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Blast Image Config

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Made with Real Studio

Copyright 2003-2013, Penn State University

Blast Image Config 3.1.2 is now available for download!

 

Table of Contents

What is Blast Image Config? (Top)

Blast Image Config (aka "BIC") is a complete software solution to quickly restore and configure a Macintosh back to a known state:
  • Very easy to get up and running in no time.
  • One of the fastest system image restore tools available.
  • Restores asr ready (/usr/sbin/asr) disk images (.dmg) created with various tools: Apple Disk Utility and System Image Utility, InstaDMG, etc.
  • Quickly restore a master system disk image (.dmg) via a local file, AFP/SMB/CIFS network servers, http, or from an asr multicast server, to a Mac's internal hard disk.
  • Works great with a diskless NetBoot image, configured to launch at login and automatically restore an image to the Mac's internal hard disk.
  • Excellent standalone solution (boot with and restore from a Firewire/USB disk/flashdrive) for restoring system disk images.
  • Securely auto-mount AFP/SMB network servers to restore system disk images via BIC.
  • Select default and autorun settings via Workflow Preferences and Workflows Manager system.
  • Extensible through pre and post restore scripts.
  • Configure and set the bootup firmware security, preventing unauthorized access via single (root) user mode and booting from external devices.
  • Configure the network settings for "Built-in Ethernet" (pre 10.5) or "Ethernet" (10.5 and later) on the restored disk (via ncutil):
    • IP Address : DHCP or Manual (Static)
    • Subnet Mask & Router
    • DNS Servers
    • Network Names (Computer and Local)
  • Supports Macs with dual on-board ethernet ports too (configures the "Built-in Ethernet 1" or "Ethernet 1" port in this case).
  • Change the startup disk to the restored disk (via bless command).
  • Set the date and time with international format support.
  • Enable the Airport network interface (on Mac OS X 10.4.7 and later).
  • Used by many Universities and Enterprise Companies.
  • A Public Listserv for BIC discussions and announcements is available for support.

System Requirements (Top)

  • BIC version 3.0 and later supports Intel based Macs running 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and later, including 10.7 (Lion) and 10.8 (Mountain Lion). If you need support for Mac OS X 10.5 and earlier or PowerPC based Macs (G4, G5), please download BIC v2.9 instead, which is the last universal version to support PowerPC Macs, and is no longer being developed.
  • Logged in as an admin user.
  • For BIC v2.9 and earlier: For PowerPC (G3/G4/G5) Macs: If you desire Open Firmware security, the Mac to restore to must be capable of supporting it. Note that Open Firmware security settings are machine specific and not stored on the hard disk. All Intel Macs have EFI firmware security and are supported.
  • With permission of Dr. Jeffrey T. Frey (ncutil developer), ncutil is now included with the download of the BIC disk image.

Download (Top)

The current version of Blast Image Config is available for download below. Please note that it requires an Intel Mac running 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or later: You may also want to read over the new documentation for BIC v3.0 to get familiar with the new feature set and UI:

If you need support for Mac OS X 10.5 and earlier or PowerPC based Macs (G4, G5), please download BIC v2.9 below, which is no longer being developed:

All previous versions are available for download on the archives download page.

If you experience any problems or have questions on BIC, please consider joining the BIC listserv and read the Reporting Bugs section. I want to know about bugs and get them fixed.

Blast Image Config Public Email List (Top)

This list is for announcements and discussion of topics related to the integration, deployment and support of Blast Image Config. Please note that technical support can be provided by anyone who subscribes to the list, not just the developer of Blast Image Config, who will also post to the list.

To join the PSU Blast Image Config discussion and announcements list, send an email to:

BlastImageConfig-L-subscribe-request [at] lists [dot] psu [dot] edu

You should then receive an email confirmation within a few minutes to complete the process of joining the list. Click the URL provided in the email to confirm that you want to join the list.

Archives of the list discussions are also available on the BLASTIMAGECONFIG-L Archives listserv page, as of 1/1/2010.

Documentation (Top)

OLD Docs

Penn State Specific:

Presentations (Top)

Reviews (Top)

Revision History (Top)

Reporting Bugs (Top)

There is a log file created during the execution of Blast Image Config for debugging purposes. If an error should occur during the execution of Blast Image Config, please follow these steps:

  1. Capture the error dialogs by pressing SHIFT + COMMAND + 3 to create an entire screen capture. The screen will be saved to a file on the desktop named "Picture 1.pdf".
  2. Dismiss any dialogs that PSU Blast Image Config might have displayed so that all errors get logged.
  3. Quit out of all applications.
  4. Copy the last run log file located in the 'Logs' folder, which is in the PSU Blast Image Config folder. If the log file wasn't found there then:
    • In the Finder, under the Go menu, select Go To Folder... and enter in /tmp and press Return. The /tmp directory should be displayed in a new window.
  5. Copy the file that begins with PSUBlastImageConfig.RUN. and ends with .log. (An example filename is PSUBlastImageConfig.RUN.2003-08-08-20-18-35.log)
  6. Email the .log file AND screen capture to with as much information about the Mac's configuration as possible. As this is freeware, there are no guarantees that I'll be able to help you, but I'll do my best.

Credits (Top)

PSU Blast Image Config was created and is developed by Justin Elliott, developer and Manager of the Mac and Linux Teams in the Classroom and Lab Computing department at Penn State University. This software is released as freeware. Feel free to email me at with any questions, comments, feature requests, or bug reports you may have. Also consider joining the PSU BIC email discussion list for further support discussions.

The icon for Blast Image Config was created by David Stong, a graphic designer in the ETS department at Penn State. Thanks to Kenster Rosenberry for his brilliant insight and suggestions.

PSU Blast Image Config is written in REAL Studio, a high level, object oriented programming, "Rapid Application Development" environment which can create stand-alone executables. C++ and Java programmers should seriously consider REAL Studio to develop their applications AND command line tools. REAL Studio compiles into completely stand-alone programs and it's not interpreted. It's very similiar to Visual Basic/.NET. It can create Universal Carbon and Mach-O apps and even interface to Apple's Carbon and Cocoa APIs.

 



"REAL Studio is a registered trademark of REAL Software, Inc."

Legal (Top)

(c) 2003-2011, The Pennsylvania State University. These materials are protected under the
copyright laws of the United States of America. All rights reserved.

By downloading this software, you are agreeing to abide by the terms and conditions
contained herein. By downloading, you are obtaining a non-exclusive license to use
these materials in accordance with these terms. Nothing contained herein shall be
deemed a waiver of any rights by The Pennsylvania State University in these materials.
The license offered hereby may be revoked at any time upon written notice of revocation
to the User.

# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS," AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
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# NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
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# DAMAGE.
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# and, if feasible, in the redistributed software.
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# includes software developed by The Pennsylvania State University," in
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# State University” are trademarks of The Pennsylvania State University and may
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Last Updated March 21, 2013