key to Types of Feedback:

Reviews Reviews Troubleshooting Usage Tips Developer Notes Commentary Featured Reviews

Need one version for 10.4/10.5! - Version: 3.4.1, 2/18/2008 12:00AM PST

(0 of 3 users found this comment useful)

libertyforall1776

I don't see why the application cannot be forked, and click a box or have it autosense 10.4 or 10.5 -- why have two versions -- seems dumb to me.

Most Recent Replies: View All 4 Replies

Need one version for 10.4/10.5!

There is only one version. (3 replies)

Use this to get a promotion! - Version: 3.3.6, 2/1/2008 12:00AM PST

(1 of 1 users found this comment useful)

dekstar

Mike, I'd like to thank you for providing the world with your wonderful apps! This one in particular has saved me hours and $$$. Can say enough thanks, keep up the good work!

Mike has made my job easier - Version: 3.3.6, 8/3/2007 04:43PM PST

cenaq--2008

For the past 4+ years, Mike has made my job easier with his NetRestore software. NetRestore allows me to easily clone computers in order to restore and when I update computers, I create one image (using NetRestore Helper) and send it to the others. I figured it all out using Mike's documentation and online lab deployment information. When I get a new computer for the lab or a faculty Macintosh, I boot from an external disk, erase and partition the internal hard drive. I create two partitions, consisting of one small one with just enough space for a small basic operating system and one with the rest of the drive. The small drive is the emergency restore system. When I have a problem computer or a major updated image, I boot of the small partition and use NetRestore to point to the location with the image I created with NetRestore Helper as the source and send it to the larger partition. NetRestore makes it possible to easily re-image the lab computers before every semester.

This product has made for a better running and more consistently updated lab. Most likely it has also kept me at my job longer than I would have stayed without this software.

I called "Ease of Use" 4 out of 5. It took me a while to learn the things it can do completely on my own. I really would have just called everything 5 out of 5, but you might not have believed me, right?

I use expensive commercial software for doing the same thing on my windows computers. It is great software, but you know what? Adding NetRestore to Apple's Remote Desktop software makes just as good a product for the Apple side.