| Desktop Imaging Software What do you guys use to image laptops?
We have a relatively small shop with about 200 desktop/laptops. We have been using Norton Ghost v11.5 to image XP machines and that's worked well.
Window 7 machines on the other hand have given us problems as it doesn't not want to work. Is it Ghost v11.5 or should I look at other imaging applications? |
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kc8jwt
join:2005-10-27
Syracuse, OH | We used Ghost for many years, but when we started deploying Vista and 7, we switched to FOG.
You have to have a dedicated server and possibly modify your DHCP, but it plays well with Windows Servers. It runs on a linux distro of your choice. We've been using it now for about 4 years and it works like a charm.
There is support for 7. I would take it that you ran into the "hidden" partition that is part of the 7 install. We have cloned 7 machines with FOG with no issues, just followed the instructions on their website. |
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 MikePremium,Mod
join:2000-09-17
Pittsburgh, PA | reply to GonePhishing
WDS or SCCM |
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amungusPremium
join:2004-11-26
America Reviews:
 ·AT&T DSL Service
| reply to kc8jwt
I'll second FOG.
We left it on a standalone box, not connected to our network, and let it do DHCP on a local switch. The techs seem to dig it, even though it's not perfect.
Certainly works well enough for basic imaging duties, though it has some further capabilities if you take advantage of the 'agent.' |
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 boognishPremium
join:2001-09-26
Baton Rouge, LA
kudos:6 | reply to GonePhishing
We used ghost before, but when we started going windows 7 I just used the MS tools. »technet.microsoft.com/en-us/libr···10).aspx I have a usb drive that boots and pulls the image from a network share.
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don't get 2 close 2 my fantasy |
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| reply to GonePhishing
FOG for Windows, Clonezilla for everything else (including Windows). |
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| reply to GonePhishing
Having dealt with FOG and WDS, I vote WDS. I am looking at adding SCCM next which from what I've seen once configured is pretty nice.
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How lucky am I to have known someone who is so hard to say good-bye to. |
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 joakoPremium
join:2000-09-07
/dev/null
kudos:5
 ·Comcast
| reply to BBBanditRuR
said by BBBanditRuR:FOG for Windows, Clonezilla for everything else (including Windows).
Using Clonezilla here (with PXE boot), only issue seems to be restoring an image of a larger drive onto a smaller drive. Have imaged and restored NTFS, EXT3, EXT4 & HSF+ filesystems with no issues. For Windows I create the image, install drivers, software, service packs, etc, don't join to domain, sysprep, shutdown and create image.
my pxelinux.0/default:
LABEL clonez
MENU LABEL Clonezilla Live
kernel pxe/clonezilla/vmlinuz
append initrd=pxe/clonezilla/initrd.img boot=live live-config nolocales edd=on nomodeset ocs_live_run="ocs-live-general" ocs_live_extra_param="" ocs_live_keymap=NONE ocs_live_batch="no" ocs_lang=en_US.UTF-8 union=aufs noswap noprompt vga=788 fetch=tftp://172.21.15.252/pxe/clonezilla/filesystem.squashfs
I would like it to automount the disk images share, but I have more productive things to take care of.
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PRescott7-2097 |
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 PToN
join:2001-10-04
Houston, TX | reply to GonePhishing
I vote for FOG, i looked at Clonezilla and it is a bit more complicated to setup than FOG.
I also tried WDS, but without SCCM it is basically a manual process. |
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PToN
join:2001-10-04
Houston, TX | reply to The WeaseL
said by The WeaseL:Having dealt with FOG and WDS, I vote WDS. I am looking at adding SCCM next which from what I've seen once configured is pretty nice.
Were you able to automate everything with WDS? (formatting, partition re-size, image push, etc??) |
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| I haven't yet, probably can't.
We have to do the first few steps (pick the image, erase the existing partition and click go) All of our machines are pretty basic (K-12 edu) single partition deployments with maybe 20 GB of used space. Using an Unattended file finishes up the OOBE and configuring local accounts as needed, naming the computer, domain binding etc.
One part of WDS I have really liked is how it handles the image data. Even though we have several images, the actual data used on the image data drive on our WDS server is just over 20 GB.
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How lucky am I to have known someone who is so hard to say good-bye to. |
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PToN
join:2001-10-04
Houston, TX | That's i went with FOG. FOG doesnt need you to do the first few steps, i can just push the image and let it do its thing.
To fully automate image deployments with WDS you need SCCM, but if you can handle doing the first few steps manually and this works for you, then it's fitting solution. |
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| reply to GonePhishing
I am looking to SCCM for some software deployments so for us it works well.
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How lucky am I to have known someone who is so hard to say good-bye to. |
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 ModusI hate smartassery on forumsPremium
join:2005-05-02
us
 ·Verizon FiOS
| reply to GonePhishing
I used to use ghost but i have since moved to Fog and i have become an expert! I love it i have a server all 3 locations we have in fact @ 2 locations it's also functions as the DHCP server. I have 2 images 1 windows 7 & one windows xp both are hardware agnostic.
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Think Ahead. Learn More. Solve Now! |
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| You may want to consider the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) which is available for free from Microsoft:
»technet.microsoft.com/en-us/solu···dd407791
MDT is the recommended deployment utility for Windows 7, and combines the best features of WDS, ConfigMgr, and the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) to provide a truly scalable and complete deployment utility. It is able to integrate with both WDS and ConfigMgr, and can also operate as a standalone utility. It is compatible with all currently supported Microsoft operating systems, and as the recommended Microsoft utility, ensures future compatibility, helping you avoid multiple deployment solutions.
Remember, you can keep up on the latest deployment technologies at the Pilot and Deploy Page on the Springboard Site on TechNet, the resource for IT pros:
»technet.microsoft.com/en-us/wind···427.aspx
You can also receive the latest IT professional resources straight from the Springboard Series Blog:
»windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/springboard/
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Brandon
Windows Outreach Team- IT Pro |
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 ryangPremium
join:2001-04-01
Chicago, IL | reply to GonePhishing
Clonezilla fits the bill for single machine deployments at my current job.
At my old job I made custom clonezilla flash drives, USB HDs, and DVDs for on site trainers to pop in and walk away. Modified menus and bootscreen, I was proud of myself.
Probably imaged 500+ PCs this way with no problems. |
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DiskDriveGoin' In CirclesPremium
join:2004-11-03
Farmington, MI | said by ryang:Clonezilla fits the bill for single machine deployments at my current job. So, did you use some insanely low capacity drive for your master so that you could guarantee that you'd never have a smaller target? The issue with only supporting identical or larger target drives seems to be the one thing holding me back from using this -- whether or not my concerns have enough foundation in reality  ... |
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| reply to GonePhishing
For mass scale deployment, Windows 7 migration or desktop imaging across multiple machines 300 or more, why don't you take a good look at Dell KACE K2000 here are some of the key features.
Disk Imaging
Windows Network OS Installation
Windows Driver Management
Windows User State Migration
Centralized Deployment Library
Pre & Post Deployment Configuration
Remote Site Management
Remote Systems Repair & Recovery
Computer Inventory Scanning & Assessment
Integrated Reporting |
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| reply to GonePhishing
Dump and restore. Or just plain tar. Oh, wait. You mean Windows? Too complicated. Can't help you. |
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| reply to Mike
MDT\WDS for us |
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