Apple: You can boot the MacBook Air from a remote disc
Apple officials have confirmed with MacFixIt that the MacBook Air can startup from remote optical media via the Remote Disc function. We asked Janette Barrios, Apple spokesperson for Desktops and Notebooks: "Does the Remote Disc function allows booting the system. In other words, could you put a Mac OS X Install disc in a remote computer then boot the MacBook Air from that disc?" She answered "Answer is yes, you can."
We assume that a startup key can be used to invoke Remote Disc booting (invoking a NetBoot under Mac OS X requires holding the N key at startup, while starting from an optical disc requires holding the C key), but are awaiting further details.
This news assuages some of our previously posted troubleshooting-related concerns regarding the MacBook Air, though emergency boots will still necessitate the presence of a nearby Mac/PC or an external USB drive (hard drive or optical).
Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.
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the apple video about the AirBook says you can start up in target mode using another computer as the target. The second computer needs installation of some software that comes with the AirBook.
check out the video. It answers a great many questions....enough to convince me to buy one
Thanks. But I want to use the MacBook Air as the target. For repairs. As far as I know, only FireWire allows that. Hopefully for the next revision.
It would be great if this TimeCapsule could be used as the unit sportting the remote disks, either remote bootable hard drive or remote CD/DVD
Another question concerning this Remote CD/DVD capability, is about "gaming". Many games ask for the insertion of their original CD/DVD in the drive to allow playing. Will a remote CD/DVD be seen as a valid CD/DVD?
- by info-FFTir January 18, 2008 3:49 AM PST
- Maybe this functionnality will allow to NetBoot the MacBook Air from Airport.
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(6 Comments)And what about the ethernet NetBoot via the USB/Ethernet adapter ?