Suggestions For Cloning Tools

[TheRower]

Hi,

 

I am looking for a solution that will enable me to deploy an image to several laptops at once, via a switch. I would like this to be on a standalone network, and we will bring all the units back to base when we need to re-image them.

I am currently trying to set up FOG, but I am really struggling to get it running, and the documentation seems to be mostly related to the older version (could be I am looking in the wrong place).

 

I have seen that there is also Clonezilla which I have yet to try.

 

What other tools are being used for this? Anyone have recommendations for tools to do this?

 

Basically, set up on standalone server and push out images over small local network via Netgear switch.

 

Kind regards

 

Rower

[3s-gtech]

Having made a second FOG server recently, it has probably got easier with the newest version. Build your server (I used Debian x64). Install ssh so you can remotely manage it. Give it a static IP. Then download the FOG installer (you can do this via the terminal or drag and drop it from a Windows PC using an SCP client). Enter the FOG install directory and run the installfog.sh script. Follow through the steps. You should then set your DHCP settings so that your clients PXE boot from the new FOG server.

 

I am not an experienced Linux user at all, but it's one job I don't dread!

[TheRower]

Thank you.

I have the FOG server set up, with static IP. I can PXE boot, and image a laptop, it looks like all is fine however, when I then look at the "image size on server" on the Hosts view, the file size is 0. If I then try to send the image back to the host, it tells me that the image file cannot be found. I can see files it has created in the /images/dev folder, but that's about it. Perhaps I need to investigate a bit further, but I have had no luck with the FOG wiki so far :-(

[HappyAdmin]

Hi,

I haven't used FOG yet (strongly considering it as the current WDS solution seems very broken) but I have lots of past experience with Linux servers, and the issue you have "smells" like permissions on the folder that FOG is trying to write to. I may well be barking up the wrong tree, but it might be worth checking out.

Ben

[3s-gtech]

Could be, in which case it should be straghtforward to fix either via the terminal or by using something like WinSCP.

[Dos_Box]

Moving to OS Deployment forum.

[TheRower]

Thank you. I will investigate permissions tomorrow and update the thread. I have very old and very limited experience with Linux so any suggestions helps!

[TheRower]

Actually, just found this on the FOG forums:

"directories do not get created until an image file is created. during an upload, images are uploaded to /images/dev/ by nfs. when completed, they are moved to /images/ by ftp. make sure your image is set to a valid image store"

 

So maybe an FTP login issue? Will test tomorrow.

[Mullaney18]

I use clonezilla;

Download something like PartedMagic (Slight cost for a version of linux but has great tools bundled in)

use ubootin to load to memory stick,

Boot to parted magic,

Load up clonezilla,

 

Pretty simple to follow;

Load your mount which your going to save the image too, i use a NAS folder for images,

Select back up or restore,

Select partition or drive to restore/back up.

Various file checking options..

I generally back up the partition not drive, sometimes I need to do a chkdsk from the windows installation disc to realign the partition table.

Something along those lines., we dont have masses of computers here and settign up frog / windows(is it SCCM?) just seemed too much hassle.

 

Simple and very quick

[mikeyd101]

i use clonezilla for images also, I did try and setup WDS todo multicast deployments but failed to get it setup correctly. This would be my prefered solution for > 20+ machines which require the same image as reduces network load.

 

Never used FOG but have used linux a fair bit, permissions will most likely be controlled by samba and linux permissions, files have a user & group and permissions are user then group then everyone you should be able to see permissions using ls -la and it'll show something like -rwxrwx--- 1 digit for special/directory 3 for user 3 for group and 3 for everyone. To change permissions use chmod command, chown and chgrp to change owner and groups.

 

user might also not translate directly form samba user to linux user, and you may have to setup samba user, been a while but think its something like smbpassd -a and you also might need to poke about in /etc/samba/smbd.conf to check the shares and share permissions / flags.

[CraigM]

Honestly, I suggest using WDS and MDT 2013. It does take a fair bit of setting up, but once it's running it makes life really simple. The ability to inject drivers for different PC models is a life saver and you can get more advanced than that if your PC's have model info in the BIOS. Also, the WIM file created by MDT can be serviced offline so you can inject lots of Windows Updates into it, without needing to image down, update and then image back up again. That alone is a huge time saver.

 

As for having a stand alone network, it's not worth it unless you are deploying huge images. Properly set up, the imaging system isn't going to impact on your main network and it's not going to be used 24/7 either.

 

Just my 2c worth of thoughts.

[machin05]

We started using Macrium after running into problems with FOG. It's been pretty solid, but you need to make sure you have the network card drivers on your boot disc.