Best Disk Imaging Utility?

DaBull

I need to evaluate disk imaging applications for use in an environment of about 3,000 desktops/laptops. I have used the basic features of both Ghost and PowerQuest but I don't have a strong preference of one over the other. However, I have read that Ghost will not burn images to DVD. I'm not sure how up-to-date that information is, though, and I stand to be corrected.

The main requirement I'll have is that I will need to have the options of reimaging machines from a server over the LAN, from DVD or from USB HDD. If I can avoid having to boot from floppies so much the better.

Does anyone have any experience in this area? I'd be very grateful for your views.

Khannie

I know that ghost does burn to dvd. I've done that much and later used it. Can't help you with the rest.

Karoma

I can't compare really. I've used Ghost and it does the job. (If it aint broken..)
IIRC,it can be backed to,and restored from,where you specify.
Restoring over a LAN can be baaadd - make sure you have it segmented well:cool:

roamer

I recommend you ask this question here
sysadmintalk.com

Karoma

roamer wrote:

I recommend you ask this question here
sysadmintalk.com

Nice,and helpful attempt.. but,uh, that board doesn't look like it has any life left.. (Do you have apersonal stake?:) )
Try UseNet TBH..just wear your Sunday's Bests' flameproofs:rolleyes:

SouperComputer

ghost will burn to DVD alright. but it can be hit and miss. Of couse you will want to have any media issues sorted before you make an image.

Also bear in mind that bootable image disks made using ghost seem to be hard to copy. ive tried clone CD and alcohot to no avail, that was a long time ago though.

Another alternative is to take a couple of old laptop HD's, install dos/ghost and put the image file on the drive.

Acronis true image is well worth a look if you are imaging that many units.

roamer

Karoma wrote:

Nice,and helpful attempt.. but,uh, that board doesn't look like it has any life left.. (Do you have apersonal stake?:) )
Try UseNet TBH..just wear your Sunday's Bests' flameproofs:rolleyes:

Plenty of life there actually, its just quieter than boards. Im sure you will get your answer there.

SwampThing

Acronis - it's the dogs!

Check out www.acronis.com - Corporate Workstation is all you really need.

Capt'n Midnight

or use linux
partimage will do NTFS partitions across a LAN and is it's own server app

have a look at it on the Knoppix CD ( run from the console ) You can also set knoppix to remote boot the client PC's , though you would have to tweak it because the default is to not allow remote connections, otherwise you could remote-reboot the other PC push down the image, no disks or walking needed.

Another option for window is this http://unattended.sourceforge.net/index.php so you are reinstalling cleanly instead of pushing an image.

SwampThing

You're a sadist Capt!

Capt'n Midnight

Yeah but 3,000 partimage licenses are a lot cheaper

ifah

is it just a workstation build you need or are you looking at application delivery as well ?

I've just finished our rollout across the company using Zen for desktops - we are using eDir but I know it is also available with Active Dir. All our apps are packaged seperatly making upgrades/rebuilds a cinch.

I tied it in with a product called zToolkit supplied by ENGL (www.engl.co.uk) and we have an automated build (single image) with addon OEM images for every type of workstation and laptop we have in our infrastructure.

Both very cool products - have a look.

We use PXE and WOL to download images from a tftp server and then zen takes over after that.

btw - no affiliation with engl or netware - just use the products.

cheers,
nai

Static M.e.

Zenworks is great "IF" you can spend the time getting it up and running.

It has a lot of cool features but it is a pain in the ass to get fully up and running, I know of one major Phara company who had a Zenworks consultant in for 9 months before they were happy with it, that was in a Novell environment...

zAbbo

Acronis or Symantec Livestate are the two corporate biggies, depends on your spend, the importance f the data and a few other features