Configuring Network Boot Service for Unknown Computers

After an unknown computer is added to a network, you must boot the computer in the preboot environment. To boot computers in the preboot environment, you must install the Network Boot Service (NBS) on a site server and configure the site server with the NBS settings for unknown computers.
  1. To configure site server with NBS settings for unknown computers
  2. In the Symantec Management Console, click
    Settings >Deployment > NBS General Settings
    .
  3. In the
    NBS General Settings
    dialog box, for the
    Network Boot Service Configuration
    , configure the settings for the unknown client computers.
    Network Boot Service Configuration
    Lets you configure the Network Boot Service (NBS) for a site server.
    To enable or disable the policy, you must select the
    Turn On
    or
    Turn Off
    icons on the right side of the dialog box or page.
    Apply NBS settings immediately
    Check the option if you want to apply the NBS policy immediately on the site servers.
    If the option remains unchecked then the NBS configurations changes are applied as per the schedule set in the Symantec Management Agent (SMA) for rolling out policies.
    Enable the NBS service
    Check the NBS service to enable the service on the site server.
    By default, this option is checked.
    Reset
    button
    Lets you restore the previous configuration that you performed for the NBS site server.
  4. In the
    NBS General Settings
    dialog box, for the
    PXE menu (Windows/Linux)
    tab of the
    Initial Deployment (Unknown Computer) Menu
    , specify the following:
    Lets you select the PXE image to deploy on a Windows or Linux client computer.
    The fields for the tab are as follows:
    • Allow unknown computers to boot PXE image manually
      Check this option if you want to respond to the unknown computers to configure them to boot in the preboot environment using a PXE image.
    • PXE boot image
      Select the PXE image that you want to use to boot the unknown client computers in the preboot or automation environment.If you do not want to boot using a PXE image, you can select,
      Next Device (BIOS/EFI)
      mode of booting option for the client computer. Based on whether the default boot option of the client computer is set to BIOS or EFI, the computer boots to the preboot environment. The potential boot devices of BIOS are CD, disk, and so on.
      For the PXE image, select any of the following architectures from the drop-down list:
      • Auto
        Select this option if you want to boot the client computer based on the computer's processor architecture. For example, if you have a client computer whose processor type is x64 but the installed operating system is x86 of Windows 7, then the
        Auto
        option boots the computer in x64 architecture mode and not in x86 mode.
        The
        Auto
        option can be useful if you have created a common PXE image for both x86 and x64 architectures or want to boot a computer as per the processor architecture irrespective of the OS architecture. You create PXE images through the
        Manage Preboot Configuration
        dialog box of the console.
      • x86
        Select this option if the PXE image that you have created is for the x86 architecture of the operating system.
      • x64
        Select this option if the PXE image that you have created is for the x64 architecture of the operating system.
    • Prompt
      Configure this option to change the default prompt for F8 when booting the computer in the preboot environment. You can enter a message in the textbox that you want to display on the client computer. After the message appears in the client computer, you can press F8 to invoke the network boot menu.
    Configure the schedule of the network boot menu through the following:
    • Run default boot option immediately
      Select this option if you want to deploy the PXE boot image immediately after you select the image in the drop-down list.
    • Wait indefinitely for user selection
      Select this option if you want to manually select and deploy the PXE boot image from the network boot menu. The network boot menu appears on the unknown computer.
    • Run default boot option after
      Select this option if you want to deploy the PXE boot image after the time period that you specify in the text box. After the time out, the client computer boots to the PXE image that you have selected. Press F8 to invoke the network boot menu to deploy the PXE boot image on the client computer.
  5. Click
    Save changes
    .
  6. (Optional) Again, in the console, click the
    Settings > Deployment > NBS Global Settings
    menu.
  7. In the
    NBS Global Settings
    dialog box or pane, click
    Save Changes
    .
    If you are reading this procedure as a part of a process, return to the process by clicking on the following link: