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Creating Hard Drive Images of Workstations

Hello,

We are running a Win 2008 server in workgroup mode with approx 10 clients. We would like to create images of all client workstations across the network and store them on the server. What would you recommend? Will we be able to restore the images through the network as well?

Thank you for your help.

Mike

Don

Use WDS Windows Deployment Services

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc771670%28WS.10%29.aspx

jumptohigh

ASKER

dstewartjr, thanks for the suggestion. However, according to the notes, "A Windows Deployment Services server must be either a member of an AD DS domain or a domain controller for an AD DS domain." But we are not running AD? Can we still use WDS?

Thanks,
Mike

Don

2008 server, but no AD huh??

Ok here are some other good free options

http://www.fogproject.org/?q=node/1 <<< little learning curve setting up(but you need to setup on linux)

http://clonezilla.org/

http://redobackup.org/<<< very easy to use and fast

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Aaron Tomosky

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jumptohigh

ASKER

thanks dstewartjr and aaron!

I know, server 2008 is overkill for us.

Mike

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Don

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Lee W, MVP

While I would NEVER setup a workgroup if I had a Windows Server (excluding Home server as they do not support domains), I would suggest that WDS is not appropriate for this. While it CAN work, it's really meant as a deployment tool, not a backup tool.

Considering the costs involved, I would suggest you get a Windows Home Server - one of it's most powerful features is the backup for workstations. And if you multiply the cost of 10 copies of a product like Acronis - it is often CHEAPER to buy an home server.

Lee W, MVP

One important note - Home Server backup only does 10 PCs. And if you delete a PC from the backup list, it deletes ALL BACKUPS of that PC. If you only have/want to backup 10 PCs, then there should be no problem, but it's important to understand this.

Aaron Tomosky

Retrospect has unlimited client licenses but doesn't do image backups. I combine that with Acronis so I only image one PC with one license and use retrospect to backup documents. You can even move the documents to a shared drive on the server instead and just backup that.
Sometimes changing workflow a little to fit license schemes can save a ton.

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noxcho

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a1ternat1vo

I have used Symantec Ghost Enterprise version. One server controlls the deployment and backup. You can boot and install and backup PCs from network.

This option is fine if data is not stored in local disk. The ideal should be to have just one same image for all the stations and data backed up in the server. Eases administration.

Also you can try Clonezilla, opensource alternative. I haven't tried it but seems to do almost the same.

Greetings

gmbaxter

Surely the best solution here is a domain environment with user profiles and data stored on the server, then just back the server up?

Norton ghost is an option however?