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Best methods for image delivery : Ghosting about 80 PC's

Hello All,

I will soon be in charge of the task to ghost about 80 new users desktops. I have been charged with trying to estimate about how long this will take and what is the best method for deploying the images to the computers.

Can anyone lend some help by telling about what they know, experiance, etc. Thanks!

Callandor

I don't do this myself, but I have heard people use Sysprep to manage this task.

Heem14

If you are deploying Windows - Check into RIS (Remote Installation Services) - This is a microsoft service that will run on a win2k or 2k3 server - You can network boot your client PC's, create an image, and then deploy that image very easily. We've tried everything from hard drive copying to ghost and powerquest images - this is by far the most convenient method.

read more here:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/deploy/depopt/remoteos.mspx

saidweintraub

ASKER

All machines will be indentical and will be using Windows XP, and getting certain applications such as adobe reader, etc.

So i do not think this is a job for RIS as I am pretty much looking to make 1 master, image it and deploy that image to all the other machines.

Heem14

That is a PERFECT job for RIS. MAke one XP image the way you like it - send it back up to the RIS server, then go out and network boot your client boxes. Install the image and done. They will even be named properly in your active directory, instead of for example, ghost - where all the machines will have the same name and you'd have to go change each one manually.

crazijoe

The Problem with Norton Ghost is you will need the Enterprise version and all the computers that will have the new image will have the same SID. You will have to change the SID on the cloned computers.

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adamdrayer

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saidweintraub

ASKER

Great thanks so much for the info. I myself am very excited to get started on this massive project.

saidweintraub

ASKER

Can I do it by just having a switch or hub connecting all the computers to the ghost server?

adamdrayer

yep

saidweintraub

ASKER

Do I need to use a corporate edition of Ghost for this or can I use something like Norton ghost 2002?

Also if I do need to use the corporate ediition how does the licensing work for it, how can i determine how many licenses I will need.

Thanks

Mkomis

You will have to get the corporate edition.