Ghost network image restore timeout

OK can you answer a few questions for me first.

How many network cards in the machines?
are you trying to use the same image for different hardware?
Are you using Ghost cast server to roll out the images or Ghost Console?
Does your machines ahve reserved IP addresses or open DHCP?

I'm sure I can find you a quick sollution as we run Ghost here quite extensively in a training center and I have some ok experience with it.

How many network cards in the machines?
--one.  I've had trouble installing a second network card.
are you trying to use the same image for different hardware?
--same image on same hardware.
Are you using Ghost cast server to roll out the images or Ghost Console?
--yes
Does your machines ahve reserved IP addresses or open DHCP?
--dhcp

Thanks.

OK DHCP is one of your problems. It means that the DOs client picks up one IP address and it is registered in the arp cache of the server.  Then the server has this address cached for the MAC address and as such when it starts again in windows it gets a new IP from the DHCP but the server still ahs the old IP cached.

so if you then try to run a task in Ghost console to acess the computers that are registered ion the console you will seee that the computers does not have a little line under them indicating network connections.  so go to start, run and type in: ARP -d *
then cehck if you see the computers appearing. can take up to 15 minutes

You did not answer my question on which utility you use for the Multicast. GHOST CONSOLE OR Ghost cast server ( console has a yellow icon and you can register computers with it and create tasks for auto rollout - Ghostcast server is a single session with session name attached started from a green icon)

and yes you can get multiple network cards working but there is a procedure for this to make it easier.

can you let me know about the

whoops, I'm using Ghost cast server not console.

I'll try reserving ips for the machines and see if that works.

update: worst case scenario, sigh, I do local updates from an external usb hdd.

Thanks.

OK here are some issues.
1.  SATA HDD and ghost 8.0  you maqy need to use some specific switches.

but first things first

use a blank image and install tthe ghost client.  

then go to the server and run arp -d * from start run

then open the ghost console and see if the computername appears under default ( mahcine groups) and check the ip adrss matches.  open the computer and check the client have the correct network card driver ( second tab at the top)

if it does then you can chnage the computer configuration ( ie give it a name , chnage the display name, assign fixed ip or dhcp , assign domain, assign username etc)

when you ahve done that create a task that points to an image that includes the ghost client. ( VERY IMPORTANT. when saving images for rollout they must be part of a work group and to save you a lot of troubleshooting time use ghost cast server instead of console to save/upload the images)

so when you ahve started this task with only that singel computer in it you can then check if it rolls out properly.

let me know what problems you run into during this.

another tip. you can use 3com boot services that ship with GHOST enterprise to stop the need for boot disks and use PXE boot if your network cards support this.  I know you are on a tight time schedule so send me the following info too. what training is this. Office? what product etc.... then I may be able to help you with a work around temporarliy till we can tackle this from the ground up.  what time zone are you in. I'm central european. let co-ordinate. maybe I can call you as this ill then go much faster.

after much googling we found an entry that said that sata drives might have to be wiped clean before imaging.  oddly enough, that seem to have worked.

seemed because when we attempted to re-ghost a single machine after ghosting all ten the problem persisted.

for now we are in the clear, but we need to take care of the problem because next week there's training in New York, I'm in California, using the same machines and I was told that they are exhibiting the same behavior.

I just found out that not all ten machines will be in use for this weeks training so I can continue to troubleshoot.

california... that will be either a VERY early morning for me and a late night for you or vice versa....

but lets tackle the whole ghost thing from the top.

what you need
1.