Imaging across 66 laptops

[gshaw]

Acronis v13 build 5055, I'd happily use WDS but the problem is setting it up and learning how to use it (I'm still in college so It's not too easy)

This site will make your life a lot easier, loads of step-by-step guides...

Windows Deployment Services (WDS) - www.windows-noob.com

Will be very satisfying once you get it working and the whole process involves nothing more than supplying the machine name at the start of the process

[mac_shinobi]

This site will make your life a lot easier, loads of step-by-step guides...

Windows Deployment Services (WDS) - www.windows-noob.com

Will be very satisfying once you get it working and the whole process involves nothing more than supplying the machine name at the start of the process

Never setup WDS myself but looking at the other options

1. You will either be lumbered into booting up with a disc ( DVD / CD / USB memory stick ) and then selecting the image to use and imaging the laptop with one image ( which is still going to be long winded as you have to image one laptop at a time ) unless you have more external storage devices whether they be an ext hdd or a large usb memory stick

2. If you go with an open source imaging app / suite you have to establish how to configure / set it up and how to create the images etc ( which you will do with WDS anyway ) but at least with WDS as per GShaw's post you have a very easy step by step how to and it was created by the same company as the OS ( Microsoft ). If you want to go with Open Source then as previous posts I would use FOG

Network imaging will no doubt be the better option assuming your network infrastructure can handle / cope with 60 plus machines imaging, otherwise it may be advisable to get a gigabit network switch and do so many at once ie 16 port or 24 port and image either 15 or 23 at once.

edited - Forgot to mention SCCM ( I think GShaw already mentioned this though ). Depending on cost obviously

[Duke5A]

Never setup WDS myself but looking at the other options
Network imaging will no doubt be the better option assuming your network infrastructure can handle / cope with 60 plus machines imaging, otherwise it may be advisable to get a gigabit network switch and do so many at once ie 16 port or 24 port and image either 15 or 23 at once.

WDS supports multicast imaging starting in Server 2008. It's made my life a lot easier.