Free Workstation Imaging/Cloning Software
November 13, 2008
Problem: Need to setup multiple workstations that are all configured the same but can’t afford the per machine license costs of software like Ghost or Acronis.
Solution: Clonezilla, an open source solution that met my imaging needs:
- Clone an entire XP setup and save it to the network (haven’t tried vista)
- Image the same or like machine from the network share (There is a HD to HD option as well)
- Multicasting: (haven’t tried this yet but according to their website, they cloned 42 workstations in 10 minutes with a 5gig image).
- It’s free (GPL)
I downloaded the “Clonezilla Live” ISO image, burned a disc and had a working image in about 30 minutes. The only problem that I had was figuring out how to save it to my windows server. I chose NFS, at first, but didn’t have the Unix services running on my server and didn’t want it to. Next go around, I chose Samba and mounted my server share all was well. The GUI isn’t the most intuitive or as user friendly as Ghost or Acronis but after a few tries, you will have no problem working around the program.
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