OS Deployment

[Fatmas]

I am back needing yet more advice on deployment...

We are currently using Ghost for our OS deployment and will be looking at moving to Windows 7 next Summer. We are also looking at a couple of alternatives to Ghost to see if we can save some cash or just "do it better".


I've had a quick look at Fog but does anyone else have any preferred methods of OS deployment around their school?

[jsnetman]

We use WDS a pain to setup but once going is good. And it's free.

[Theblacksheep]

Big vote for 'Sytem Center Configuration Manager' (SCCM 2007)... and its does package deployment too.

Fog... pretty danm good at the basics.

[p858snake]

I know some people around here fancy clonezilla, which is ment to be a open source cloneish version of ghost.

[Cools]

i'm all for WDS it works a treat.

or Fog if you want images..

never use sccm..

[garethedmondson]

We use WDS a pain to setup but once going is good. And it's free.

We are having a nightmare with WDS compared to how easy RIS seemed to be.

GJE

[Fatmas]

i'm all for WDS it works a treat.

or Fog if you want images..

never use sccm..

Any particular reason not to use SCCM?

It's a bit of a minefield I know, there is always the option for us to stick with Ghost but as my other thread here mentioned, we are also looking to move away from prism so if something did both, that would be ideal.

[cookie_monster]

@ Cools

never use sccm..

Odd I've just been reading a thread where Zerohour describes how good SCCM is, can you explain why you recommend against using it?

Thanks.

[jsnetman]

The only reason I would not use SCCM is the cost. Apart from software inventory, you can achieve software and OS deployment with native tools in windows server.

[cookie_monster]

Yeh we use GP and WDS here but Zerohour said that SCCM is a very small cost if you have schools agreement (I couldn't comment on that myself).