Enterprise imaging solution alternative to Ghost?
 

Hi all,
Since the dawn of time in my Uni we have been using the corporate version of Ghost to deploy our lab images to machines. This is multicast from a range of servers and works awesome.

Support staff use the ghost console for scheduled tasks etc and automate the rollout of room of machine which typically takes 30 mins to Ghost an entire lab.

The powers that be however have decided that due to the increase in cost we may have to loose Ghost at the end of this year:cry:.

So my question is what's eveyone using these days to deploy images. We have looked LANDesk and KBox but both were limited in funtionality compared to ghost and far too slow. They use file copy methods wheras Ghost goes to binary IIRC.

Acronis

Systems Center Config Manager can do OS deployment.
Unattended windows installations / RIS :o

google also returned some options such as clonezilla and driveimage but not tried these.

David

If you want the best imaging solution (plus software continuity and a whole lot more) in the known universe, then take a look at net-runna Enterprise (but i would say that ;) )

If you want a cheap-skate solution try FOG 'cos it's free (but you do need to understand Linux).

Cheers,

mb

I've used RIS which was recently replaced by WDS to cater for Vista images.

Have a read here for a comparison

Ghost versus WDS/PXE/BDD - Windows Deployment

Thanks all

Boomer > may take a look at net-runna, how is it priced compared to ghost?

Mike:-)

Mike,

YHPM,

Cheers,

mb

We currently use LANdesk and it's utter gash. We've just had IBM Tivoli Provisioning Manager thrown in with our Tivoli Monitoring renewal so hopefully that's better. Mind you, if Ghost is too expensive, there's no way you'll be allowed anything from IBM (which will almost certainly not work properly anyway ;) )

:lol1: We are using it as well as a pilot on one of our campuses and have had major problems with imaging speed and not being able to multicast multi-partition images, support is also beyond a joke and it costs £10,000,000 for a service pack upgrade.....ok slight exageration. When we contact support to resolve issues they just want more money for this and that:rolleyes:

hmmm not just us that is having problems with it then:wonder: