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User Rating: Rated by: |
Very Good (4.1/5) 25 user(s) |
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Softpedia Editor's Review for Universal Network Boot Disk
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A TCP/IP Network Boot Disk with built-in support for most popular PCI and CARDBUS adapters
Written by Andreea Matei on April 9th, 2013
Universal Network Boot Disk was designed to facilitate the creation and loading of system images in order to streamline and improve the OS installation process for the home user, as well as for administrators of large computer networks.
In other words, the application can be successfully used in performing network OS installations, which greatly reduces efforts and increases efficiency. With support for most CARDBUS and PCI adapters, the application is one of the top choices in OS deployment / recovery.
Universal Network Boot Disk, as any other similar utility, sports a certain degree of difficulty in configuring and using it. It’s mostly aimed at professionals, technicians and system administrators who worked with this type of software before.
As far as the installation process is concerned, there’s hardly a resemblance to most of the software a user is accustomed to. Universal Network Boot Disk relies on a collection of files and executables that don’t require deployment, but an advanced level of knowledge regarding the boot process.
In order to trigger its functionality, you should locate the BAT file inside the original folder and run it. This launcher, if we can call it that, contains all the instructions needed to create the boot disk with very little user intervention.
On the other hand, your knowledge is put to test when you actually start using the created disk. Since the application is menu-driven, you are required to adjust DHCP/Static settings, as well as domain and computer name. This is compulsory data, which cannot be skipped or furthermore, entered incorrectly, since it will affect the OS installation.
To sum up all of the above, Universal Network Boot Disk is a decent choice aimed exclusively at professionals who can make proper use of it. The rich documentation, together with the support forum can assist you if you in troubleshooting various issues.
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Universal Network Boot Disk description
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Here are some key features of "Universal Network Boot Disk":
· Support for CD-ROM, Network, CD & Network, or clean boot
· Supports IDE CD-ROM drives (autoloads the correct driver)
Support for user-defined Network Cards and drivers (see the a:
ewcard.ini):
· Support for random computer names. Now you can easily use the same boot disk for several PCs and
· not run into computer name conflicts. (for use in a lab/multicast environment)
· Support for DNS
What's New in This Release: [ read full changelog ]
· New support for autodetecting NIC (thanks to Bart for the utility)
· the .DOS file must be included for any autodetected NICs
· For 3rd party place the driver in a:\netdrv
· Using a smaller ramdrive program that loads in autoexec.bat
· Completely rewritten MENU program
· support to save your answerfile from the menu
· support for encrypted password in answerfile
· menu option allows for auto drive mapping
· added /CDROM command line option for makeboot.exe
Updated NIC drivers - now includes:
· [3com 3C90x family Adapter]
· [Intel Pro 10/100 Adapter]
· [Intel Pro 1000 (Gigabit) Ethernet]
· [Linksys NC100 10/100 Fast Ethernet Adapter]
· [3Com Megahertz 57x series 10/100 LAN CardBus PC Card]
· [3Com 556 10/100 + 56K LAN CardBus PC Card (untested)]
· [XIRCOM 10/100 + 56K PC Card]
· [Broadcom 57xx Series Gigabit Ethernet]
· [RTL8139/810X Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC]
· [FA311 Fast Ethernet Adapter]
· [VIA technologies VT6105M/VT86C100A/PCI 10/100 Ethernet]
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