[comp.protocols.appletalk] "Booting" from a server

PJORGENS@COLGATEU.BITNET (01/06/89)

Heather Ebey wonders if it is possible to boot a Mac+ from an AppleTalk server.

My experience is, Yes, in a limited fashion.

The steps I have found which work with MacServe and TOPS are:

1) Boot the Mac with a startup disk containing the minimum network software.
2) Mount a server volume which contains a System and Finder.
3) Command-Option double-click on the Finder icon in the server volume.
The server volume will become the "Startup Disk" and you will have access
to all of the fonts, etc. in that system file.

I realize that this is NOT really "booting" from a server, but it does allow
diskette based Macs to have large system files with lots of Fonts/DA and
a variety of print drivers.

I don't believe users can share the remote startup volume, as things like
the clipboard and scrapbook are stored there.

The whole procedure could probably be made quite transparent to the user
with a simple application that mounts the remote volume and then "launches"
the remote Finder.

Peter Jorgensen
Microcomputer Specialist
Colgate University
BITNET     PJORGENSEN@COLGATEU
PHONE      (315) 824-1000 ext 742
APPLELINK  U0523

jeff@drexel.UUCP (Jeff White) (01/08/89)

In article <Added.4XlFJ6y00Ui34Be09D@andrew.cmu.edu>, PJORGENS@COLGATEU.BITNET writes:
> Heather Ebey wonders if it is possible to boot a Mac+ from an AppleTalk server.
> 
> My experience is, Yes, in a limited fashion.
> 
> The steps I have found which work with MacServe and TOPS are:
> 
> 1) Boot the Mac with a startup disk containing the minimum network software.
> 2) Mount a server volume which contains a System and Finder.
> 3) Command-Option double-click on the Finder icon in the server volume.
> ...
> The whole procedure could probably be made quite transparent to the user
> with a simple application that mounts the remote volume and then "launches"
> the remote Finder.


  I would think that the Macro Maker in System 6.0 or some other similar
utility should be able to do this.  One potential problem is that with the
sequence you would probably want to do is:  1. Mount remote volume,  2. Open
the System Folder on that volume,  3. Double click on Finder (with option and/or
command keys),  4. Close system folder,  you would be forced to perform
all of this blindly.  What you would really like to do is:  1. Mount remote
volume,  2. If successful, opem System Folder,  3. If successful, ...
I'm not sure what might happen with something like Macro Maker if the desired
files weren't found.

						Jeff White
						Drexel University - ECE Dept.
						rutgers!bpa!drexel!jeff