The imaging options in Mac OS X Server have not changed drastically in over 10 years. We have different names and different graphical elements that sit atop the foundations built by Apple even before the advent of Mac OS X: asr (short for Apple System Restore). NetBoot was one of the first options that Steve Jobs referenced when he first unveiled Mac OS X back in the days of 10.0. Now that we are on 10.7, Lion has an extremely mature set of imaging options in NetBoot, NetInstall, and NetRestore.

While the options in Lion are mature, there are other solutions that are even better for some environments. DeployStudio is a free imaging solution with far more logic built into it, and an easier deployment methodology. JAMF Software has the Casper Imaging Server, which helps to unify their patch management solution with the imaging process of client computers. If you are imaging a lot of computers, definitely check these out. While Lion Server is a perfectly ample solution for many environments, the other features available with DeployStudio and JAMF’s Casper Imaging Server can save enough time to warrant using them instead!

Once systems are imaged, there are a number of other options to consider. Keeping software up-to-date is one of the top things that can be done to secure any computer. Keeping software up-to-date also makes using that software a much more pleasing experience. There are a number of solutions that help keep software up-to-date, such as Mac OS X Server’s Software Update service (covered in Chapter 8) and Apple Remote Desktop. Additionally, third-party vendors such as JAMF’s Casper Suite, FileWave, Absolute Manage, and others can be used in large environments, where granular controls and policies are critical.

Finally, as with many other features throughout this book, imaging can be set up and configured in about 30 minutes or less. The more machines you have, the more options you will invariably need to use from Apple’s plethora of options. However, don’t overcomplicate the process. I would recommend starting simple, with basic NetInstall options and then, as you feel more complicated options are necessary, move up into the prepared images with NetRestore, using NetBoot as a foundation to manage both.