chekmate1984 Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 Hi Guys over half term, i have to rebuild a server from scratch!!! reconfigure all switches. then rebuild all workstations and join them to domain. we have like over 100. Was wondering we have 100 diffferent workstations, whats best way to deploy. I have heard few, wds, fog, ghost, acronis. Which is best, would prefer pxe boot so dont have to carry things around.
soveryapt Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 I use WDS, it can be a bit fiddly, but does the job and is all part of the system (assuming you have a 2008 server) I've heard good things about FOG as well, but I could never get it to work properly, but I admit, I didn't give a lot of time to it as I didn't have a lot of time to give.
mrbios Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 WDS in server 2008R2, coupled with a packed drivers section and an unattend.xml file you can't really go wrong. Really easy to use and setup.
featured_spectre Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 I like the following... Spec Ops - pretty simple to use WDS - nice and simple, built into server 2008 onwards MDT - not bad, bit fiddly SCCM/SCOM combination - never failed me, also works as a great wsus
TheScarfedOne Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 SCCM here, and there is a load of info over on my blog if you are stepping into that territory for the first time. Reall power is single driver store, single image, single point of contact for build and updates (as integrates WSUS)
gshaw Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 SCCM here as well, works a treat (although I wish I didn't have to store the images twice in the package source and distribution point)
carvjo Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 Specops Deploy -though it is a modified WDS - it really is very good, simplifies the whole process and can be setup in half a day..
Mr.Ben Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 Specops Deploy -though it is a modified WDS - it really is very good, simplifies the whole process and can be setup in half a day.. Seconded!
Churchers Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 We also use fog. We have devised a script to finish the install for us and shutdown the machines after a sysprep. how are others doing this?
localzuk Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 We also use fog. We have devised a script to finish the install for us and shutdown the machines after a sysprep. how are others doing this? What do you mean? FOG does it all for you. ie. you build your image, install the fog client, sysprep it, sysprep auto-shuts down, you image into FOG, set the host(s') details up (ie. computer name, active directory information etc...) on the fog site and then deploy the image to the machine(s). It will then finish the Windows unattended setup, rename it, join it to the domain and you're done. What is your script doing?
Wils86 Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 Fog here too, also churchers could I take a look at that script as I find the fog client a little flaky at times. Thank you.
localzuk Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 Fog here too, also churchers could I take a look at that script as I find the fog client a little flaky at times. Thank you. Flaky how? I'm currently planning to rewrite parts of it and see if they want to use my changes, so if others are having issues too, it'd be good to know so I can work changes in.
Churchers Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 Yeh, I agree up to that point. Our image then continues on and runs a script to add software that needs to be installed after sysprep, (example: AV agent). It also reboots twice making sure that all GPO software has been downloaded and installed. We also set screen settings, more than fog can provide. and anything else. then shuts down on completion of tasks.
Churchers Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 I will upload/make a public version available tomorrow.
Netwacky87 Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 I find FOG fantastic, it sets screen resolution also via the client? I never worry about things like that, FOG takes care of everything like that for me.
Churchers Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 I'm currently planning to rewrite parts of it and see if they want to use my changes, so if others are having issues too, it'd be good to know so I can work changes in. What features do you want to include? Where did you get the exe source? ...website?, I'll take a look. If you are adding features you should ask on the fog forum, others might have good idea's. (or feature request section.)
Churchers Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 it sets screen resolution also via the client? I never worry about things like that, FOG takes care of everything like that for me. Yeh but we can do more like what screen and make primary etc.., just some little features we needed
Wils86 Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 Flaky how? I'm currently planning to rewrite parts of it and see if they want to use my changes, so if others are having issues too, it'd be good to know so I can work changes in. Flaky as in sometimes it won't add to domain giving me a silly error (net path 53 ) I think. Then sometimes a few drivers need clicking yes on the install section. That's just a little niggle of mine. Apart from that it does everything I need.
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