55.3 Using the ZENworks Imaging Boot Disk Creator

The ZENworks Imaging Floppy Boot Disk Creator allows you to do the following:

55.3.1 Starting the ZENworks Imaging Boot Disk Creator

  1. To start the boot disk creator as a standalone Windows utility, map a drive to the appropriate ZENworks Imaging server:

    Linux: /opt/novell/zenworks/zdm/winutils

    NetWare: sys:public\zenworks\imaging

    then double-click the zimgboot.exe file contained in that location. (There are no command line parameters.)

    or

    To start the utility from ConsoleOne from the server, click Tools > ZENworks Utilities > Imaging > Create or Modify Boot Diskette.

    The following dialog is displayed:

    The ZENworks Imaging Floppy Boot Disk Creator dialog box.

  2. Continue with the appropriate section:

HINT:If the Imaging Boot Disk Creator fills up too much of your screen, change your screen resolution to a setting greater than 800 X 600.

For details on these and other configuration options, see the context-sensitive help (click the Help menu or press F1) in the utility. The configuration settings you make in the utility are saved to the settings.txt file. You can edit this file later if needed. For details on the format of this file, see Section 63.5, Imaging Configuration Parameters (Settings.txt).

55.3.2 Preparing a CD Boot Diskette

The CD boot diskette is easy to prepare. One diskette is required. The zimgboot.exe utility is used to create the diskette, which is used to enable devices that cannot normally boot a CD or DVD to do so.

To create a CD boot diskette:

  1. Format one high-density diskette, or use a preformatted blank diskette.

  2. Start the ZENworks Imaging Boot Disk Creator (see Starting the ZENworks Imaging Boot Disk Creator).

  3. Insert the formatted blank diskette, click Create CD Boot Disk, then click OK.

  4. When you are finished using this utility, click Close.

Use this diskette to boot workstations that cannot be booted using a CD or DVD. The diskette boots the workstation, enabling access to the imaging CD or DVD.

55.3.3 Configuring the Settings.txt File

The settings.txt file is required for imaging workstations. A default copy is provided with Desktop Management, so you can create and configure a version for an imaging session.

To configure a settings.txt file for imaging:

  1. Format one high-density diskette, or use a preformatted blank diskette.

  2. Start the ZENworks Imaging Boot Disk Creator (see Starting the ZENworks Imaging Boot Disk Creator).

  3. Click Load Settings from Disk.

    This allows you to browse for the settings.txt file. Then it populates the fields in this dialog box from information in the settings.txt file. You can modify the settings.txt file, as instructed in subsequent steps.

  4. Browse for the settings.txt file, then click Open.

    The default copy shipped with Desktop Management is located in the \zenworks\imaging directory on your ZENworks Imaging server.

  5. (Required) In the ZENworks Imaging Floppy Boot Disk Creator dialog box, got to the Imaging Proxy Server Address section, then specify either the fixed IP address or the full DNS name of your ZENworks Imaging server.

  6. (Optional) For the other fields and options on the dialog box, keep the default settings, unless you have a specific reason to change a setting, such as to specify a particular device’s IP Address in the Workstation IP Settings section.

    Click Help for details on specific settings, or see Section 63.5, Imaging Configuration Parameters (Settings.txt).

  7. Click Save Settings to Disk.

  8. Browse for where you want to save the settings.txt file, then click Save.

    The default location is A:\. You can save to a different location for use in burning it to an imaging CD or DVD.

  9. When you are finished using this utility, click Close.

55.3.4 Creating a PXE Disk

You can use the Boot Disk Creator to create a PXE boot diskette that allows you to use PXE on a workstation that is not PXE-enabled.

  1. Format one high-density diskette, or use a preformatted blank diskette.

  2. Start the ZENworks Imaging Boot Disk Creator (see Starting the ZENworks Imaging Boot Disk Creator).

  3. Insert the formatted blank diskette, then click Create PXE Disk to launch PXE-on-Disk.

    For more information, see Section 56.7, Using the Desktop Management Preboot Services PXE-on-Disk Utility.

  4. When you are finished using this utility, click Close.