Which imaging software do you use?

We used to use powerquest drive image back in the day but moved on to

Symantec Ghost 7.5

 

What do you use at your college/school and why did you choose that product?

 

Does anyone use a newer version of Ghost?

Thanks

.matt

Used to use Ghost, then Altiris Deployment Server, now using RIS...

RIS.

Used Ghost, then Deploy Centre (now part of Ghost), and now use RIS.

RIS, btw wouldnt a poll be a good idea?

@ kingswood , ghost and RIS and sysprep as far as I am aware.

 

As for imaging there is also acronis :

 

http://www.acronis.com/products/

 

Not sure how much use that is but maybe something worth looking into ( Just wish it was free

 

Shane

At Kingswood we have historically used Ghost, but I have recently been using RIS to really good effect. This has been a Godsend really since ghost has let me down, and I haven't had the time to troubleshoot to any depth.

 

Can't wait to see what XImage will be like in Vista- hopefully M$ have made some progress...

 

Paul

So thats what its called in vista lol

sysprep (on xp pc's) and ghost

 

will look into RIS too sometime

I use Ghost (with sysprep) and RIS, but I cheat.

 

I have changed the default boot image for RIS to the ghost RIS boot image.

 

Simply press a key for PXE boot on a client with a ghost session setup and install. None of those nast network drivers to worry about and those stupid microsoft RIS options.

Ghost enterprise edition. Press a button the server and reimage a whole room. Make sure you get muticast working on your lan though otherwise its slow!

No. You still have to faff around in sysprep scripts though, just the same as RIS really.

Nope. No sysprep scripts used.

At Kingswood we have historically used Ghost, but I have recently been using RIS to really good effect. This has been a Godsend really since ghost has let me down, and I haven't had the time to troubleshoot to any depth.

 

Can't wait to see what XImage will be like in Vista- hopefully M$ have made some progress...

 

Paul

 

dells new single image for all pcs uses a version of ximage i believe

 

russ

I use Ghost (with sysprep) and RIS, but I cheat.

 

I have changed the default boot image for RIS to the ghost RIS boot image.

 

Simply press a key for PXE boot on a client with a ghost session setup and install. None of those nast network drivers to worry about and those stupid microsoft RIS options.

 

 

A brief idiots guide to this would be much appreciated...

@SpuffMonkey: The setup of the PXE method with 3COM utilities is clearly explained in the manuals.

I use Ghost (with sysprep) and RIS, but I cheat.

 

I have changed the default boot image for RIS to the ghost RIS boot image.

 

Simply press a key for PXE boot on a client with a ghost session setup and install. None of those nast network drivers to worry about and those stupid microsoft RIS options.

 

 

A brief idiots guide to this would be much appreciated...

 

Install Microsoft RIS, Install Ghost console on the RIS server (it unlocks the RIS option on the ghost boot disk creator)

 

Then as far as I remember you run the ghost RIS setup which copies ghost to the right place in RIS.

 

I got fed up with trying to modify the RIS menus without any tools or documentation so I found the boot file that is sent to the PXE clients and replaced it with the one in the ghost RIS folder.

 

I think this is the place: RIS\OSChooser\i386

 

It looks like I copied the ghost.dsk and ghost.ldr to RIS\OSChooser\i386 from RIS\Setup\English\Images\Ghost\i386\templates

 

I then replaced the startrom.com with the ghost.ldr by renaming it. Then you can rename one of the hdslcom files to stop it asking you to press a key (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/library/ServerHelp/a6e23f3c-c982-49b4-940d-bd0fd54cd420.mspx)

 

I think thats roughly what I did, but its just worked for the last 2 years without fail, so I haven't revisited it to upgrade yet.

 

 

Edit: I should point out that this is only really useful if you don't use the other bits of RIS, or have another RIS server installed, I didn't so it works well for me.

 

David

@SpuffMonkey: The setup of the PXE method with 3COM utilities is clearly explained in the manuals.

 

 

Heh, the Ghost manuals are the worst I have ever seen, I've never even used the 3com disk. I'm using RIS to give out the PXE image via the modification above.

Sysprep, Ghost 8.0 Corporate. Although I can't ghostcast due to something in the switches hating it..

@Sirbendy: check that broadcasting is enabled in your switches (assuming that they are managed). If they are unmanaged, buy some decent HP ones

@Sirbendy: check that broadcasting is enabled in your switches (assuming that they are managed). If they are unmanaged, buy some decent HP ones

 

They're Cisco units, managed by NGFL... They've probably turned it off-it DID work up until summer, when some "essential maintenance" took place..

 

Unfortunatly, we don't get access to our switches..it's in the hands of those monkeys. We're using unmanaged D-Links in the new suites... Can't naff those up.

When I go through the Ghost RIS installer the following happens, am I missing something?

 

Start Ghost Boot Wizard

Choose Microsoft RIS Boot Image option

Choose Universal Packet Driver v2.0

Click Next on all following screens until prompted to enter RIS Menu Details

Click Next and review choices

Click Next and I receive the following error: Could not format the floppy disk. Check the drive then try again.

Click Ok and receive the next error as follows: An error occurred when trying to create the boot package.

 

Those two errors will repeat until I cancel the setup.

Are you running the extra option that appears when you install the ghost console on a Server with RIS on it? afaik you are just creating a RIS boot disk atm. You only see the option if RIS is already installed on the server that you put ghost on.

I'm using the option that's only appeared since I installed Ghost on the RIS Server yes.

ZenWorks

 

8) 8) 8)