HallX Posted July 30, 2009 Posted July 30, 2009 Hi I have 20 new MACs to install which need to dual boot into Windows. I intend to complete the installation onto one machine, and was hoping to Ghost the remaining 19. Is there a way to use Ghost with a MAC? Regards Paul
mac_shinobi Posted July 30, 2009 Posted July 30, 2009 (edited) Bombich Software: Carbon Copy Cloner If you have os x server 10.5.x then I made a pdf thats somewhere to be found that I could send you if your interested Edited July 30, 2009 by mac_shinobi 1
reggiep Posted July 30, 2009 Posted July 30, 2009 Take a look at Carbon Copy Cloner. Bombich.com: Bombich Software That will give you an option for cloning from one mac to another, but you really need mac server to have a proper ghost casting option, as far as I know. 1
networkmanager Posted July 30, 2009 Posted July 30, 2009 We went the way of DeployStudio a few weeks ago when we imaged 28 iMacs, easy to setup if you've got OSX Server 10.5 to manage the clients. You can view info about DeployStudio here: DeployStudio - It's a freeware! Additionally, if you fancy having a screen presented to your users to make a choice between the OSX and XP when the imac boots up, then try using Bootpicker, more info here: Apple - Education - IT Professionals - BootPicker Otherwise users will have to hold down the option key to select a desired partition or OS. Hope you find the above useful. 3
FN-GM Posted July 30, 2009 Posted July 30, 2009 What kind of Macs are they? iMac, Mac mini, Macbook, etc..
Ric_ Posted July 30, 2009 Posted July 30, 2009 Just been using DeployStudio myself... it's brilliant! I run it on OS X 10.4 server.
HallX Posted July 30, 2009 Author Posted July 30, 2009 Hi Just got back from lunch & WOW! Thanks for all replies. Here's what we have: 1 OS X Server v10.4.11 20 iMacs OS X v10.5.6 My MAC knowledge is extremely limited (think postage stamp), but I'm OK imaging the iMacs & getting them to dual boot into Windows (thanks networkmanager for the tip regarding Bootpicker). Once I have one in this ready state, what would you suggest is the best/easiest way to image the other 19. I dont really want to spend weeks learning how to do this :-D Regards Paul
GrumbleDook Posted July 30, 2009 Posted July 30, 2009 Also look at the stickies at the top of this forum ... Ross has put together some fantasitc guides.
mac_shinobi Posted July 30, 2009 Posted July 30, 2009 Also look at the stickies at the top of this forum ... Ross has put together some fantasitc guides. That's a good point I keep forgetting about those
HodgeHi Posted July 30, 2009 Posted July 30, 2009 (edited) Deploy Studio can also Remote Install normal PCs and it works quite well. Relatively quick. Deploy Studio is also quite quick for macs. Just deployed a dual boot system this week. Both partitions took about 2.5 minutes each. After reading your last post HallX, i would probably suggest Deploy Studio. It will help with all of the other stuff you would have to do before binding to an AD/OD setup. For instance Deploy Studio can be configured to rename each client after the image process, but more importantly can also re-configure the Local KDC on each mac partition. This is important as it will stop your machines from being able to join the OD domain as they will all be seen as the same machine by the OD Master. Also Deploy Studio can be viewed remotely DURING the imaging process. It can also be set up to email you if a problem crops up. Edited July 30, 2009 by HodgeHi 1
HallX Posted July 31, 2009 Author Posted July 31, 2009 Thanks for all your help guys, lots to think about & research. Paul
tmcd35 Posted July 31, 2009 Posted July 31, 2009 Does FOG do a bit-by-bit copy of the drive or does it file copy like ghost/clonezilla? If it file copies then it almost certainly won't support the Mac's HFS+ file system.
mrforgetful Posted July 31, 2009 Posted July 31, 2009 We have 12 macs but no mac server. I run the install CD and then Disk Utility and then copy the disk to an external drive then repeat it back onto the other macs.
tmcd35 Posted July 31, 2009 Posted July 31, 2009 Well according to Partimages home page... Partimage will only copy data from the used portions of the partition. So natively, no Linux does not support HFS+ so it cant read the partition to copy the data. But it may be possible to get it working (with a bit of effort) using this... Linux HFS+ Support | Get Linux HFS+ Support at SourceForge.net
Geoff Posted July 31, 2009 Posted July 31, 2009 Partimage says it supports HFS Supported-Filesystems - Partimage 2
mac_shinobi Posted July 31, 2009 Posted July 31, 2009 Partimage says it supports HFS Supported-Filesystems - Partimage Just be warned its in beta !
saundersmatt Posted July 31, 2009 Posted July 31, 2009 Just been using DeployStudio myself... it's brilliant! I run it on OS X 10.4 server. Agreed, currently deploying images to all our Imac's with Deploy Studio. Love the post restore configuration tools like naming and directory binding. Matt
HodgeHi Posted July 31, 2009 Posted July 31, 2009 It'll be interesting to see what Apple do with Net-Restore since Deploy Studio is quite simple and also pretty flexible to use. If their system imaging util is anything to go by, i think i will stick with Deploy Studio
Geoff Posted July 31, 2009 Posted July 31, 2009 Just be warned its in beta ! rofl. Well the NTFS support is experimental and everyone's FOGing Windows images around quite happily.
mac_shinobi Posted July 31, 2009 Posted July 31, 2009 rofl. Well the NTFS support is experimental and everyone's FOGing Windows images around quite happily. Well Just thought I would point that out so no one can say but x, y , z did not say anything lol
networkmanager Posted July 31, 2009 Posted July 31, 2009 (edited) Once I have one in this ready state, what would you suggest is the best/easiest way to image the other 19. I dont really want to spend weeks learning how to do this :-D Regards Paul Hi Paul, Once you've created your desired image on one of the imacs, you'll need to take an image or snapshot of this imac, this file will have a .dmg extension, e.g yourimage.dmg The way I go about this is to create a sizeable partition on the actual imac using Disk Utility then dump this image on the newly created partition, from there you can then transfer your image to the Netboot image directory on the OSX Server. (i.e. Volumes/Storage/Library/NetBoot/NetBootClients0). Reading through the setup instructions of Deploystudio, it will guide you on how to install it on the server and creating your .nbi file etc. Once all this is all set up and ticking nicely, you can then go the 19 imacs, depending on your network bandwidth, start them up in turn then hold down N key to make the imac boot from LAN (a spinning globe will appear during this process followed by the spinning gear) and discover the Deploystudio server, enter the login credentials and it will present the Workflow(s) you have earlier created when setting it up on the server, select the desired one, click 'play' and Bob's your uncle. On my network I can successfully re-image about 8 imacs simultaneously. Let me know if you require further info. Edited July 31, 2009 by networkmanager
Ric_ Posted July 31, 2009 Posted July 31, 2009 It'll be interesting to see what Apple do with Net-Restore since Deploy Studio is quite simple and also pretty flexible to use. If their system imaging util is anything to go by, i think i will stick with Deploy Studio NetRestoe was written by Mike Bombich and he has since removed it from his website and now tells people to use DeployStudio (as he himself does).
nicklec Posted August 1, 2009 Posted August 1, 2009 We currently use net-restore but sounds like we should be swapping soon As for a boot menu, I've got rEFIt - An EFI Boot Menu and Toolkit setup on our dual boot machines; from the blurb it sounds like that bootpicker isn't in the EFI, therefore less elegant? Anway you can cut refit down so it just shows an Apple and a Windows logo, auto selecting either after x seconds and ofcourse you can choose which too. 1
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