Experts from Experts-Exchange.
First of all, I'd like to say that this is an easy question. More than a question, this is a request for advice. This enquiry is aimed to those with experience in deploying installation images trough a network to multiple computers.
Hello, I am a manager in a computer Laboratory. In the lab, we have twenty computers. Please consider the following facts about this lab:
- All the computers have the same (exact) hardware configuration.
- Audio, video and network are onboard.
- The computers have the ability of booting from LAN using PXE technology.
- We have a 10 mbits Ethernet network in the lab, with all the computers connected to it.
- There is a computer with Windows Server 2003 that offers the following services to the lab: DHCP, DNS, Domain, Active Directory
- The operating system that shall be used in the computers is Windows XP Professional SP2
- I have a rescue disk delivered by the computers manufacturer. This disk can restore the computer to the factory state. It formats the hard disk and then installs and configures all the software that came bundled with the computer (Windows XP Pro SP2 and drivers).
- Besides having this rescue disk, I also have the motherboard drivers separately, that is the video, audio and network drivers. I also have a Windows XP Professional SP2 installation disk from Microsoft; said that, I can set up a computer either using the rescue disk or installing the OS and motherboard drivers manually.
Although the computers are new, we have started having problems with them. This lab has many users, and they are a sort of cavemen morons that are always messing up with the software configuration. They are constantly installing unauthorized software like erotic screensavers and games. They seem to always find a way to infect the computers with tons of viruses and spyware. And sometimes they even figure out how to completely corrupt the operating system leaving the computer unusable.
Currently, we solve this problem with the only method we know of, putting the rescue disk, formatting and reinstalling everything again, computer by computer. And after the operating system is installed, I have to make through the painful process of installing all the applications that are needed in the computers. I spend more than 2 hours just to put a single computer running again. We waste a lot of time in this time-consuming task, not to mention the utter shame I feel because of this archaic way of solving our problems. I know there are better ways to handle this, thats why I am writing this.
What I am looking for, is a tool that can help me to create an image of my ideal installation and configuration disk and then be able to clone it to any computer that needs it. This way, all I would need to do, is to deploy the image to the targeted computer, and in a matter of minutes, I would have a shiny new OS installation with all its drivers and applications working!
My problem is that there are many different tools, with different pros and drawbacks. I would like to hear from people that are (or have been) users of such tools, their comments, recommendations and tips.
Now let me specify the key points that I am looking for:
- I want to deploy the image through the network. I dont want to use CDs or DVDs or connect a cloned hard disk to the IDE ribbon of the targeted machine.
- I really cant stress enough that I want the computers to boot from LAN. This way I only need to boot the computer from LAN, and then it can begin downloading the image through the network so I can sit back, have a nice cup of coffee and relax.
- I would like this process to be as automatic as possible, keeping the user interaction to the minimum.
- The image to be deployed wont be only the bare operating system. It also has to include the drivers of the motherboard. And it also must include the applications that are required in the laboratory; for example, Microsoft Office and Macromedia Studio.
- If possible, a plus would be customized configuration for each computer loading the image, things that are unique to each computer, like the computer name in the network. The IP address and IP configuration is not a problem, since I currently have DHCP running in the lab and it seems to be doing well with IP reservoirs using the MAC address of each PC.
I know that there are many tools out there that seem to do this, and that some of them can be combined to get better results. Unfortunately I am not familiarized with any of them.
I know there are things like Microsoft RIS (I actually have it enabled with the Windows 2003 Server, but I am unsure if it is appropriate for my requirements), Norton Ghost, Acronis True Image and some scripting tool of Microsoft for customizing Windows installations, but I dont know which tool could be the best to fit my needs, or if I need a combination of them.
When posting a reply to this question, please try to include this:
- Which tool (or combination of tools) you think would be the more appropriate in my case. I would like to hear from people that have used such tools, more than people that have heard of such tools.
- Why you think that such tool(s) are the best choice.
- What is your personal experience using such tool(s) (pros and drawbacks).
- It would be nice if you could include some useful links to documentation about the tools you are recommending.
Points could be splitted between more than one expert, depending on the replies.
Thanks for taking the time to read all this. I will be eagerly waiting for your replies. Please keep it coming!
Regards.
