For a long time, we used the bless command to startup systems to a specific volume in OS X. Back in 2009 I started using the systemsetup command for more and more tasks. These days, I’m being guided to replace all of my bless options in scripts to systemsetup. The easy way to configure your startup volumes using systemsetup is to list the available volumes, set one as the startup volume and then check to see which one is the current volume. The first task is to list the available startup volumes, using the -liststartupdisks option: sudo systemsetup -liststartupdisks You can then set the disk as one that was listed…
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No More Blessing Folder9 In OS X 10.9 Mavericks
In OS X you’ve always had this weird shroud of the “Classic” environment. This type of environment was used to facilitate running things in the previous incarnation of Apple’s operating systems. Many of these have disappeared over the years. In Mavericks we see yet another go away in a very small an almost noticeable binary, bless. While this command conjures fears of getting excommunicated by a Borgia for many, for those of us in the Apple community, the bless command is used to define a folder to mount to boot to. In 10.8 and below, there was an option to bless –folder9, used to define a OS 9/Classic system folder.…
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Use ARD to Restart to NetBoot Server
It’s summer! And at many schools that means that the kids are gone and it’s time to start imaging again. And imaging means a lot of rebooting holding down the N key. But wait, you have ARD access into all those computers. And you have automated imaging tools. This means you can image the whole school from the comfort of your cabin out by the lake. Just use ARD and a little automation and you’ll be fishing in no time! If you haven’t used the bless command to restart a client to NetBoot server then you’re missing out. The bless command is used to set the boot drive that a…
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Blessing the blessed
The bless command can be used to read your currently blessed operating system in Mac OS X. You can also leverage it to set an operating system in Mac OS X. Don’t ask why, but I recently needed to read what my blessed operating system was and set my blessed operating system to the same volume. Much like choosing a volume in the Startup Disk System Preference pane when I’m already booted to that volume. With a little help debugging, here’s what I came up, in case anyone : myDisk=”$(/usr/sbin/bless –getBoot)” myDiskOutput=”$(/usr/sbin/diskutil info “$myDisk” | grep “Volume Name” | cut -c 30-60)” bless –mount /Volumes/”$myDiskOutput” –setBoot echo $myDiskUtilOutput > /tmp/booter.txt…
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Bootp Relaying & Troubleshooting NetBoot
I’ve seen a couple of posts on groups recently with people asking why they’re unable to NetBoot clients. Personally, I always verify that clients are able to obtain a DHCP lease and that the NetBoot server shows up in the Startup Disk System Preference pane. Provided those two things work then you will usually be able to NetBoot. Both of these can be verified when booted from an installer or an installed system (checking both never hurt anyone). Next, break out your crossover cable (well, many a Mac doesn’t need one any more). If you can NetBoot when connected directly to a server then you’re usually looking at an infrastructure…