Image a machine with multiple partitions

[networkingNut]

We are currently trying to set up an environment, which can be used for controlled assessment. We are preping a machine which has two partitions, one for our main curriculum and another for the controlled environment (which we are considering putting on a separate domain for ease of admin).

 

The problem we are facing at the minute is how to image a machine with multiple partitions on. We normally use Symantec Ghost but I can only get it to detect one partition.

 

The requirements for the controlled environment are:

 

• The Internet will be required initially but not for later assessments
  
• No Email
  
• No Spell Checker
  
• No grammer Checker
  
• No access to any other documents in their area during the assessment (hence the separate domain)
  
• No Media Player.
  

 

I think the new domain is a bit overkill but at the minute it is the only way I can think of doing it.

 

Can anyone help me with any better ideas on how to set it up and how to image a machine with multiple partitions.

 

Thanks

nN

[SimpleSi]

When I want to maintain all the partitions on a machine - I just do a disk image rather than multiple partition images - never had a problem doing it that way but have had difficuluties on occaisions trying to use separate partition images .

 

regards

 

Simon

[networkingNut]

When I want to maintain all the partitions on a machine - I just do a disk image rather than multiple partition images - never had a problem doing it that way but have had difficuluties on occaisions trying to use separate partition images .

 

regards

 

Simon

 

I am trying to do a disk image using Symantec again at the moment. The machine is a HP DC7800 SFF. I am trying to place the image on an external USB hard drive but I can only see the C Drive and the Optical drive when it asks me where to save the image I cant even see the second partition.

 

I am going:

 

Local> Disk> To Image.

 

Thanks

nN

[LeMarchand]

I've used Ghost (8) slipstreamed into UBCD4WIN to image 2-partition machines without problem, but it's C=Windows, D=Documents - don't know if that makes a difference. Seems to be able to Ghost just the "C" partition" OK - I just restored an image from it today without any issues and the "D" partition was left untouched.

 

If you're having troubles with Ghost, why not try one of the free options? Clonezilla is probably the easiest to just try out IMHO, but FOG has a lot of fans on here.

 

P.S. Ghost: Local>Disk>To Image will Ghost the whole disk. Try Local>Partition>To Image if you just want one partition (make the sizes significantly different to aid identification). If you're not seeing the external drive I think you may need to add drivers to your Ghost boot disk (or use the network or something like UBCD4WIN - if the latter, plug the drive in before booting up).

[jsimpson]

The best cloning utility that I have used is clonezilla. We used it at my institution to clone an iMac with an HFS+ partition for OS X and an NTFS partition with Windows XP, this solution works wonderfully. Best of all it is free, http://clonezill.org I highly suggest this for mass deployments. There is even a server version for mass deployments, I have not had the opportunity to use it, but someday I would like to.

[networkingNut]

I've used Ghost (8) slipstreamed into UBCD4WIN to image 2-partition machines without problem, but it's C=Windows, D=Documents - don't know if that makes a difference. Seems to be able to Ghost just the "C" partition" OK - I just restored an image from it today without any issues and the "D" partition was left untouched.

 

If you're having troubles with Ghost, why not try one of the free options? Clonezilla is probably the easiest to just try out IMHO, but FOG has a lot of fans on here.

 

P.S. Ghost: Local>Disk>To Image will Ghost the whole disk. Try Local>Partition>To Image if you just want one partition (make the sizes significantly different to aid identification). If you're not seeing the external drive I think you may need to add drivers to your Ghost boot disk (or use the network or something like UBCD4WIN - if the latter, plug the drive in before booting up).

 

I have created a new Ghost Boot USB pen (Kingston 4GB) with USB support and it is still not detecting my drive onto which I want to image (Seagate 2TB)

 

I will look into the other options. I have looked into FOG in the past but struggled to get it going.

 

Thanks

NN

[LeMarchand]

Definitely worth looking at Clonezilla. Download and burn the ISO, boot from it and it's all pretty self-explanatory. I'd suggest testing on a machine that you wouldn't miss/can re-image and a spare/empty storage drive first (assuming you have the time/bits). Some of the terminology may seem a bit different, so you'll dispense with the "have I made the right choices?" fear if you've got nothing to lose. Otherwise, there's plenty of people here who can point you in the right direction if you get stuck.

 

Mind you, UBCD4WIN is also a great tool (though a lot more effort to set up than Clonezilla).

[networkingNut]

I have successfully managed to re-image a single machine using clonezilla. Can anyone provide any guidance please on how to set up Clonezilla Server for mass deployment. I was planning on using Ubuntu.

 

Thanks

nN

[SimpleSi]

I think Fog is consided the software of choice for mass opensource type image deploments (basically uses clonezilla for the imaging side of things with a central web-based control panel)

 

regards

 

Simon

[networkingNut]

I am trying FOG at the minute and while installing ubuntu I am following the FOG wiki but the Scope options> Configure options on my server 2003 DHCP server is greyed out. Is this because it is an active DHCP server? I was a bit dubious about de-activating it encase the clients, which are currently in use by students drop off the network.

 

The network is flat with one DHCP server allocating to two domains, hence my hesitation

[SimpleSi]

I used my main DHCP server and disabled the FOG one.

 

You do have to set some options on your server DNS/DHCP settings before deploying FOG.

 

FOGUserGuide - FOGProject Wiki

 

regards

 

Simon

[networkingNut]

When I try and select the 'Configure options' I cant because it is Greyed out. Is this because it is an active DHCP scope?

[morganw]

Rather than a new domain and using using different partitions, what about using a standalone terminal server with all of your restictions applied and then just connect into that with a PXE boot system like thinstation or use a web access gateway.

[morganw]

When I try and select the 'Configure options' I cant because it is Greyed out. Is this because it is an active DHCP scope?

 

I'm sure when I set the DHCP options for FOG on a server 2003 system I didn't need to deactivate a scope or anything to put the changes in.

[networkingNut]

I am having trouble removing windows media 9. I have removed it via add remove components but it still works via start>run>wmplayer. Is there a way to remove it completely. Endless hours spend on google have come to nothing. If I delete the files in the Windows media player folder they just keep re-appearing when I search for them again.

 

nN

[cpjitservices]

Hi, why not do what we do for assesments, as we are a college we have to abide by strict rules but we meet all the requirements of the exam board.

 

So what we did was we build a suite seperate from the rest of the college, in fact it's on the 8th floor and is next to nothing so it's only that room up there. Secondly we have 40 PC's in there all locked-down with VERY strict GPO's which are doled out by machine OU's, there is no access to media player etc etc, IE will ONLY access sites that are required by the exam board - we use DG for this and block sites only on that block of IP's and any other site that is tried is logged with us on our logs for that room and is reported with the user name to the exam board. We also made over a thousand new users in AD and what happens is a certain user name is assigned to each specific student so for example 7005551 is assigned to Joe Blogss and we work with the exam board and they know which user has which user name and there password is randomly assigned the person is given this password in an email to their normal college user account which is locked out at the time of the exams for that period of time.

 

If the exam board sends us files such as documents for the students to work on as part of the exam we place these in the relevant files in the new user account assigned to them.

 

It is a faff about sometimes but it works and we like how it works because the admin is pretty simple as that room is always set-up for the correct Internet Access the ONLY sites in there tha tare accessed is only what the exam board specifies and that is really easy on the admin to change as it is just basically a text document.

 

We did have to do alot of this virtually before we rolled it out fully just to make sure it was gonna work, and it did and we are pleased with it.

 

I think the NM is talking about having a completely different image for the machines in that room separate from our network image.

 

Hope this helps buddy.

 

Merry Christmas

Edited December 21, 2010 by cpjitservices