Ghosting XP Images

[Jo]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain (More info?)

I'm looking for any feedback on how sys admins are doing this. I have a
network of around 60 workstations and would like to start using some kind of
disk imaging technology to help the speed of rebuilding desktops.

I have looked at Ghost, v2i and they both seem to do what I want, but they
are a little expensive and I'm not sure how good they will perform as the
network is a real mixture of hardware (nothing is the same!). I work for a
non profit community group and cost is a big issue.

Is there any other tools or methods that might help me, also any war stories
on the above mentioned tools?

Apologies for cross posting to "Setup and Deployment", I only just saw this
group and realized that it might be the more appropriate place for this
question.

Thanks very much! Jo

 

[Chris]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain (More info?)

Hi, as my HD's are Maxtor's I used maxblast 3, you might find a different
utility on your HD's website...
ChrisC
"Jo" <Jo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
newsBBDA1AE-C02B-4900-B48E-2DF10EAECBA6@microsoft.com...
> I'm looking for any feedback on how sys admins are doing this. I have a
> network of around 60 workstations and would like to start using some kind
> of
> disk imaging technology to help the speed of rebuilding desktops.
>
> I have looked at Ghost, v2i and they both seem to do what I want, but they
> are a little expensive and I'm not sure how good they will perform as the
> network is a real mixture of hardware (nothing is the same!). I work for a
> non profit community group and cost is a big issue.
>
> Is there any other tools or methods that might help me, also any war
> stories
> on the above mentioned tools?
>
> Apologies for cross posting to "Setup and Deployment", I only just saw
> this
> group and realized that it might be the more appropriate place for this
> question.
>
> Thanks very much! Jo

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain (More info?)

With the vast difference in machines, it does not sound like ripprep or
sysprep is an option, correct? Similar machines will work, since setup will
attempt to configure the computers with different hardware, but greatly
different machines will not (though perhaps it is worth a try).

But, since you mentioned imaging in a more traditional sense, I will guess
neither is an option?

Question: Was your goal to store the individual images of 60 machines on a
server somewhere--could take a lot of disk space, not to mention hinder
network traffic during a reimaging--and do these vast number of machines
support booting to the network, or at least have that option with maybe a
floppy disk with proper network drivers? The non-profit hint kind of makes
me suspect this is a hodgepodge of dissimilar machines cobbled together over
time with little hope for success there.

Or were you opting for something simpler, like simply loading a machine,
cloning it, and taping a cd-image to the back with some duct tape? (believe
me, I've been there)




"Jo" <Jo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
newsBBDA1AE-C02B-4900-B48E-2DF10EAECBA6@microsoft.com...
> I'm looking for any feedback on how sys admins are doing this. I have a
> network of around 60 workstations and would like to start using some kind
of
> disk imaging technology to help the speed of rebuilding desktops.
>
> I have looked at Ghost, v2i and they both seem to do what I want, but they
> are a little expensive and I'm not sure how good they will perform as the
> network is a real mixture of hardware (nothing is the same!). I work for a
> non profit community group and cost is a big issue.
>
> Is there any other tools or methods that might help me, also any war
stories
> on the above mentioned tools?
>
> Apologies for cross posting to "Setup and Deployment", I only just saw
this
> group and realized that it might be the more appropriate place for this
> question.
>
> Thanks very much! Jo