AnnDroyd Posted September 30, 2010 Posted September 30, 2010 As you'll all be aware, the ablity to quickly update images and re-image workstations is pretty fundamental to managing a good network. The big problem we have at the moment is with the amount of different hardware combinations we have, and therefore the number of Ghost images we need to maintain. Currently we have 682 computers, and 28 images. For simplicity I am making no distinction between desktops and laptops. What kind of ratio of computers/images do others have in their schools? It would be useful to know so I can judge if this is an area in which we have a particular problem, or whether this is fairly typical.
tech_guy Posted September 30, 2010 Posted September 30, 2010 We have 190 curriculum PCs with 5 images, 100 teaching staff computers with 3 images, 50 support staff laptops with 1 image, and 50 admin staff computers with 6 images.
featured_spectre Posted September 30, 2010 Posted September 30, 2010 Each room has an image specific to that room, that way if 1 PC dies, or needs a re-image, no mucking around as to which image it is. They are labelled as such Suite 1 Image Suite 2 Image Each suite has its own set of software, so it is not really an issue. Laptops work on the same basis, staff laptops get a generic staff image, and they can then install whats needed for their lessons (EG Maths whizz for the maths dept). Pupil laptops, much the same as the suites, only they are done on a trolley basis. Overall I have 3 Suite images, 1 staff laptop image, 6 pupil laptop images.
jsnetman Posted September 30, 2010 Posted September 30, 2010 1 image all hardware, but we are windows 7 throughout now. Did not get to single image status when on xp but we had 2 or 3 for about 500 stations and laptops.
AnnDroyd Posted September 30, 2010 Author Posted September 30, 2010 (edited) Each room has an image specific to that room, that way if 1 PC dies, or needs a re-image, no mucking around as to which image it is. They are labelled as such Suite 1 Image Suite 2 Image Each suite has its own set of software, so it is not really an issue. Laptops work on the same basis, staff laptops get a generic staff image, and they can then install whats needed for their lessons (EG Maths whizz for the maths dept). Pupil laptops, much the same as the suites, only they are done on a trolley basis. Overall I have 3 Suite images, 1 staff laptop image, 6 pupil laptop images. So overall, approximately how many computers/laptops do you have? Edited September 30, 2010 by AnnDroyd
powdarrmonkey Posted October 1, 2010 Posted October 1, 2010 We do about 500 machines with my single one-touch start-me-off-and-I'll-do-all-the-rest XP image, by embedding drivers in our own repository and allowing it to install them as required.
Tricky_Dicky Posted October 1, 2010 Posted October 1, 2010 1 image all hardware, but we are windows 7 throughout now. Did not get to single image status when on xp but we had 2 or 3 for about 500 stations and laptops. This is where I'm trying to get to, sounds like heaven. Do you use MDT for this and then just choose which programs to install for individual departments?
jsnetman Posted October 1, 2010 Posted October 1, 2010 Do you use MDT I looked at MDT but thought it was way over the top for my needs. We do a flat image with no addons, flash, java........ We do all that via msi and software deployment via AD and in rare cases scripting like SIMS. Win 7 is very forgiving for drivers but in the cases where it does not load a driver we have a network share with the drivers in and direct the image to look at that.
Fatmas Posted October 1, 2010 Posted October 1, 2010 Windows 7 here, 1 image to rule them all. I have the different drivers in the deployment toolkit so we only need 1 image. (That's approx 400 desktops and 50 laptops).
pete Posted October 1, 2010 Posted October 1, 2010 About 3 current desktop images, one of which'll work on the majority of our hardware. ~3 current laptop images and then a couple of niche images (kiosk boxes, wierd stuff). A couple of generic server images (patches as of $date, specific drivers added). We have a lot of vm templates though.
bladedanny Posted October 1, 2010 Posted October 1, 2010 110 machines 3 images student, staff, admin.
cromertech Posted October 1, 2010 Posted October 1, 2010 I looked at MDT but thought it was way over the top for my needs. We do a flat image with no addons, flash, java........ We do all that via msi and software deployment via AD and in rare cases scripting like SIMS. Win 7 is very forgiving for drivers but in the cases where it does not load a driver we have a network share with the drivers in and direct the image to look at that. How did you setup this network share? I tried to do it but ran into all sorts of errors with the image just not looking for them. I have two images one for staff and one for students and sometime have a lot of work to do with putting drivers on after the main installation
webman Posted October 1, 2010 Posted October 1, 2010 RM CC3 at the moment (soon CC4), so no images needed.
Soulfish Posted October 1, 2010 Posted October 1, 2010 About 500 machines and 1 W7 image deployed using SCCM 2007 R2 SP2 w/ MDT 2010 (god thats a mouthful!). Grabs the drivers needed from our driver repository (Dell even provide handy driver packs for direct import into SCCM ), and installs the list of applications that we have. We can even customise the applications that are installed during the imaging process based on PC name/MAC/hardware type/many other options.
john Posted October 2, 2010 Posted October 2, 2010 2 images for us now - W7 X64 and W7 X86 (as we have a few PCs that are only 32 bit capable) when we had XP we were up to about 16 images for 230 PCs so we are very pleased with the W7 way of working
sparkeh Posted October 2, 2010 Posted October 2, 2010 About 500 machines and 1 W7 image deployed using SCCM 2007 R2 SP2 w/ MDT 2010 (god thats a mouthful!). Grabs the drivers needed from our driver repository (Dell even provide handy driver packs for direct import into SCCM ), and installs the list of applications that we have. We can even customise the applications that are installed during the imaging process based on PC name/MAC/hardware type/many other options. Ditto for my vanilla site, except using XP. When it all setup and working correctly (not exactly a straight forward task) SCCM is stunning. RM CC3 at the moment (soon CC4), so no images needed. Well you will have one image with CC4 1
jsnetman Posted October 2, 2010 Posted October 2, 2010 How did you setup this network share? Did this a long time ago now but when I get back to work on Monday I will look see and let you know.
DrCheese Posted October 2, 2010 Posted October 2, 2010 1 single image for the entire site, Windows 7 deployed with MDT2010 We currently only deploy 32bit tho as a fair amount of our hardware is 32bit only still, I may have to make a 64bit image eventually as we get new systems with more memory.
pritchardavid Posted October 2, 2010 Posted October 2, 2010 5 images for us (all windows 7, dont use anything else now) x86 and x64 for domain (every piece of software is installed on this that is needed, so we dont have to use managed software on them after!) x86 and x64 for workgroup All I do different for the workgroup and domain is, I copy the domain image, open it using WAIK and delete the powershell script that normally makes our computers join on the domain. and a x64 admin image (admin computer are x64 captable, so 32bit is not needed) What Im gonna try soon is to make it so staff laptops are joined to the domain with offline files so they can get their work at home and that also makes it so they cant install loads of rubbish on therir laptop, less chance of virues and you remotelly update software when needed That way I will only have three images then Drivers are not a problem has server 2008 r2 you can add driver packages to the wds console (when I get round to doing that)
MatthewL Posted October 2, 2010 Posted October 2, 2010 3 images I think off the top of my head for some 4000-5000 laptops/desktops. 1 image that does laptops/desktops all Dell 1 image that does our Panasonic Toughbooks 1 image in the process of build/test for our agile working laptops to enable people to work from home so has a slightly different setup. Any additional software is installed on site. Basics include our VPN software, clinical system, Office 2010 now I think, AV and Windows XP plus a few other small bits.
MatthewL Posted October 2, 2010 Posted October 2, 2010 Oh and its all controlled using SysPrep Amazing once you do some reading as to what is can do properly and intergrating MySysPrep, got rid of some 20 images!!
djones Posted October 4, 2010 Posted October 4, 2010 110 computers of varying hardware and ages and 1 XP image. Also using MySYSPREP.
SYNACK Posted October 4, 2010 Posted October 4, 2010 Two images one Window 7 32bit and the other W7 64bit, coupled with MDT it's all we need for the 200+ computers.
Mr.Ben Posted October 4, 2010 Posted October 4, 2010 12 Images and 150 PC's (all XP). Very much looking forward to rolling out 7 in the near future with just the single 32 bit image to start off!
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