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jcarr · Mar 12, 2003, 08:56 AM

Is anyone else using the command line asr tool to deploy large numbers of G4s? If so, have you run into troubles with the new FireWire 800 G4s?

My current standard install disk image boots to 10.2.3 (made a several weeks ago on a older mirror door G4). This image will not boot on the new FireWire 800 G4s. This, in and of itself is not expected. What is unexpected, is that if I create a new standard install disk image from this machine using the Software Restore DVD that came with the machine, I can not restore that image to this, or any other FireWire 800 machine.

My workaround is to restore using the old imahe, and then run a Mac OS X install over that installation to 'upgrade' it to the 10.2.3 build that ships with the FW800 G4s.

Just wondering if anyone else has run into this problem...

FWIW, My new PowerBook disk image works fine on the 12" and 15" PowerBooks.

TimmyDee51 · Mar 12, 2003, 09:38 AM

Have you tried building on the FW800 and then making an image of that machine? The version of OS X might be a slightly higher build number for the FW800 machines while still being 10.2.3. Also, the DVD might not have everything needed to run a FireWire restore. Where I work, we set-up a test machine, back it up, then run ASR on a new one to make sure it all works.

jcarr · Mar 12, 2003, 10:38 AM

Yes. I may not have made that exactly clear.

My last attempt was making a fresh image from the ground up using a FW800 G4 tower and the install DVD that came with that machine. My only thought of late was that I then updated that machine to 10.2.4.

I'm still confused why a image of a working system, restored back to the orignal system would not boot.

Tennberg · Mar 12, 2003, 10:47 AM

Hi jcarr,

I have one question for you. I will also be pushing out a new G4 image based on OS X to at least 50-100 users worlwide. I want this image to be compatible with all the hardware we currently have (PowerBook G4s - 400 MHz and higher) and PowerMac G4s (a couple older dark grey models, not sure of speed).

Should I build our image on a new FireWire 800 Mac so that way I can be sure it works on any NEW hardware we buy? Will this image also then work on any of the older hardware we have? I am assuming it will since the build of OS X for FireWire 800 machines should also have all the files built-in that make it work on older hardware too, right?

Thanks!

Tennberg · Mar 12, 2003, 10:50 AM

jcarr,

One other thing, should I build our new image on a single processor Mac or a dual processor Mac?

If I build it on a SP Mac, will the necessary files be installed so that it boots on a DP Mac? and vice versa?

Thanks!

jcarr · Mar 12, 2003, 11:04 AM

Tennberg,

I have four disk images (one for each product family) so that the pre-installed software remains somewhat consistent.

I have, in a pinch however, used the Power Mac image to restore an iMac/eMac class machine however. That would lead me to believe that you could use a more generic disk image.

Of course, you mileage may vary.

Too Artificial · Mar 12, 2003, 12:34 PM

I manage a large number of Macs and am responsible for creating the image that gets placed on them at my company. I've had no problems using one image on our systems, whether they are PowerBooks or G4 Desktops. I'm not concerned about placing the default apps from each machine back on them. We wipe the hard drive and then load our custom configurations on them, which includes all the productivity apps our users need.

There are some things you should be doing to prep your image for distribution to multiple types of systems. Creating the image on the newest hardware is a good start. Check out this web site for tons of good information:

http://www.bombich.com/

Hope this helps.

jcarr · Mar 12, 2003, 03:13 PM

We've been using the asr tool for a couple of years now with no troubles at all.

I was just wondering if anyone else has run into troubles with the FireWire 800 G4s.

Tennberg · Mar 13, 2003, 08:25 AM

Too Artificial, jcarr, others,

I was trying to discuss with my manager the benefits of creating a Mac OS X image on newer hardware, but he is reluctant to purchase new hardware for the sole purpose of building an image. If we don't buy new hardware, the Mac OS X image will either be built on a dark-gray Power Mac G4 (prob. 400 MHz or so) or a PowerBook G4 400 MHz. I'm concerned that if we end up getting new hardware in the future, we will run into problems with our standard image.

How does one convince someone who isn't too familiar with the Mac platform what needs to be done? Any advice is welcome. Thanks...

Tennberg · Mar 13, 2003, 08:42 AM

Too Artificial,

One concern I've read about creating an image on a desktop and then installing it on a laptop...one will run into problems with the Energy preference pane (won't recognize the AC Adapter or battery) and with the Airport preference pane. How does one get around this? Have you run into this problem?