If you have a client computer that’s already configured, you can use System Image Utility to create a NetRestore image based on that client configuration. You can create a NetRestore image of a OS X volume that’s used to restore client computers over the network using NetBoot service or Apple Software Recovery asr tool. When you create a NetRestore image, you’re creating a clone of a volume.
You can also use the asr tool to restore a system image onto a volume or to clone volumes. If you have multiple client computers to restore, you can use asr to restore them simultaneously.
You must start up from a volume other than the one you’re using as the image source. For example, you could start up from an external FireWire hard disk or a second partition on the client computer hard disk. You can’t create the image on a volume over the network.
You can also assemble a workflow to create a NetRestore image that permits advanced customization of your images. For more information, see About workflows.
To create an image, you must have valid OS X image sources or volumes. If you download the OS X installer from the App Store and double-click it, a valid OS X image source appears in the source list. You cannot create an image of the startup disk you’re running on.
Log in as an administrator user.
Open System Image Utility (in the /System/Library/CoreServices/ folder).
In the left sidebar, select the image source.
If no image sources are listed, mount a valid OS X installation image or a valid OS X boot volume.
Select NetRestore Image and click Continue.
In the Network Disk field, enter a name for your image.
This name identifies the image in the Startup Disk preferences pane on client computers.
(Optional) In the Description field, enter notes or other information to help you characterize the image.
Clients can’t see the description information.
If the image is served from more than one server, select the checkbox below the description field.
This assigns an index ID to the image for NetInstall service load balancing.
Enter an administrator account user name and password.
Click Create.
In the Save As dialog, choose where to save the image.
If you don’t want to use the image name you entered earlier, change it by entering a name in the Save As field.
If you’re creating the image on the same server that will serve it, choose a volume from the “Serve from NetBoot share” point on pop-up menu.
For this option to appear in the pop-up menu, NetInstall service must be configured on a network port and the Server app must be set to serve images from a volume.
To save the image somewhere else, choose a location from the Where pop-up menu or click the triangle next to the Save As field and navigate to a folder.
Click Save and authenticate if prompted.
Important: Don’t attempt to edit content in the image destination folder while the image is being created.